The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-04-06

Mr.. Merritt, Of the Illinois Legislature. vigor-
Ously Attacks Representatives Of the Press.

SPRINGFIELD. Ill, April5.-The telephone
lobby exerted its giant strength in the
House this morning In an attempt to re-
strict the freedom of the public press. The
wOrdy warfare was confined chiefly to
words, however, and the advocates of tele-
phone legislation came to the front so de-
cisively that whatever intentions the lobby
may have had in the direction of definite
action were hastily abandoned after the
preliminary skirmish, and a mild system of
intimidation resorted to. 1t has been
known for several days that Mr.. Merritt
and his friends were growing restless under
the editorial criticisms of Chicago and ST.
Louis papers, and the revelations Of CORE
spondents of the metropolitan press. in re-
gard to the telephone lobby, and nobody,
therefore, was surprised when the gentle
man from Marion arose to a question of
privilege to-day, and endeayored to dispel
the mists OF suspicion from his legislative
career by a vigorous attack upon the repre-
sentatives OF the press.
There is allowed In this house, Mr..
Speaker said the Representative from
Marion, "a newspaper man who represents
a syndicate of associated papers, or the As
seciated Press. If he wrote the article that
is published in the st. Louis Republic, to-
q OA AnC hO "1OtO tndt III 10 a llC
daughter. i arose and objected to the
suspension of the rules for the considera-
ton of the telephone bill, stating at the
time that / did it for the purpose of keep
ing bills a third time. The Hous was we'll
attended on Thursday, and this other bust
ness could Just as well be o at a time
when the House was not SO fully attended.
who writes this lie says that a man by the
name of Hills was sitting by me. / don't
know Hills. No lobbyist sat by me. and
any man that says SO is an internal liar.
I&daaGnoghterI While the paper can speak to
can brand the fellow that does it as q liar"
John n. Hills, of the telephone company,
was sitting beside you yesterday, all the
same,o interrupted Mr.. Jones'.
Mr.. Merritt either failed to hear or did
not choose to take issue with the gentle
man from Sangamon.
Il would further recommend said Mr..
Merritt, that the syndicate remove this
"Wonldn't it be a good idea,n queried Mr..
Meyer, "for us to bar out all these news
paper men and get a new crowd of fellows
here that are not ON to U.s." lGreat laugh
Mr.. Dixon said that in this same connec-
ton he also desired to explain that he had
never. at any time, been for the telephone
Dill, and had not, therefore deserted the
bill at the critical moment as had been
ao~S III GAo 44o q OCoh Oo
sured by the correspondent that the men,
ton of his name in this connection was the
result of a mistake, and for that reason he
did not desire to make any statement other
than to merely set himself right upon this
bill He had opposed the bill from the be-
ginning, and would probably continue to
do so.
Mr. Paddock, who had voted for the bill
in committee, but voted against it In the
House, yesterday, shouted with a half
dozen other gentlemen for recognition.
Explanations are in order. Go ahead
and tell us why you did it," exclaimed
gentlemen who were wincing under the
publication of the roll-caI.
Il wish to say, so far as my name is con-
cerned," said Mr.. Paddock, that / have
nothing to explain to the newspaper cor
acted as | believed in the discharge of my
duties, and / will answer for it. That is
all / have to say" [Laughter.l
You have not explained where they lied,
yet retorted Mr.. Jones.
Mr.. Speaker" said Mr. Lester. relative
to crlticising these reporters, / want to say
one word. If recommendation is made to
this House to remove the gentleman that is
connected with the Associated Press, / want
to include the representatives of some
other papers. 1t is a violation of all privi-
lege for any reporter to lobby upon the
floor of this House against any measure
~iapplausel, and l know a reporter that rep
resents one of the most prominent metro
poIitan papers Ia the State of Illinois who
makes a practice OF that" Applause and
cries of name himp Name himlv1 Con-
tinuing. Nh. Lester said: If we are going
to c~riticise any, l want to c~ritlcise all Of
them. Let us treat all alike"
The resolution which 1t had been under
stood all forenoon Mr.. Merritt would intro
duce, with an elaborate preamble. to bar
floor was not forthcoming, and the hostile
proceedings of the lobby terminated in a
fiasco.
Avid period of excitement followed, and
divided, continued arguing and gesticulat-
Ing over the sensational incident of the
day. Messers. Green, Dill, Craig, Enslow
and other southern Illinois Democrats, who
telephone legislation. crowded eagerly
around the press representatives, and con-
graduated the papers on what they termed
pain statement OF what every member
or t1e House knows to be q fact"
Late in the afternoon another attempt
was made by the lobby to revive the attack
upon the liberty of the press. Mr.. Con-
verse, OF sangamon, a gentleman who yes,
the telephone bill, arose to a question of
privilege, and objected to being character
lied as q friend of the telephone lobby. He
attempted to gain the support of the enc
ing the statement that he had ever agreed
to support that bill in return for co-opera-
ton of the Cook county representatives in
behalf of the bill consolidating the Su-
preme Court at Springfield. Il don't think
anybody believes that l made such q COM
bination," he said,
Your constituents believe retorted Mr..
Converse's colleague, MIR. Jones, of Sanga-
mon.
Then they believe a lie,n replied the
gentleman. angrily. They don't believe
so, though
They do believe it," insisted Mr.. Jones.
II have never been engaged in any kind
of a trade for the support of a bill. / will
say more than that-that / am one of the
individuals from Sangamon county who has
never been approached: never. [A%pplause.l
If the kind of a resolution is introduced
that was. talked about this morning. to
turn out this gentleman. / will second it.
and the result will be that this sort of
thing will be stopped Laughter.
"Your explanation is satisfactory" sar-
castically remarked Mr.. Lester, from the
Republican side, as Mr.. Converse took his
seat.
No one offered to introduce the resolution
that the gentleman from Sangamon yearned
for. and after a slight pause the House pro-
ceeded placidly to the transaction of other
business.