The Evening critic., 1882-02-25


citation, whose local agent he Is, has felt ltsolf
compelled to publicly apologize for the malice
and falschoods of an agent. Mr.. smiths letter
s Us follows,
"0ESERAL OFFICE
''WfsrERN ASSOCIATED PRESS,
"C1fCAgO, Feb. %, 1852.
"To nc Pa5Hc;
cone week npo there came I'm tho report ofthe
Western Associated Pross from Washington
what purportcd 10 be clrcumstantial account
Of tho testimony OF Mr.. Pitncy, ON re-cXamina-
tion before the Senate committee, making In
quiry into the disbursements OF the Treasury
contingent fund, which reflected on the oX-Soc-
rotary and Mrs. sherman. While this re
port seemed TO have been made by some
person present Mt the session of the
committee, II was yet of 50 extraordinary
character ns 10 suggest doubt MS to It's genuine
meas. This doubt disappeared on the follow
ing day, when the Washington correspondent
informed me that certain parties desired to
send In the same way n sensational report OF
the testimony of Emerson. This was declined,
and inquiry made OF the correspondent for the
authority on which MS report as to the plnesy
be received by mall, Senator'S Sherman and
Halo, and also Pitney, pronounced the report
false IN every particular The investigation
which, was Instituted by tho officers OF
the Associated Press confirms tho state
ments made by senators sherman and
Hale. It seems that our correspondent
was mlsled by reporter OF the Washing
ton star, and by statements coming from
prominent characters at the Capital, whose
nuiiltS uTt WlInucll, 'iS IO pObu Cpulu ItsulN 70
any one from their publication. The zeal
which certain persons at Washington have
shown 10 injure the ex-Secretary of tho
Treasury through the Associated Press Is
worthy a better cause, but they nced not fear
publicity through tho same instrumcntality
II is, however, due to the correspondent
that this much should be stated, although he
deserves censure for being misled into commit
ting great wrong, not only against Mr.. Shor-
man and the Senate committee, but against the
association which had given him Its confidence
and relied on his prudence, truthfulnes5
and impartiality. This fault he has ac-
knowlcdged, and we have assurance of greater
carefulness In the future. This unusual
method of addressing the public is felt 10 bo
warranted by the gravity OF tho wrong done,
and the importance of placing tho vlndlcation
Of n distinguished public officer and citizen
beyond all question. In making this state
ment 1t is also proper to add that this Is the
first instance since the organization OF the AS
ISOLATED Press when designing persons have
succeeded in using its facilities for an i'm
proper and malicious purpose. 1t has3.becn
tried often, but was never before successful
1t is believed that this mishap is due to the
lnexperience of the correspondents
"WILLIAM HENRY SMITH,
"Genoral Manager"
The virtuous EUeaiR1 star feels called on to
rise and explain Its connection with this
matter. The Star says:
"Mr. William. Henry Smith, who is the
agent of the Western Associated Press at
Chicago, strives to relieve that concern of the
| dilemma in which II was placed lately In con
sequence of its Washington agent having sent
| out false news from this city by saying that
| person was misled In the premises by re
| porter OF the Washington star. The Juggling
ihs name Sv T Mr. 'es s,b Paper %as into hs
| piece Of impertinence, and in doing 1t In the
| way he did that gentleman has been guilty as
| well of imposing a falsehood upon his patrons
| and readers. The columns Of the Star never
| contained any such stun sent away
| nom Washington on the occasion referred to,
| and what II did publish on the subject did not
| afford even the slightest groundwork FOR such
detailed and injurious statements as were at
that time sent out by the agent of the Western
Associated Press. If Mr.. Smith did not know
| this when he made his so-called explanation
we give him notice OF the fact now; aud we
| submit that as little as any gentleman occupy
| ing his responsible position can do is to cor
| rect in as broad and public way as possible
the false impression he has created"
Now, 1t Will throw considerable light upon
this whole matter when 1t is known that Mr.
Fergus Patrick Ferris, Washington agent OF
the Western Associated Press, is also the SEN
ate reporter for the Star. II therefore follows
that the Western Associated Press agent could
not have been misled by ''the reporter OF the
star for these two persons are one and the
same, namely, air. Fergus Patrick Ferris. The
star lodges this point In way that shows
that 1t is ut once ashamed OF It's connection
with MI Fergus Patrick Ferris and that 1t Is
| willing, by silence on that fact, TO put upof
| Mr.. Wn. Henry Smith and the public gener
ally false impression which is equivalent b
downright falseho0d. Mr.. Smith does not 81,
that the associations agent was misled by TIL,
star, but that he was misIed by 'the rep)rte
Of the STAR" quite different thing; and tn
readiness with which our esteemed but some
what duh and slow-witted contemporary de
MES that of which 1t has not been accused Is
confession of guilt-in intention If not in deed
Ii viii not do for Fergus Patrick Ferris L
plead the baby act OF ineXperience any more
Than the baby act Of being misled. We hnv
shown that 1t was impossible for him to hav
been misled as he claimed, by the Star re
porter as he is that Stdr reporter himself A
to his experience, he wa an old news
paper reporter In st. Louis and CAM
here at the time the Post was starte,
rs n reporter on that paper. He ha
also acted as Washington correspondent OF til
st. Louis Republican until he was kicked out 70
using his position 10 maliciously and men1t
| ciously malign citizens Of st. Louis and publ
men Of Missouri. This late outbreak Is NJ
due to his being either misled or ineSp'
rienced. II is due TO inboln malice and pc
| sonal spleen.