At the beginning of World War I, Hubbard published a great deal of related commentary in "The Philistine" and became anxious to cross the ocean, report on the war and interview the Kaiser himself. However, Hubbard had pleaded guilty on January 11, 1913, in the court of U.S. District Court Judge John R. Hazel for violating Section 211 of the penal code. Hubbard was convicted on one count of circulating "objectionable" (or "obscene") matter in violation of the postal laws. The sentence was suspended on five additional counts, but Hazel fined Hubbard $100, and the federal conviction resulted in a revocation of the publisher's civil rights.