The sun., 1919-04-24

soon as Mr.. Adams, the Department
representative, was notified, he reversed
the ruling of the local managers and
gave notice to this effect.
II have been duly warned that /
would be made the most unpopular
member Of the Cabinet unless l re-
ceded from my position on second class
mail rates. rbelieve my position sound
and best for the people and will not
recede. have known that this attack
was coming - the warning was very
plain. 1 was told by interested men
that they had ruined Hitchcock and
destroyed Taft and that the same thing
would happen to me, but believe in
the Justice OF the American people"
on the subject OF suppression of the
Postal Telegraph, the house organ of
the Postal company, the Postmaster
General said that action was taken to
keep out propaganda Orders were is
sued, he said. that nothing was to be
sent out by the organization either for
or against Government ownership or
control. and that the order was issued
by Mr.. Adams as Director for the good
OF the service and with the approval of
the Postmaster General.
The organized propaga nda" being
directed against him. Mr.. Burleson said,
Is thoroughly understood by him.
1t does not have for It's real purpose
any desire for Improvement in the pos
tai or wire service, but Is intended to
aid In accomplishing reduction of the
rates OF postage on second class mall"
The advertising. manager OF the
World, Mr.. Burleson charged, made an
attack on him founded on falsehood''
when the matter OF postal rates was
before the Ways and Means Committee
~
eventually to repeal this law. Mr. Bur-
Lesson said. and those attacking him be-
lieve that the first step to be taken is
TO get rid of him.
Sees Sinister Purpose.
Thus the sinister purpose Is dis
closed the Postmaster-General in
sisted.
A well known" but unnamed pub.
Usher was declared by Mr.. Burleson to
have said to him In the presence OF First
Assistant Postmaster-General Rooms :
IF you will aid or acquiesce in the re-
peal or this law we will make you the
most popular man in the Wilson Cabi-
net. but II you do not I fear they will
ruin you"
According to Mr.. Burleson he
"spurned' the threats that he would be
ruined as Tart and Hitchcock had been
and that he would be made most I'M
popular of all the Wilson Cabinet IL
he insisted on the second class mall rate
| increases. Therefore Mr.. Burleson be-
leves he "is now confronted with the
EFFORT OF these selfish interests through
systematic propaganda, stealthily con-
cealing their real purpose by classifying
news, Misrepresentation OF facts and ap-
peals to prejudice to destroy the Post
| maser-General and thereby aid In the
| repeal OF the law, thus enabling them TO
| resume the enjoyment Of a postal subsidy
| OF over S70,000.000 per annum which
must be taken out OF the pockets of the
users OF the mail.
| 1T might not be wise a. this time TO
suggest it." he continued. but as a mat
ter OF fact justice as between the users
Of the various classes OF mail would re-
quire an increase of this postage rate
instead of reduction. The general
public for years suffered a loss of mil
lions of dollars by the transportation OF
| second class mail at much less than cost
A large percentage Of this mail Is not
printed and distributed for educational
but solely for commercial purposes"