New-York tribune., 1918-09-14

Paper Barred
From Mails
Attack on Stacker Raids
Made in Last Issue Of
"The Nation
Cause for Action
Unknown to Editor
Postal Authorities at Wash
ington Issue Order to
Prevent Mailing

The current issue of "The Nation" !"
weekly publication, with Offices at
90 TO "a Nesey Street, has BEEN with
held from the mails pending further
orders from the postal authorities at
Washington. No intimation has been
given Of the reason.
At the Offices OF "Thc Nation" it was
learned that the editor, Oswald Garri-
son Willard, left his home, at Dobbs
Ferry, yesterday morning for week
cnd at his summer home, in Black
point. Conn. II. +. Mussey, managing
editor Of the publication. last night
said that the reason for the action of
thc postal authorities was mystery to
him.
We went to press as usual on Tues
day" said MIR. Mussey, "and the issue
went into tho mails on Wednesd day
night. according to our custom. This
morning | found on my desk a note
from the New York Posto1cc saying
that the magazine had been held up
pending further action by the postal
authorities at Washington. The com
munication vouchsafed no details"
Have you no idea as to what par
ticular article may have induced the
action of the authorities ." he was
asked.
NO" he replied, adding, "You are
Just as good at guessing that out as
We would be"
"Civi Liberty Dead"
\ portion of an article denouncing
the recent Stacker raids, under the
title, Civil Liberty Dead was called
to MIR Mussey's attention, and he was
asked if that might not be the matter
arousing official objection. The quota
tIon reads:
1T is the fact that personal liberty
and freedom have disappeared in Amer
lca, and that the bulk of our vocal
patriots thoughtlessly approve Of it in
the earnestness OF their desire to win
the war. At the very moment when
the British Labor Party and the Lib
eral Party together have demanded Of
the Lloyd George government that
freedom OF press and speech shall be
restored at oncc--now, not when the
war ends-Whcn the French Socialists
have just unanimously voted that war
or no war, there will be general
strike in France if Clemenceau again
denies their passports to Socialists
who desire to attend the long planned
lnterAllied Socialist Conference-we
IN America are witnessing the suppress
sion Of the right OF public meeting and
Of FREQ press with almost no pro-
tests.
Quotes Senate Denunciation
"The freedom with which the Man
chester Guardian, the Daily News, the
London Nation and a host of other
papers in England and Ireland criticise
the government for the governments
good is unknown here Senator John
son did not eXaggerate when on Fri
day last he declared that the only
place in the United States in which
there is free speech to-day is the Sen
ate in which he spoke Both Demo-
Gratis and Republicans denounce the
New York outrage the Stacker raid, ,
Irrespective Of party lines. But when
weak and ineffective Senator as
Mr.. sherman, of Illinois, begins to at
tack the Administration, as he did in
lengthy speech on September 3, there
ls at least this much encouragement.
1t appears shat there is the beginning
Of that opposition in Congress the need
OF which has been so painfully obvious.
'If the Republicans arc searching
FOR an issue they need look no fur
thcr. # the American people could
realize what has been done and is be-
ing done throughout this country in
the name of liberty, they would en-
phatically demand and support an or
ganized opposition to the end that this
government may again be a govern
First Action Against Paper
Mn Mussey declined to express his
opinion on the possibilities of the
quoted lines having brought about the
postal order. lie said that this was
the first occasion in which "'Ihc Ma
tion" has been the subject Of any COY
ernmental action, and there had never
before been any intmation OF dis
pleasure expressed from any source
with the writings appearing in the pub
hcation.
Postmaster Thomas G. Patton last
night said that ne had no information
on the subject of the bar placed on
me mailing of "Thc Nation.' He said
that the order came from the solic-
itOr's department. in the postal de
partment at Washington. and added
that the first he knew of any action OF
the kind having been taken was when
news item to that effect in a New
York paper was called to his attention
Oswald Garrison Willard, the pub
Usher of "The Nation" recently dis
posed OF his interest in "rhe Evening
Post" to devote his time to the maga-
zine.
BLACKPOINT, Conn., Sept. 18.-At
the home of Oswald Garrison Willard
editor of "Thc Nation " IL was said