The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-06-06
HAYS PUTS BAN ON
!. P. 0. spy SYSTEM,
HAPC0OD ASSERTS
Orders Seen As Great Step In
Bringing Reform From
War Methods.
~ NORMAN nArGooD.

~ NORMAN MAfNsOOO.
The Postmaster General 10 putting
through thoss policies with which he has
already delighted the country. He IL
taking the axe to the use of the post
office as . sort Of detective office
Orders have gone out to postmasters
that that no information IL to be given
out by them about individuals using
the mails.
Thus anot her despotic method, born
Of the war. goes unwept to its grave.
Every despotism in the world has
made a speciality OF opening private
correspondence. During the war even
countries with the traditions OF
liberty were driven to 1t. But tho
war 10 over. even II the Knox reso-
luton has not been passsd.
Nothing strikes more savaSsly 1T
the feeling of freedom In q country
than the knowledge that the Govern
mental machine has torn up tho safe
guards to individual liberty that have
grown up through the centuries.
Freedom from Invasion without war
rant, whether In the home or In such
a universal necessity AZ the mail serv-
Ice. IL among the most important Of
these safeguards
HIS ACTS PRAISED.
When VIII H Hays boldly restored
the seoond-ciass mailing privileges
to certain publications from which
these necessary privileges had been
taken away. the complete public ap-
prevail OF his act showed that the
people arc at heart becoming weary
of despotic government. That act
has been praised by all branches of
public opinion. whether liberal or
safely conservative. and even the OK
treme reactionaries have not raised
their voices.
What the public learned 70 call
Paimerism and Burlesonism did no
end of injury to the last administra-
ton. There have as yet been no steps
taken to change the policy of the
Department Of Justice. and II 10 not
yet possible to find out whether
there exists any real Intentions of
acting in q normal peace spirit on
the cases before that department.
There exists. however. an interest
ing difference between the cases of
oppression by the former Department
of Justice and the cases OF oppres-
sion by the former Postoffice Do
partment
NO POSTAL SAFEGUARDS.
Oppression by the postoffce is more
ominous because It 10 carried cut by
officials acting alone. There are no
safeguards. There Is not even the
vestige of protecting by legal form.
In the case of the men. on the other
hand, who are in Jail because they did
not agree with Mr.. Palmer, there
much they were abused. It II true
that some of the leading legal au-
tl,orities in the country have signed
charges that the Department of JUS
tice proceeded Illegally. Nevertheless,
in the majority of cases of legal
lynching of opinion. there were trials
and convictions carried on according
to legal forms.
1t is true, no doubt. that the de-
partment, the prosecuting attorneys,
the judges and the juries all were
animated more by war spirit than by
any interest in fact and freedom but
where there was a trial. however Bit
ter In spirit, we have q situation en-
t,rely different from that brought
about by the secret and irresponsible
Postoffice Department.
Mr.. Hays has not only swept away
the last vestiges OF despotism in his
department, as far as the political
use of the mails is concerned. He
has also abolished the oligarch's at
titude toward the employees In the
department itself.
Labor was disseminated and cowed
and reluctant when he went in. 1t
In enthusiastic today. The chief Is
extremely popular with the force
The representatives Of the unionA
instead of being excluded, are well
coined into conference.
More detailed considerations are
not neglected Welfare work. So
called, is sometimes distrusted or
suspected by the unions; when IL is
carried on by employers who OPP
pose the unions on their funda-
mental claims
HAS HUMANE SPIRIT.
When, however. II Is carried on.
not as camouiage.s but In sincere
and humane spirit. II IL of genuine
value. II a woman clerk Is Ill II is
rather disgraceful that there should
be no better place to take her than
the lavatory.
Before he took ONCE everybody
knew that Will Hays WAS q brilliant
executive and politician. Little more
was known about him. He II show
ing that he understands fundamen-
tails. He Is making many changes
that are merely those Of q good adj
ministrator, but the changes that put
his department right with the pub
lie instinct for freedom and right
with labor are in class that calls
for a different kind of praise.
A mere politician may give mp
abuses when the public bowling be-
comes loud. Small credit he gets for
his late yielding. The man who sees
ahead and acts fearIessly on larger
nriUCinlea fa = afafA4man