Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-05-25
SPOUTS
IN USUAL STRAIN
OF WINDY BUFFER
Defense Of His Course Is Thai
Hearst Has Even Been
More Untruhful

Washington, May 25.-COlOnel Theo-
dere Roosevelt today replied to
criticism to his writings voiced recent
ly by Postmaster General Burleson. In
a letter to Senator Poindexter, Roose-
welt asked that as Burleson's attack on
him had been given publicity the reply
be printed in the congressional record.
At Poindexter IS request this was done.
Roosevelt declared that during the
last year the action of the administra'
tion, taken largely through the post
office department, has been such as to
render it matter of some danger for
any man, and especially any news
paper, to speak the truth 'Sif that truth
be unpleasant TO the governmental au-
thorties at Washington. "
Regarding Burleson's comparison of
Hearst and Roosevelt, T. R. wrote:
"Mr. Burleson has stated he re-
eeived more Complaints about my
writings than about those of Mr..
Hearst. In view of Mr.. Burleson IS
record and actions, there is small cause
for wonder in this. Every pro-German
and anti-American, every believer in
a feeble American war and a
triumphant German peace, every man
who follows Mr.. Hearst would natural
ly appeal for sympathy to Mr.. Burke
son and denunciation of what l have
DONE"
Citing editorials from Hearst news
papers, Roosevelt declared:
"Those quotations sh9w that Mr..
Hearst hes steadily endeavored to be-.
little the vital Importance of om
country in this war and to excite the
hatred of our allies who are faithful
ly fighting beside us; and such con
duct can be of help to Germany, to
the enemy we are fighting. Just so
long as Mr.. Hearst s publications are
permitted in the mails, Mr.. Burleson
is without excuse for excluding any
other publications from the mails. The
administration by its aequiescence per-
mits the continuance of Mr.. Hearst g
campaign, which necessarily tends to
give aid and comfort to Germany and
to impair the morale of our own people.
"'The quotations given above de-
prive Mr.. Burleson and the administra-
ton of which he is part of, any shred
of justification for their action and
inaction. Mr.. Burleson is, Of course,
only secondly responsible in the mat
ter. Mr.. Hearst's papers are SO i'm
portant and Mr.. Hearst's position
among the administration g political
friends, supporters and advisers is so
prominent, and the action in connection
with reinstating him in his cable
privileges was so purely dependent up
on the president himself, that no SUBJ
ordinate of the president can accept
or be credited with the chief response
bility for any action or inaetion of the
administration in relation to Mr..
Hearst. The administration is re-
sponsible for the liberation of Mr..
Hearst's anti-ally, anti-war and.
therefore, anti-American activities and
for the reward, nevertheless given him;
and the service rendered on the other
side by Hearst was service to the ad-
ministration and not to the country. "
Referring to his editorial in the
Kansas CITY Star, May 7: "sedition,
A Free Press, And Personal Rule" to
which Postmaster General Burleson
WANTED - To hear from owner Of
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