St. Paul daily globe., 1892-04-19
The Senate's 0usted Exeeu-
tive Clerk Appeals TO the
Vice President.
Scathing Review OF ths One
Sided Method Adopted by
Senator'S.
Challenge to His Accusers to
Step Out and Declare
Themsel yes.
Henry Watterson j oins the
Deposed Official in His
Appeal.

WAsHISGToS. April i8.--James Ran
kin Young, lately the executive clerk of
the senate, has addressed letter To
Vice President Morton in relation 10 the
action of the senate in declaring his
office vacant for alleged bstrayal of ex-
ecutive session secrets. After review
Ing the circumstances connected with
he dismissal, Mr.. Young calls upon his
accusers 70 CONS out from behind the
closeI doors OF the senate and make
charges against him opealy. so that he
may BE- able TO protect himself. The
most striking parts OF his letter follow:
lie says: A portion OF the committee
on foreign relations. tn panic over the
Behring sea business, or under some in
1uence | may not divine, concelYes the
fancy that clerk Is responsible for the
publication OF secret news. Itcould have
summarized that clerk aud had al least
the advantage OF ten-Inlnute inquiry.
Something in his manner. even ii lie
had been hardened criminal, and not,
as ia my case. a trnsted official OF fifteen
years standing, would have enabled its
members to have formed a reasonable
suspicion OF guilt. But no. A resOlu-
ton IS passed removing the clerk and
sion. Here again. the clerk could have
been questioned at his desk by the set-
ators He could have made some state
ment or explanation But no. The
doors are not only closed but he is
specially asked 10 leave, and no intima-
ton giyen him of
Any Charge or Suspicion.
An earnest debate ensues. Certain
deem all 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the point OF defeat, and is Withdrawn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 adj
mission would be found in a resigna-
ton, which, as an act Of mercy, would
be accepted. The senator alluded to
approached Mr. Young and asked for
his resignation. but was met with fiat
refusal and demand for an inye stiga-
tiOn.
The letter continues: II am not writ
ing in any spirit OF eXaggeratiOn. My
right as citizen to absolute JUS tice is
as sacred as the dignity OF the senate.
ana ii ! cannot obtain ii at that august
tribunal, can appeal 10 one even more
august that OF my countrymen. This
/ now do through you. | have APP
plOdIHFu ~ oCUdtOi lOl d4u, iiOl NOuHuI
in any way to influence the act of
gentlemen-so many OF whom have be-
come dear to me through years OF
friendship and association. When
friends advised me 10 poll the senate
and make some kind of campaign, as is
SO often the custom when matters are at
issue, / said that asked no defense, no
eXculpa ton, no palliation, no Oappeal for
mercy. He was my enemy who would
do it in my name. | simply asked
Cold, Unsparing Justice.
Two weeks passed and the senate re-
sumed my case. After debate. and
under pressure OF a portion of the com
mlttee on foreign relations, resolution
was passed declaring my Office vacant.
The senate which passed it, / under
stand was so small that quorum was
obtained with difficulty. SO ends my
fifteen years of service. All | asked
from the senate was an inquiry. This
sim, coerced, reluctant majority de-
MED. Because declined to accept the
advice OF Senator Cameron. and resign,
my office has been declared vacant.
All ! ask now is that one of the SEN
atOrs who have pursued me in secret
should waive the constitutional priv
ilege of immunity for words spoken in
debate, and avow in public responsl-
bility for charges made during two aft
erno0nS of angry discussion. L shall
then be in the open and aDle to protect
myself. 1 can promise swift and de-
cislye answer. one that will satisfy the
country. This is an appeal to manll-
ness. Justice and fair play. | cannot be-
lieye that it is made in vain. The vice
president announced in the senate this
morning that he had received commu-
nicatiOn from Mr.. Young and that 1t
would be laid upon the table, as it had
been printed in this mornings paper.
Wafterson's Appeal.
Henry Watterson today sent the fol-
lowing letter to Vice President Morton:
Washington. April lS-My Dear Sir:
| have Just read letter addressed 10
you by James Rankin Young. late ex-
ecutiye clerk of the senate, and without
his knowledge, or that of any of his
friends, venture to join my entreaty
to his, and with him to appeal to you,
and through you TO the senate. for an
act OF justice, not only TO citizen, but
to an entire body OF citizens, whose
character and honor the recent act of
the senate, IN manner. questions and
assails. 10 the force of the argument
made by Mr.. Young, let me add the
suggestion that secrets shared by
eighty-eight persons cannot, in the nat
ure of the case. be wholly safe, and
that the responsibility for their disclos-
ure should be conclusIvely ascertained
and clearly fixed before condemnation
could be justly visited upon any lndi-
yiduaI.
During the second ss,ion of the