Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-05-27


which, However, is a political supporter
of Mr.. Wilson, and has not been inter
fered with. The Metropolitan is not
political supporter of Mr.. Wilson and
was interfered with, yet The Metropo-
Titan has upheld the war far more
jealousy than The Republic
The metropolitan Immediately asked
the postmaster OF New York for the
grounds OF his action, but got no an
swer. On March Q il telegraphed the
Postmaster General asking whether the
action was taken by the order OF the
Postmaster General and If not what
steps the Postmaster General would
take 10 repair the damage done to the
Metropolitan Magazine
ION March II, the Postmaster General
replied to the Metropolitan, stating
that accusations had been made that an
article in the metropolitan was
traitorous effusion, but that he did not
know whether the complaints were JUS
tilted, and that no order had been issued
about it by the department. He did not
answer the 'Metropolitans question as
to what steps would be taken 70 repair
the damage done 1t by the conduct of
| the New York postmaster.
Postn, aster Reverses Action
"On the same day. the New York
postmaster wrote the metropolitan
reversing his action of March 2, but
making 40 apology and making no
excuse.
"On March L.. the editor of the
| Metropolitan wrote to Mr.. Burleson
saying among other things, You
must remember that there are great
number of pacifists and pro Germans
in this country who would willingly
put the metropolitan Magazine out
of business because it is the most
strongly pro- Ally and anti German
publication in the country calling at
tention to the fact that a statement
attributed to the Solicitor General Of
the department was obviously not in
accord with the facts. and that the
! Metropolitan could not accept news
paper statements without confirma-
ton from the Postmaster General,
and asking for a written statement
matter. lie has received no such
statement. Tor has any attempt been
made by the Postoffice Department to
remedy the wrong it did by the
postmaster at New York.
AT the same time one of the ad-
vertisers in The Metropolitan Mr.. E.
M. Mansur, Of Floral Park, y. Y, re-
ceived letter from a man in Chi
cago suggesting that he withdraw his
advertisement because OF the edi-
tor:al in The Metropolitan Magazine
Mr.. Manstir declined to withdraw it.
On April he notified The Metro
politan' that a special agent Of the
United States Department of Justice.
named James A. Corcoran. with
shield No. 436, giving his address as
Box PAL. Park Row, New York City,
called on him, with copies of the let
tiers Of this Chicago man to him and
OF the replies, and asked if Mr.. Man
sur had stopped advertising. and
wanted y know if he was going on
advertising next year. and then if he
were an American citizen The last
'query, taken in connection with the
, first two, contained. Of course. an i'm
plcation that was in effect threat,
Justice Department. involved
This shows that the Department
of Justice had knowledge of the at
tempt to boycott The METROPOLITAN n
and lent its official power to further
II. unless the man in question had
stolen the special agents shield which
ne possessed and forged his name and
address.
The above facts Mr.. Burleson has
not denied and cannot truthfuliy
oehy' and they absolutely demon
strate the exactness of my statement.
so far as the Administrations effort
to punish the publications which m
held the war but have told the truth
about the Administrations failure to
conduct the war efficiently.
Now for the second part of NV
statement: The prime example of
failure by the Administration to pro-
oeeo against newspapers which op-
pose the war or attack our allies and
therefore directly or Indirectly ain
Germany is afforded by the failure #
| the Administration to deal with Mr.
fiearsts papers as il has dealt With
certain other papers. Mr. Hearst is a
very wealthy man, reputed to be
much more than a millionaire, own
ing dozen newspapers, more or less,
| and half dozen magazines. in diff
ferent parts of the country.
| IA the very beginning of the war
g0ESrrr1- o nj
! fully against Tom Watson's pub
hcation in Georgia. ! entirely dis
agreed with Tom Watson's general
political philosophy: was utterly OBJ
posed to fis contention that drafted
men should not be sent overseas to
night; | rega rded him as a narrow. al
though an upright and sincere man.
But he had done nothing that was
anything like as dangerous to this
country and our allies and as helpful
to Germany as Mr.. Hearst was at tina
very time doing
Hearst Defended Germany
| The circulation of Mr. Watson S
paper was very small. compared u
Mr. Hearst's papers; his wealth and
influence were infinitesimaI. com
pared to Mr. Hearsts wealth and in
fiuence. and he had denounced Ger
many and even advocated wlr
against Germany. whereas Mr..
Hearst had in numerous editorials
opposed on going to war, attacked
Germany's foes and defended Ger
many.
! Yet the Administration crushed
poor Tom Watson. while it first tole--