The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1919-04-29
He Says New York World Pub
liShed "a Base Lie" in It's
Criticism of Him.
HE YEARNS FOR A FIGHT
Charges That Criticisms Arise
Wholly From Desire to Re-
peal Zone Sytem of Rates to
Publishers.

ter General Burleson continued his
attacks against what he recently
termed an organized effort to de-
stroy him by issuing statement re-
iterating charges that criticism OF
his administration were not design
ed to work improvements in the
postal and wire service but to OBJ
tain the repeal of the zone system OF
rates on second class mail matter
The postmaster general said the is
sue arising from the criticisms pre-
sented test which he welcomed
THE news reaches the postmaster
general this morning." said Mr..
Burleson in his statement. that
Mr.. BurieSon'S methods as applied
to the postal and wire service will be
the subject matter of discussion to-
day by the American Newspaper
Publishers association While this
association is putting in the entire
day talking about Mr. Burleson and
his methods the thoughts of certain
selfish members thereof during that
time will not be on Mr.. Burleson's
methods or on desired improve.
ments in the postal and wire SER
vice, but on their share of the $72,-
100000 they have been enjoying as
nr annual nnetai euhsidv for manv
years, and as TO how they may re-
cover the part of which they were
deprived by congressional action
and how to remove the danger OF
losing more of it, There may be lit
tie said by them about this legalized
graft, but it will be uppermost in
their minds just the same
1T is now insisted that this is
sue be not obscurcd to deceive the
American people. The real issue is
whether certain newspapers and
magazines shall continue to flch
from the postal revenue $72.OOO,-
600 each year and impose that bur
den upon other users of the mail.
This presents a test. welcome IT,
"It is noted that G.. j. Post has
promptly identified himself as the
chief lobbyist of this coterie OF sell
'Sh pupliSneTS 10 WnOm ! referl ed
in a recent statement. The Others
TO whom ! referred in that state
ment will he at this meeting They
are invited 10 disclose their identity
and TO repeat what they said to me
"Mr. Post actually developed hvs-
terra about 'Prussianism and vicious
one-man censorship established in
the postoffice.' The basis for his
panic is as infamous falsehood as
was ever published, to wit: The
alleged refusal of the postmaster
general TO have transmitted over the
telegraph wires certain matter criti-
cizing the postmaster general The
New York World knew that this was
base Ii" when II published II. Ir.
Post knew this was base lie W, an
he repeated il AS they well know.
the postmaster general never at any
time directed the exclusion OF any
wires. but on the contrary has or
dered that even libelous matter as
against him shall not be refused.
though the sending OF such matter Is
prohibited bv rules of the COM
panies enforced for many years.
'Mr. Post fails to disclose the
amount OF money raised by him to
repeal this legislation or in what
manner il was spent am sure
this would he very illuminating to
the public He INDUCES in much
juggling OF figures relating to pos
tai subsidies and deficits This shall
avail nothing by way OF confusing
She public IL the postmaster gen.
eral can prevent it. The issue is
shall certain newspapers and maya
zines enjoy postage rate on their
commodity, a large part OF which is
hot only purely commercial. but
highly profitable advertising. which
entails on the postal adjustment
for its transmission an annual loss
OF $12.000.000 to be borne by 9th
er users of the mails In an unjust
tax upon them. The postmaster
general believes that this Is outra-
geous and indefensible and has said
so. The congress has partly cor
rected the wrong The postmaster