The Lamar register., 1920-06-30
WASHINGTON NOTES
Treat EN- Rough"

promulgated by Postmaster General
Burleson and posted in all the post
offices OF the United States, it is an
nounced that if employees of the postal
service make any statement about the
postal establishment which is false
they will be 'summarily dismissed
Since summary dismissal means i'm
mediate dismissal without trial it is
manifest that no postal employe can
Hereafter with safety to himself make
any statement whatever regarding the
service in which he is employed. If
he should err to any degree in his
statemnt of facts he would do SO ut
the peril of losing his position.
For instance, few years ago the
postmaster in one of the principal cit
les boasted Immediately after Christ
mas that his office had delivered all
the Christmas mail that had arrived.
A subordinate postal employe made the
statement that there were so car loads
of Christmas mail undistributed. Man
ifestly both Of the statements could
not have been correct. Under Mr.
Burleson's new gag rule one and per
haps both of these employees would be
subject to summary dismissal. If the
fact was that there We're only 20 car
loads of undelivered mail the employe
who said that there were 30 made Il
false statement and would be subject
Al hgtG h.4
efal purport Of his statement was cor
rect If postal employe should as
sert that mail is delayed three days
through incompetent organization.
whereas it had been delayed only two
and half days, he would be subject
TO summary dismissal under the Bur
Lesson rule.
"ln view of the manner in which the
Wilson Administration has ignored its
'pitiless publicity pledge, the Burle-
son ban upon the giving out of inform
alton is no cause for surprise. The
new gag rule will be warmly commend
ed by Democratic leaders everywhere,
coming as il does at the opening Of a
political campaign. Undoubtedly this
warning to Government employees will
be of tremendous benefit to the Demo-
cratic party during the contest which
ends in November. BY throwing
scare into the entire postal organiza-
tion, Mr.. Burleson will undoubtedly
save the Democratic party many an
embarrassing disclosure. Fearing that
in telling the truth they might make
come slight mistake, postal employees
who have read the warning will keep
silent lest they forfeit their positions.
Nov. in the interest of the Demo
cratic party, Mr.. Burleson might go
Il step farther and issue another warn
ing that if any newspaper makes any
false statement concerning the postal
service II will be 'summarily' barred
from the mails By establishing such
able TO throw terror into the hearts
Of newspaper publishers. Most news
paper publishers endeavor to tell the
truth. but, like all human beings, they
they sometimes make mistakes they
would hesitate To publish the truth
about the postal service if Mr.. Burle-
son should threaten to summAily bar
them from the mails if. in the publ,
cation of 4 truth. they should make
some slight error in presentation Of
facts.
The possibilities Of the Burleson
gag plan are enormous. The Admin
istration will be consistent if 1t resorts
to every means of suppressing facts
regarding its management Of the af-
fairs Of the Government Mr. Burle
son has set an example which may be
followed by United States marshals
and prosecuting attorneys, revenue
agents. quarantine, inspectors. and all
other branches of officialdom.
"The Burleson idea of the proper
way to govern the American people
evidently is to treat 'em rough"