The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1892-04-23
lie Demands an Investigation Into
the Charges for Which he was
Dismissed From His
Position.
All He asks is Fair Play and Chance
to Defend Himself Against the
Secret Attack of His
. Enemies.

WASHINGTON, April IS James Ran
kin Young, lately executive clerk of the
senate, addressed a letter to Vice Pres.
dent Morton in relation to the action of
the senate IN declaring his Office vacant
for the alleged betrayal of executive SEES
sion secrets. After reviewing the cir.
cumstances connected with his dismissal
Young calls upon his accusers to come
out from behind the closed doors OF the
senate and make charges against him
openly so that he may be able to protect
himself. The most striking parts of his
letter follow. He y
"a portion Of the committee on for
eign relations. in a panic over the Behr-
ing sea business. or under some influence
may not divine, c%onceives the fancy
that the clerk is responsible for the pub
LEGATION of secret news. Ii could have
summoned that clerk and had at least
the advantage Of ten minutes inquiry.
Something in his manner, even if he had
been a hardened criminal, and not, as in
my case, a trusted official of fifteen years
standing. would have enabled its mem
bers to have formed a reasonable sus-
picion of guilt. But no. \ resolution
is passed removing the clerk and
submitted to the senate in Sc
cret session. Here again the clerk
could have been questioned at his
desk by senators, He could have made
statement or explanation. But no.
Doors are not only closed but he is
specially asked to leave. and no lntima-
ton given him of any charge of sus-
piclon. An earnest debate ensues.
Certain senators intervene to arrest
what they deemed an injustice. The
resolution is on the point of defeat and
is withdrawn only upon the assurance of
a senator that he will practically obtain
from the clerk an admission of guilt.
This admission would be found in a
resignation which as an act of mercy
would be accepted"
The senator alluded to approached
Young and asked for his resignation.
He was met with a fiat refusal and "a de
mand for an investigation. The letter
continues:
Il am not writing in any spirit of ex-
aggeration. Ny right, as d citizen. to
absolute justice is as sacred as the dig
nifty of the senate and if | cannot obtain
it at that august tribunal | can appeal
to one even more au~gust-that of my
countrymen. This / now do through
you. | have approached no senator for
aid nor sought in any way to
influence the acts of these gentlemen,
so many Of whom have become
dear to me through years of friendship
and association. When friends advised
!, fn t,nll fbn ra,,,t, ,- ..I- --
kind of IA campaign, as is SO often the
custom when matters are at issue, | said
that | asked no defense. no eyculpation,
no palliatlon, no appeal for mercy. He
was my enemy who would do it in my
name. | simply asked, cold. unspariug
justice. Two weeks passed and the sen
ate resumed my case. After a debate
the pressure of a portion of the
committee on foreign relations the reso-
luton was passed declaring my Office
vacant. The senate which passed it. |
understand. was so small that a quorum
was obtained with difficulty. So ends
my fifteen years of service. All | asked
from the senate was an inquiry. This
the slim, coerced reluctant majority de
MED. Because | declined to accept the ad-
vice of Senator Cameron and resign. my
office has been declared vacant. All |
ask now is that one of the
senators who have pursued me in
should waive the constitutional
privilege of immunity for words spoken
in debate and avow in public the re-
sponsibility for the charges made during
two afternoons of angry discussion. l
can promise a swift and decisive answer,
one that will satisfy the country. This
is an appeal to manliness, justice, and
play. | can not believe it is made in
vain"
The vice president announced in the
senate this morning that he had re-
a communication from Young,
and that it would be laid upon the table
as it had been printed in this mornings
paper.