davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1919-07-10
Death of Lad.

Melvin Guy Skinner, the seven
year old son of Mr.. and Mrs. Orin
II, Skinner, of south OF Garden
Grove, was brought to the Leon hos
pital Sunday evening suffering from
appendicitis and was operated upon
tho same evening, but he was N 2
Monday morning, his body abelAI
takon 10 The homo s0f his poxeotD
s1Gonday 0venin1. Tho pareote A4Ne
~ ~ ~ n ia 9 - = 8 's''.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1919-07-10

I win buy several 1arms IN Dsca-
Gur cUuAty. - - lf yOu Want 20
-, vofsS tnsE asesy: 8 (,
New-York tribune., 1919-04-27

ment of the unions in the postal
service was resented by them, and
it was therefore reasonable for the
telephone operators to expect injus-
tice of him. 1t is too late for Mr..
Burleson to win the confidence of
labor"
In going into the details Of the
strike. "The Springfield Republican"
attempts to show that in a way Mr..
Burleson has been victim of eco-
nomic circumstances.
But at the conclusion Of the strike.
"The Boston Herald" found thst
there were widespread desires tn
ring off Mr.. Burleson," while "The
Boston Transcript" says. "Burleson
hasn't friend left. So, go oh.
The members of the Republican
Central Committee doubtless think
he's the best friend their party ha
got"
New-York tribune., 1919-04-27

present case the outrage Ia intensl.
fed by the fact that it was com.
mltted in the interest of an indi,
v'dual olllceholder ia protoct him
from the Just penalty Of his iucom.
petence, his illegality and his oyui
cal defiance of public opiuion.
lla'nly the people have no rights
left which the Federal officials are
hound to respeet It this high handed
act OF usurpatlon and oppression
goes unpunlshed, "
"N0t long ago the president ef
the l'oslal telegraph COMPANY de
elafed that any proposal that the
government take over the telearaphs
might just IA we'll embody Il pro
rosal to have the press controlled
by the government" declares "rhe
Philadelphia Inquirer" and citing
the Burleson-" "World" incident, it
continues.
"Hcretofore 1t has been reserved for
tho responsible heads OF n newspapcr
to decide what Is proper to print, but
now that authority seems to have been
usurpcd by tho telegraph officials, who,
for the time being, are tho subordi-
mates of Postmaster General Burleson.
II the late Car Of Russia or the for
mcr Emperor Of Germany had been
guilty Of such action it would be taken
as matter Of course, but the fact
that such an incident is possible in the
United States Of America will come as
a painful surprise to great many
citizens. Under the authority Of Con-
gress and by the direction of the Presi-
dent the telegraph and cable systems
of the country are under the control
Of the Postmaster General If Mr..
Burleson upholds his subordinates in
their refusal to send any news except
that which they consider proper then,
it is needless to say, the liberty of the
press is at an end in this Republic.
1--WE have been hearing q great deal
about the Importance of making the
world safe for democracy. That is
very good, but in the mean time it
would be fine thing to make the
United States and the present Admin
istration safe for democracy"
"The New York World" declares:
"If Burlesonism is to become an
American institution, it is easily to
be seen that it must lead to many
such bureaucratic tyrannies. In this
instance service was denied on the
ground that the Postmaster General
was criticised. From such ruling
to positive prohibition of discus
sion, by mail or wire, distasteful to
anybody in authority, is only step
"The law Of libel in most places
is precise, but it does not apply in
advance of tho offence. 1t is only
In Burlesonized postal and wire
New-York tribune., 1919-04-27
From Paul 7'hon

1t is believed by some of those
affected that this cannot be
brought about unless "Burleson is
gotten rid Of" The principal lob
byist employed by this selfish
combination, which is reputed to
have raised many thousands of
dollars to be used for accomplish
ing the repeal of this law, in circu-
lar letters, after telling Of the
number of Democratic representa-
tives committed to the repeal of
the law and how it was hoped Re-
publican members could be used.
urged certain publishers not to
contine their attack to the zone
law (the increased postage rates),
but to broaden their scope of crit
lclsm. Thus the sinister purpose
is disclosed.
| do not object to criticism hav-
ing behind it an honest purpose. On
the contrary, it is welcomed: but it
is regretted that many conscien-
tlous publishers who desire to be
talr are frequently unwittingly mis-
led by those willing to resort to
base means for the accomplishment
OF sinister purposes.
New-York tribune., 1919-04-27

because in addition to keeping his eye
on Congress Mr.. Burleson was never
at loss to propose suggestions to the
members of the Democratic National
Committee and the more important
leaders Of the party throughout the
country
"Some OF these leaders pay him a
very high tribute for industry and
focundity OF ideas. For instance, It
seems to be pretty generally agreed
that Mr.. Burleson was tho author of
the slogan He kept US out of war; SO
adroitly and effectively used during
the Presidential campaign of 1916, but
one that was never personally en-
ployed by tho President, though the
latter did not discourage the use of 1t.
another idea generally credited to
Mr. Burleson was TO suggest the up
peal made by President Wilson to the
New-York tribune., 1919-04-27
Burleson's Statement

THE organized propaganda di-
rected against the Postmaster
General is thoroughly under
stood by him. He was advised last
year that it would be inaugurated
before the converting of this Con-
gress. 1t does not have for it's real
purpose any desire for improvement
in the postal or wire service, but
is intended to aid in accomplishing
reduction of the rates of postage
on second class mail newspapers
and magazines).
A virulent attack founded upon
falsehood was made on the Post
master General by the advertising
manager of "The New York World"
the principal newspaper engaged in
this intrigue, at the time the in
crease of these postage rates was
pending before the Ways and Means
Committee. The increased rates
were bitterly opposed. All opposi-
ton was brushed aside and an in
crease Of the rates was made by
the Congress-. The repeal of this
law is what is now really desired
by those attacking the Postmaster
General.
New-York tribune., 1919-04-27
MY Record

\ skEn hy % Washington COR
respondent if he could tex
plain his unpopularity," postmas=
ter General hurleson NADIA tha
following points and statements,
!, ~ Egke popularity hvs / am
Net geseg 10 make aay sacrifices
Of my nabife duty ts attain 10
ef 80 heii a."
y. "kHowsag thdt the psstat
ssttfes az times during che sedr
has NOE been as good az then
mould like IL, they (the press)
haze accepted too often the reo-
sons for this given them bu
those interested I'M misrepresent-
ing tho facts"
8. "Thc establishment Of the
parcel post, which has been Of
inestimablo palue to tho count,y.
soas fought most bitterly. Every
emtemsion is still being fought
By those sohose private interests
may suffer from it."
4. by system of estimating
the sceight of mail carried by the
railroads the government has for
gears been paying tho railroads
much more than they earned for
service rendered. The correction
Of this abuse pkich has saved tho
government $4,000, 900 anruallv.
has been bitterly fought By tho
railroads."
B. "Ihe pneumatic tube incu-
bus, tohere the government svcs
paying millions to a private con-
cern for q acorse than useless
servace, 'eas another thing which,
aoith the aid Of President WILSON.
sce corrected-and this has been
resented bitterly"
6. ut cost the government
S72,ooo,ooo more per year than
it received for carrying second
class matter, the bulk of .ohich
IS advertising which the pub-
hshers are highly paid for
circulating. I cannot claim
credit for the correction Of this
epd. a commission, of ,chich
FORMER Supreme Court Justice
Hughes soas ckairman, recon-
mended that the second class RITA
be raised"
New-York tribune., 1919-04-27
~ HE trouble between Postmaster

FrHE trouble between Postmaster
4 General Burleson and "The New
York World" developed over the re-
Jectlon of news query by the West
ern Union and the Postal Telegraph
companies, which was designed to
sell part Of an article which had ap-
peared in "The New York World"
on the morning Of April 2l, and
which was written by Louis Seibold,
The Worlds" Washington CORE
spondcnt.
In that article it was stated
that
L. "Convicts working for Burle-
son lin Texas) were whipped, it is
alleged"
2. He "clashed with his post
ohcc Department. associates"
B. lie is "the politician Of tho
Cabinet;
4. He "snooped around the Capt.
tor;
g. He "madc trouble in the Cab
met;
g. There had been "com plants
about patronage";
T. Labor regards him az a foe;
D. "Acts Of injustice charged";
D. Prohibition charged to him.;
10. He is CONDEMNED by American
Federation OF Labor;
II. He IL "an autocrat";
H. lie alone Was responsible "for
taking over cables";
H. lie is "called bitter parti-
tan"
IA. He drives his aids at full
speed"
IN summing up these qualities and
allegations "The World" quericd its
news bureau clientele --- IA common
Pfaetice-~-as follows:
Washington Seibold --- Burleson
Hstused as snoop, trouble maker. dis
''xanlzer, autoerat and arch politician
fostoiiice employees call their chief
s'ass driver, convict laborers having
1ssn whipped On bis farm Msgovorn~
~sss u mail system alleged He Ia
New-York tribune., 1919-04-27
-Brooklyn Daily Eagle,

Congressional Record is interspersed
with frequent instances to show that
while Mr.. Burleson was watching
Congress-, Congress was by no means
entirely ignorant of either his mis-
sions or deceived as to his motives.
THE nearest approach to an ex-
PLANTATION Of his intimate relations
with the President to be obtained in
Cabinet circles is that 'Burleson is
useful to the President There is no
question hut that Mr.. Burleson has
always been very much on his lob.
tie is man of indomituble energy,
most frugal IN habit. tireleas and per-
S'stent in pursuit Of his objects, and
is credited with having won the high
regard Of the President by the por-
a'stency Of personal alterations aud
compliance with the most trivial of the
Presidential wlshas."
In support of its statement that
he was the trouble maker of the
Cabinet,
Niio has never appoarad to ha ON
Nther than casual terms with ANY of
his Cabinet associates with tho OK
repl'on ef former Attorney General
'iFegoW, with whom he Vsed to go
tsNlNe,
'lhele aFe many slogles of an
ApoevSphal character 80 Indicate that
ME- i'usiesen WAS as pEelne of teouble
making III the Cabinet IA he has been
III Uohefesa. Home Of the PfesIdent's =
mcst important alds and political ad-
vsefs hap at times reflected marked
resentment toward Undertakings in
itated by Mr.. nurleson for which he
had secured the indorscment of the
Presidents Most of these undertakings
were naturally of political nature.
New-York tribune., 1919-04-27
ooh! That Little Mischief!''

credited with having put national pro-
hibition through-5,000 (words)."
1t was that query which was re-
jected.
In regard to convict whipping
The Worlds" story said:
Reading from a report of the peni-
tehtlary Investigating Committee Of
lexas, MIR. Miller cited the statements
OF Captain Brooks, of the Burleson G.
Johns farm, who testified that one of
the convicts tluce) was punished by
eighteen licks' for laziness. The
same evidence disclosed that other
eony'cts were often whipped by the
guards, uaing short handle of wood
10 which were fastened several strapa
''Va faet long, each more than an inch
wide"
Again, as Il politicians;
Nihora Aas always hoau u good deal
et mystery as ia the roNsous for Mr.
hNyleson's advancement from tho
feAas delegation in Congress- ia the
eeNsFel of the fostotiiee Department,
" has generally heen credited to tho
lNnaeNee of NeloNel Edward NJ.
House, mast intimate friend and sd-
wiser ef FYesldent Wilson and NOW
seeena N command of the American
delegation "a the peaea conference al
'aFls No appointment made hy Mp,
Wilseh at the oulset OF hls tlpst tpvm
provoked as much sNrprisa hs hs
nomination Of Mr. nufiesun for post.
master General. The record of the
Texas Congressman up to that time
had given neither PROMISE nor achieve.
ment commensurate with the honor
paid him. However
"Mr. Wilson presumably discovered
in Mr.. Burleson qualities that had
never been revealed to his associates
in the Legislative branch of tho gov
ernment. He proceeded to rcorganizc
the Postofilco Department on a purely
political basis Tho leaders Of tho
Democratic party in all Of tho states,
including New York, were not long
permitted to doubt that Mr.. Burleson
was the politician Of tho Cabinet n
distinction that Mr.. Burleson himself
has never repudiatod, but on the con-
trary has manifcstly encouraged.
"Mr. Burlcson persstently main
tained very close scrutiny on and
over Congress, and while other mem
bers of the Cabinet were given to de-
voting their time to the successful op-
Grafton of their respective departments,
he always found time to watch things
at the Capitol for the President to
give orders and to badly critcise the
personal views and Legislative under
takings OF his former associates. His
lack OF tact in doing so has been one
OF his most conspicuous qualities and
has frequently called down upon his
head personal denunciations uttered
on the floor Of both houses"
Or as "snooper":
IAN instance of this was provided
by question asked by Representative
North, Of North Dakota, during dis
cussion Of the proposition to censor
the mails in August, 1917. Interro-
eating Representative Moon, chairman
of the Postoiiice and Post Roads Com
mittee, concerning the origin OF tho
suggestion, Mr.. Norton asked:
Was that message brought to Won
by the Postmaster General, who has
been snooplng around the Capitol and
Ohice Baiiding this morning?'
Mr.. Burlcson was often accused OF
'snooping, Of mcddling, Of misrcprc-
scnting the attitude Of tho President
on pending legislation. Of promoting
his personal wishes and views. The
New-York tribune., 1919-04-27
NHE rejection by the govern
ment controlled Western
n Union and Postal Telegraph

inehI controlled Western
II Union and Postal Telegraph
companies of news query
submitted to them by "The New
York World" and the strike of the
boston and New England telephone
operators have combined to further
subject Postmaster General Burle
son to bath of scorching pub
licity.
A French political authority re-
marked some years ago that when
once agreed "the unanimity of critics
WAS y wonderful thing" and in the
case OF Burleson this exceptional
status OF criticism seems ia have
heen attained. The Postmaster Con
erai Is roundiy criticised by Demo
cratic and Republican organs alike.
"tha New York World" which Mr.,
hufleson singles out as the newspa-
per leading tha fight against him,
eahees the view Of a eahlegram sent
Va President Wilson hy the president
VI the Democratic Club ef Massa
ehAselis and eleven members af the
statn legislature, which declared
"bufleseh wfeeling The Democratic
party. Remove him" "
New-York tribune., 1919-04-27

service that subordinates, fearing
vengeance or courting favor, under
take in their own interest to antici-
pate its penalties. No man directly
or indirectly responsible for such a
system Of espionage should be Post
master General of the United
States"
"The Philadelphia Bulletin" be-
lieves sit is pertinent to inquire
whether the censorship which was
applied was the act of the New York
local wire managers, as a matter of
individual judgment, or was the re-
tlex of the purpose of the acting con-
troller Of the Federal wire system
to muzzle his critics."
In any event, The New York
Tribune finds that "the offence
which he has given to every person
who mails letter, or answers a
telephone call, or pens telegraphic
message, is a warning to the public
what it may expect when it permits
arrogant ignorance to be in charge
OF public business. Tyran-
meal, foolish, of a disorderly mind,
Burleson is most sinister"
New-York tribune., 1919-04-27
THE Postmaster General had

IrEIiE Postmaster General had
= hoon scared under many sep,
Arate heads, His organization ot
the zone system for second class
mailing matter, alleged inferior mail
service, and open dissatisfaction
among employees are hut three edlfy-
lng chapters of his postal difficulties,
Tho tedarall2atlon of telegraph,
telephone and cable lines, with sub
seaWast ralsng eF rates and raising
or WAges, which employees have de-
eAfed "afe actually no false at ALI
have BEEN cited as olhef dseraeeFul
Failures and examples Of govern
meht control, "applied with an anna
teur's handL'
with dissatisfaction expressed
upon all sides, the Boston and New
England telephone strike and the
refusal OF minor managers Of the
Western Union and the Postal Tele-
graph companiessto transmit news
query which touched upon the Post
master Generals political history
have brought forth such a veritable
avalanche of critism that The
New York Tribune is prompted
editorially to remark that "the
beauty about Burleson is that his
record is so bad that not even the
most impudent partisan can make
an excuse for him." and the Demo-
cratic columbia Record" de-
cides "that an object lesson is some
times necessary and Mr.. Burleson is
giving us one"
Furthermore:
ave people Of the South have long
pridcd ourselves-though lately we
have 'kidded' ourselves-on our JetYer-
sonian Democracy. 1t is far cry
from the Democracy of Jefferson to
that of Burleson.
at was necessary and inevitable
that great powers should be lodged in
the hands of the central government
during the war. And these powers
were conferred ungrudgingly in the
confident belief that they would be re-
mitted. An extension of Mr.. Burle-
sons theories would perpetually con-
centrate them at Washington. Over
the ruins of Democracy there would he
reared bureaucracy as absolute as
that which dominated Germany"
"The Louisville Courier-J ournal,"
another Democratic organ, in COM
menting upon the inferior mail SER
vice says:
albert Sidney Burleson why
wasn't he christened Alexander, Julius
Caesar or Charlemagne at least lis
not man to let George do it. If it
Is to be done Albert Sidney must do
New-York tribune., 1919-04-27

1t. II 1t isn't done possibly it is be-
cause Albert Sidney is heaving out of
windows so much of the Internal
machinery of private control as is
represented by the executive heads of
the wire companies. Pardon Mr.. Bur
Lesson. Every day is his busy day."
In this national attack which has
been joined by even the friends of
the Administration, "The Philadel-
phia Inquirer" finds that while Bur-
Lesson is not worthy target, the ulti-
mate responsibility for his acts must
rest not with the Postmaster Gen
eral, but with the President, who
stands as his sponsor. 1t continues:
1--WE have no doubt that the friends
of the President are entirely sincere in
the drive they are making against Mr.
Burleson, but every word of condemna-
ton they utter against him is a rebuke
to the President who appointed him and
who sustains him in all of the things
people. He may be forced. out, but
President Wilson cannot escape the re-
sponsihllity for the acts of his faithful
servant
This opinion finds many echoes,
among them that Of "The New York
Sun" "Consequently," it says, after
q view of the Postmaster Generals
record, "every nemocratic assault on
Postmaster General Burleson's adj
mlnlstratl0n is a Democratlo assault
ON President Wilson'S admlnistra-
tlon and a Democratic confession Of
the Weakness ot that admnlstra-
t1en," while "Ihe Detroit free
Press" believes "lf the PRESIDENT
does not act something Is certain te
happen "a seen "a The new Congress
eehvenes." And TAT ANY rate" con
eludes "1'he ri iaso Morning
Times "Mt. l3urlesoh FIRST acted
on the advice OF Mr.. Wilson"
II HE Boston and New England
"A strike Of telephone operators
and the not altogether happy settle
ment Of it have been largely attrb-
uted to MIR. Burleson. During the
period of the strike "The Boston
Transcript" became so wroth that it
advocated independent action by the
Governor Of Massachusetts and the
state Legislature. 1t threw down the
gauntlet, remarking, "the people
have right to expect protection
from the servants Of the Common
wealth when they fail to get it from
their head servants at Washington.
Is Massachusetts powerless in the
premises? We think not"
"In his characteristic way" says
"The Portland Press" "the Postmas-
ter General undertook to ignore the
claims of the telephone girls in New
England. We don't need to say what
the result was. 1t has been too pain
fully impressed upon the business
and private interests of this section.
There are many things the Presi-
dent needs, but first of all new
postmaster general"
1t adds:
Postmaster General Burleson didn't
appear to care whether the public was
inconvenienced and subjected to great
loss or not. He really forced the tele-
phone employees to strike when by
little effort on his part strike might
have been avoided"
THE New York Evening Post"
finds: GAS soon as the Post Office
Department consented to indorse
whatever settlement might be
reached between the local manager
and the union, the difficulty was ad
Justed in few hours. This shows
that something was seriously wrong
at Washington. MIR. Burleson's treat
New-York tribune., 1919-04-27

country in October last for the cleo
ton Of ~ Democratic Congress the
Republicans called 1t AN autocratlc
domaud' At any rate, Mr., burleson Ia
roputod TO hAva induced tho President
ia writo aud issue hla appoM lor de-
mNndl, with tho result that tho Ropuh-
li,Nus captured both houses Of Non-
gross aud won hack oloven at the
states they had lost to Mv, Wilson two
years hofora,
Nlkora eomas ia pers0nai knowledge
fr0m an eSeellent source tho state
ment that at the Nvst meellNg ot the
Cabinet Nfter the hemoeFaNe disaster
following tNa i'YesldeNt's appeAl DIS
euaslan "a is tina eAuses lNspiFea a
member or tina body 10 intimate that
the ifesldenis nddress TO tina country
was not properly Interpreted. No ref
ercnce wns made to the effect OF 1t,
but thc President Ia reputed to have
snd III substances we know tho effect
of it, ali right, and | want to sny that
tho man who suggested that movc Is
In this ROOM by the process Of elm
nation tho honor Of proposing tho
step was pinned on Burlcson, as II
were. However tho incident may have
affected MIR. Burlcson's associates, it
does not appear to have caused him to
have lost prestige with the President"
New-York tribune., 1919-04-27

TT WAS mayhap singular coin
Il cidcnce that the rejection Of a
news query from "Thc New York
World" came in the wake of the
news and editorial campaign which
that democratic organ had aimed at
the Postmaster General.
Briefly, the query was the offer
Of Mr.. Burlesons Washington
career which had been reviewed by
"The Worlds" Washington corre-
spondent, and which the telegraph
heads decided was so caustic as to
be Improper" to transmit over the
government controlled wires. j. P.
Miller, chief of the division of in
formation in the Postoffice Depart
mcnt at Washington, insists that
"Mr. Burleson knew nothing what
ever about it (the rejection)," and
later it was announced that the post
master chad instructed the tele-
graph companies to hold up no
stories containing libellous refer
ence to him and his administration. 4"
Yet tho fact that one message was
refused contributes an interesting
exhibit to the relationship between
government controlled wires and
the freedom of the press.
Terming the incident ono of
"usurpation gone mad" "The New
York Evening Sun" says: 'In the