The Washington herald., 1919-04-24
WORLD ATTACK
PART OF PLOT,
SAYS BURLESON
CONTINUED FRoN PAGE ONE

repeal OF the law and how II was
hoped Republican members could
be used. urged certain publishers
not to confine their attack to the
zone law (the increased postage
rates). but to broaden their scope
of criticism Thus the sinister Jpur-
pose Is disclosed.
TN fact. as stated. notice was given
the Postmaster General more than q
year ago what could>be expected II
there was not acQuiescence on his
part IN the suspension or repeal Of
this law. At that time a member Of
the committee, representing those con-
tending for the repeal urged the POST
master General to acquiesce therein,
and in the course of conversation
bimtiy informed him:
We have made and unmade mnny
Congressman We ruined Postmaster
General Hitchcock and destroyed Mr..
Taft We realize that without your
aid we may not be able to secure re-
lief now. but we will see what can
be done with the next Congress-
Says PubIisher Called On Him.
Later a weIi-known publisher called
Oh NAhC SrcuCEdl anu also
urged that he recommend the sus-
pension. or repeal, Of this law, say
ing to him:
IF you will aid, or acquiesce, in
the repeal of this law. We will make
you the most popular man in the
Wilson Cabinet, but II you do not ]
fear they will ruin you
These two statements were
made to the Postmaster General in
the presence Of the present First As
sistant Postmaster General. The
Postmaster General spurned them
both and IL now confronted with the
effort of these selfish interests,
through systematic propaganda,
stealthily concealing their real pur-
pose by creating and falsifyipg news,
Misrepresentation OF facts and ap-
peals to prejudice to destroy the
Postmaster General, thereby aiding
in the repeal OF the law, thus enabling
them to resume the enjoyment of a
postal subsidy of over 100000 per
annum, which must be taken out OF
the pockets OF the other users of the
mail
Would Increase Rates.
TT might not be wise at this time
fact, Justice as between the users of
the various classes OF mail would
require an increase of this postage
rate. instead of a reduction. The gen.
eral public for years suffered a loss
of millions of dollars by the trans
portatlon OF second-class mail at
much less than cost. A large per-
centage of this mail Is not printed
and distributed for educational. but
solely for commercial purposes. Even
under the zone law. after the maxi
mum rates have been reached, there
will still be an annual loss of more
than $50. 100, oOO to be made up by the
general public. This makes clear the
exact interest the owners of certain
newspapers and magazines have In
the effort now on foot to discredit the
Postmaster General.
Il do not object to criticism having
behind 1t an honest purpose On the
contrary. 1t Is welcomed; but II Ia re-
gretted that many conscientious pub
fishers who desire to be fair are fire.
ouently unwittingly misled by those
willing to resort to base means for
the accomplishment of sinister pur-
poses"
With regard to the New York
"OIiu s SIdltHncnl yesterday mOrnlnR z
that both Western Union and Postal
managers in New York City declined
to accept for transmission a lengthy
account of the activities of Postmas-
ter General Burleson, the Postoffice
Department today made the following
statement:
The rules governing the transmits
sion of libelous matter were adopted
by the telegraph companies to protect
themselves against libel suits long be-
fore the wires were taken over by the
government"
Then follows an explanation on the
part Of the general manager of the
Postal Telegraph system that although
the night manager considered the
Burleson account libelous-and that
he. too, was OF the same belief-orders
nevertheless were issued to file the
dispatch.
Mr.. Burleson also issued a supple
mentary statement wherein he assert
ed that as soon as the matter was
brought to his attention he issued this
order to the operating board of the
telegraph Ssystems:
Direct the mana cement Of all tele-
graph systems to suspend insofar as
messages referring to teh Postmaster
General are concerned, their rules
prohibiting Transmission of messages
containing hbelous matter"
In some parts OF England dogs