Salt Lake Herald-Republican | 1918-05-26 | Page 61 | Prevent Misuse of Disloyalty Measure

I I I I I I I I i PREVENT MISUSE DISLOYALTY MEASURE District Attorneys Notified Ito to Use Gr Great at Care on oh Espionage Act dy By y United Press 1 WASHINGTON WASHINGTON- May In 23 The The government government government gov gov- acted tonight to 10 prevent the misuse of or war laws laTS against disloyalty Iby by the tho prosecution of or well meaning gl critics United States district attorneys attorney throughout tho the nation were Instructed by the attorney general eueral to use greatest t caution in executing new amendments amendment s to tho the espionage act that thal lo loyal Rl persons persons persons per per- sons may be protected from Crom unjust suspicion suspicion suspicion sus sus- an and prosecution At the same time prompt and aggressive aggressive ag aJ- ressi c enforcement of or the law It In i suppressing disloyalty was waa directed The rhe action closely followed charges charge s read in the senate toda today from irom former forme r President Roosevelt leveled at Postmaster Postmaster Postmaster Post Post- master General Burleson's measures measure against American new pa ers In reply to Roosevelt Hoose tonight ht Postmaster Postmaster Post Post- ma master ter General Burleson designated th the colonels colonel's statement today as merel merely a rehash of partisan matter which has appeared from Crom time lime to time in certain newspapers Roosevelt said Burleson affects to to disregard tho the incontestable facts orl originally set forth by the postmaster general I The postoffice department is charged with the execution of the laws at the administration of or which Mr Ir Roosevelt's criticism was alme aimed He Ile has failed Called to make good his I but lacks the thc manly courage to to acknowledge it I i i The Thc Roosevelt letter presented to the the senate b by Senator Poindexter charged the thel actions of or the postoffice department department depart depart- ment had made it a matter of ot some dan danger er for tor a newspaper to speak the thc truth if that truth be unpleasant to the he the authorities at WashIngtOn Washington Wash Wash- in ington ton The Tho Hearst newspapers Roosevelt Roose said have endeavored to belittle the vital Importance of or our country in this I war and to incite hatred of oC our allies i iwho who are faithfully fighting beside us us and such conduct can bo ho of help to I Germany the enemy we are arc fighting Just so o long as Mr Hearst's publications i lions are permitted in the mails mans Mr I Burleson Is without excuse for excluding i I inS inS' ng any other publications from them I The administration b by its acquiescence permits the continuation of ot Mr tr Hearst's campaign which necessarily i I tends to give aid ald and comfort to Germany Germany Ger Ger- I many and to impair the morale of ot our own people j I Since the war began the administration adminis- adminis j i I has hns used the very great powers of or the government over the public press Ito i ito to stifle honest criticisms of ot governmental govern govern- governmental mental Inefficiency or misconduct govern I while white condoning which necessarily means encouraging pro German anti- anti ally and therefore anti-American anti agi a I 1 tation Roosevelt put Burleson's acts squarely square- square ly 1 y up to President Wilson Nilson saying sayin- President Wilson lIson is responsible for tor overy everything thing Postmaster General Burleson Burle- Burle Burle 1 son and Secretary Baker and George Creel do or leave undone Burleson Baker Creel and their associates as- as s satiates lates possess no importance whatever what what- ever er that except that accruing them because it is through them that the j president sp speaks and acts or refuses or i fails alls to act I