The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1892-04-23
ASKS FOR JUSTICE
Mr.. Young, Lately Executive
Clerk Of the Senate, Writes
to Mr.. Morton.
He Asks for an Opportunity to
Clear Himself Of Charges
Against Him.

WASHINGTON, April l9-James Rankin
Young. lately the executive clerk of the
senate. has addressed letter to Vice Presi.
dent Morton i'll relation to the action of
the senate i'll declaring his office vacant for
alleged betrayal Of the executive session
secrets. After reviewing the circumstances
connected with his dismissal, Mr.. Young
calls upon his accusers to come out from
behind the closed doors of the senate and
raake charges against him openly, so that
he may be able to protect himself The
most striking parts of his letter follow:
portion OF the committee on foreign rela-
lions. In panic over the Bering sea business,
OF under some influence may not divine, con-
eeiVes the fancy that Il clerk s responsible for
the publication OF secret news. II could have
summoned that clerk, and had at least the ad.
vantage OF zen minutes inquiry. Something in
his manner. even if lie had been u hardened
criminal, and not, as i'll my case, a trusted OF
hciai OF hiteen years standing would have ell.
abled Its members to have formed u reasonable
suspicion OF guilt. But no. resolution is
passed removing the clerk and submitted to the
senate IN secret session. Here again the clerk
could have been questioned at his desk by the
senator's. He could have made some statement
or explanation. Butno. The doors are not only
Closed but he is specially asked to leave, and
no intimation given him OF any charge OF
suspicion. An earnest debate ensues Certain
senators intervene to arrest what they deemed
All injustice. The resolution is OH the point OF
defeat, and is withdrawn only uIon the as.
surance OF II senator that he will practically
OBTAIN from the clerk all admission OF guilt.
This admission would be found in IL resigla-
tion' which. as an act OF mercy, would be ac-
cepted.
INVESTIGATION DEMANDED.
The senator alluded to approached Mr..
Young and asked his resignation, but was
met with flat refusal and demand for an
investigation. The letter continues:
-, am not writing iii any spirit OF exaggeration.
sacred as the dignity OF the senate. and il can
not obtain 1t at that august tribunal, can ap.
peal to one even more auRust-that OF my cou..-
approached no senator for aid nor sought in
any way to influence the act of gentlemrn-so
many OF whom have become dear to Inc through
years OF friendship and association. When
friends advised Inc to poll the senate and make
some kind OF campaign, as is 30 often the custom
When matters are at issue. said that ! asked
no defense, no eXculpation, no palliation,no ar
peal for mercy. He was my enemy who would
do 1t Ill my name. | simply asked cold unspur.
Ing Justice. Two weeks passed and the senate
sure OF q portion OF the committee on iorcigl, re-
latlons, u resolution was passed declaring my
,'ii% Office %% vacant: mean The senate which passed it.
obtained with difficulty.
so ends my fifteen years Of service. All
asked from the senate was an inquiry This a
slim. cocrced, reluctant majority denied Be.
cause declined to accept the advice OF Senator
Cameron and res gil. my office has been declared
vacant All ask now is that oil the selia.
waive the constitutional privilege OF Immunity
Tor words spoken i'll debate, and avow in public
a responsibility for charges made during two
afternoons OF angry discussion. shall then be
i'll the open and able to protect myself Gun
promise u swift and decisive answer, one that
will satisfy the country. This Is All appeal to
m;nllness, justice and fair play. l cannot be-
lieve that 1t is made i'll vain.
wATrERsoN APPEALS FOR J UsTIcE
Henry Watterson, VIII, is in Washington,
to-day sent the following letter to Vice
President Morton:
/ have just read in the Washington Post OF
this dute u letter addressed to you by James
Rankin Young, late executive clerk OF the sell
ate, and without his knowledge. or that OF any
OF his friends. venture to join my entreaty to
his. and with him to appeal 10 you, and through
you to the senate tor an act OF justice not only
to citizen but to AN entire body OF citizens
whose character ana honor the recent act oi the
senate in IL maniec quess!@"s nd assais. TO
the iorce OF the argument nude by MIR. Young,
let me add the suggestion that secrets shared
by lightweight persons cannot, In the nature OF
the case. be Who'll y safe. and tnat the responsi-
bility for their disclosure should he coicusively
ascertained and clearly fixed before condein.
nation could be justly visited upon any indi-
vidual.
During the second session OF the Forty-fourth
congress served as chairman Of caucus COM
mittee appointed to investigate transactions OF
this Kind. Then. as now. suspicion lay upon
certain gentlemen connected with The newspaper
service. The result OF our inquiries showed that
no one person was to blame, but that little, by
little, n word here and a hint there enough had
been gathered from those within by those with
out to make tolerably fair report. have
known MIR. Young from his boyhood and can
fully attest his integrity and discretion. But.
private sentiments aside. there IL principle OF
justice here involved and the press aid the pub.
lie have 4 claim upon the ear OF tine senate,
which can be best reached through you, not
merely its chief organ and officer, but the one
direct representative i'll the senate of all the peo
pie OF the United States. address you both as
citizen and as Il journalist. confident of recey-
ing at your hands that never failinR courtesy
and exalted sense OF duty which lave marked
your personal and official career.
LOOKS LIKE !. SNUB.
The first business transacted O ter the
reading OF the journal was completed in
the senate to-day was the heannouncenent by
Vice President Morton that lie had received
communication in the nature OF petit
ton rom james Is. Young, late chief exccu-
tive clerk, to be laid before the senate;
(which w.ll.'' Mr.. Morton added, "bc laid
upon the table. it having already been
printed" The case came up again for q
few minutes i'll connection with the letter
written by Mr.. Watterson, but no action
was taken.
Charged With Forging Signatures.
GRAND FORKS, N. D., April l9.-Road
master Mcnamara. of the Northern Pacific
has been arrested on charge OF falsifYing