The Washington times., 1919-04-24
BIGINTERESTS
PLOTHISR RUIN.
IS ASSERTION
Of BURLESON
BY ROBERT J. BENDER.

To the activity of selfish private
interests" which, on occasions, he
charges, went so far as to threaten
his political head, Postmaster Cen
eral Burleson attributes his wide
spread unpopularity in the country
today.
Difficulties of war service, he says,
have offered fertile ground in which
these interests" soEsd the seed Of
discomfort
The railroads, opponents Of the
parcels post and publishers angry
at the second class postage rates,
Werei cited by Burleson as among
those influences at work in opposi-
ton to him now.
He recited two instances when, he
said, representatives of certain
classes Of publications called on him
and intimated his political future
might be shattered by their forces
II he did not move to repeal, or sus-
pend, the law increasing second-class
postal rates.
Says He Was Warned.
u was given warning" Burleson
said, that they had destroyed, po-
Iltically. former President Taft and
former Postmaster General Hitch
cock, and had defeated many Con-
gressmenr" BurIeson asserted.
Attacks on the Postmaster General
6A II - -
country, including a demand upon
president Wilson by New England
Democrats for his removal from Of
nee Asked why, in his belief, he was
80 unpopular. he summed UP his rea-
sons in the following sentence:
TO the fact that my policy as a
public official runs counter to GER
tain more or less selfish interests,
ana to the further fact that the pub
lie generally is not informed as to
the purpose OF my policy and the con-
dluons under which it is determined
and carried out"
War Gave Critics Opportunity.
In amplihcation, he said that along
with the many other inconveniences
with which the people have had to
contend during the world war and
worldwide disorder, has been that of
promptly, as they have been accus-
toned to. The average man would
accept this as matter Of course, en-
during this inconVenienee as he does
ALI other sacrifices In the service Of
his country. II he took the trout 20
lock- INTO the matter he. would dis
coFer that there had been less dis
tufbAHoe to the postal servlcs than
10 any ether function OF ERither public
or private business. thoGfh the ad-
dltional burdens put up64 it were
"Most people would be inclined TO
accept the situation without particu-
lar inquiry or thought, ana would not
be disposed 70 complain or crfticise.
But sf'&h eIr tention Is pointedly and
persistenuy called to the fact that
they. have suffered some inconveni-
ence, they recognize this as being
true, and ttan may. without due con-
sideration. accept as also true what
persons having a personal motive may
say about it Yet a very large part Of
public complaint has been without
criticism. il being recognized that
some difficulties are unavoidable at
such a time"
Thinks Preas Also HisIed.
But" it was interposed. "the at
tacks upon you and the department
have been very persistent and general
throughout the press of the country"
THAT is true" Burleson replied,
but I think that for the most part
the press Of the country has been like
the rest OF the public. Knowing thar
the postal service has. at times during
the war. not been as good as they
would like it, they have accepted too