Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-04-19
The Senate's Dismissal of Clerk Young
Brings Out a Sharp Letter.
A CHANCE FOR HIS WHITE ALLEY
Demanded by the Man Who Served the
Senate for Fifteen Years
As FAITHFULLY AS ANYONE COULD

plunged from the records The Senators
who indorse his removal profess to believe
that their course in thus providing against
the future will offset their determination
not to give Mr.. Young hearing. They say
there can be no investigation, because NJ
charge has been made against him, and ther
they disprove their own statement by order
ing that all traces of their action relative
to his removal be blotted from the record.
Mr.. Young's friends in the Senate hope
that their appeals for justice and fair play
will avail, and that an Investigation will be
had.
Mr. Young's removal came up in the ex
ecutive session of the Senate, to-day, for {
few minutes, in connection with letter
written by Henry Watterson, editor of the
Louisville Couier-Joannal, making a strong
plea for Mr.. Young.
Mr. Young's Challenge to the Senate.
The most striking parts of Mr.. Young
letter to Vice President Morton follow. HI
says:
A portion Of the Committee on Foreign
Relations, in panic over the Bering sea
business, or under some influence, may not
responsible for the publication Of secret
news. It could have summoned that clerk
and had at least the advantage of 10 minutes
inquiry, Something In his manner. even II
as in my case, trusted official of 10 years
standing, would have enabled its members
to have formed a reasonable suspicion OF
guilt. But no. A resolution is passed re-
moving the clerk, and reported to the Senate
in secret session. Here again the clerk
could have been questioned at his desk by
some e OF espanason But
The. doors are not only closed, but he is
specially asked to leave, and no intimation
given him of any charge Of suspicion. An
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defeat, and Is withdrawn only upon the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 practi-
guilt. This admission would be found in a
resignation, 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 q demand
for an investigation.
The letter continues:
Not Request for Defense.
: am not writing in any spirit Of exagger.
alton. My right as a citizen to absolute JUS
tice is as sacred as the dignity of the Sem
ate, and if cannot obtain it at that august
tribunal, I can appeal to one even more
august-that of my countrymen. This I
now do through you. I have approached no
fuence the act of gentlemen-so many of
whom have become dear to me through
years Of ,afTs friendship s6h23.o, and association
campaign, as is often the custom when
matters are at issue. said that asked no
defense, no exculpation, no palliation, no
appeal for mercy. He was my enemy who
cold, unsparing justice. Two weeks passed
and the Senate resumed my case. After de-
bate, and under pressure of a portion of the
Committee on Foreign Relations. a resolu-
tfon was passed declaring my office vacant.
The Senate which passed it, I understand,
was so small that a quorum was obtained
with difficulty.
So ends my IS years of service All
asked from the Senate was an inquiry.
This q slim, coerced, reluctant majority de-
MED. Because declined to accept the ad-
office has been declared vacant. All I ask
now is that one of the Senators who have
pursued me in secret should waive the con-
stiuutional privilege of immunity for words
spoken in debate. and avow in public a re-
sponsibility for charges made during two
afternoons Of angry discussion. I shall
then be in the open, and able to protect my
SELF I can promise q swift and decisive
"
This is an appeal to manliness, justice and
fair play. I cannot believe that it is made
in vain.
Henry Watterson's Plea for Justice.
Mr., Henry Watterson's letter to Vice
President Morton is as follows:
WASHINGTON April 49,
MY DEAR SRI have just read in the
Washington Post of this date q letter ad-
dressed to you by James Rankin Young,
q ENpcnfiva n
without his knowledge, or that of any of
his friends, I 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 a citizen but to an entire
body Of citizens, whose character and honor
the recent act of the Senate, in a manner.
questions and assails.
To the force of the argument made by
Mr.. Young let me add that secrets shared by
SS persons cannot, in the nature of the case,
be wholly safe, and that the responsibility
ascertained and clearly fixed before con-
demnation can be justly visited upon any
individual.
During the second session of the Forty
Caucus Committee appointed to investigate
transactions of this kind. Then, as now,
suspicion lay upon certain gentlemen con-
nected with the newspaper service. The
person was to blame, but that little by little,
O word here and O hint there, enough had
been gathered from those within by those
without to make tolerably fair report.
hood, and can fully attest his integrity and
discretion. But private sentiments aside.
there Is a principle of Justice here involved,
upon the ear of the Senate. which can be best
reached through you, not merely its chief
organ and officer, but the one direct repre-
sentative in the Senate of all the people of
the United States.
1 address, Won both as a citizen and as a
journalist. confident Of receiving at your
hands that never-failing courtesy and ex-
alted sense Of duty which have marked your
personal and official career. and am, dear
and honored sir, with great respect,
Your obedient servant,
To Hon. Levi P. Morton, Vice President OF
the United States.
A Sample Of Young's Honesty.
At the time the matter for which Mr..
Young was dismissed was being considered
Mr.. Young was not in the Senate Chamber,
but came in shortly after. The disclosure
was made by a member of the Senate, who
wrote the information on the backs of three
and sent them to newspaper
man. After Mr.. Young was accused of
breach Of trust this correspondent went to
Mr.. Young and proffered him these en-
velopes, saying: 'I am not willing that you |
shall be under false accusation. Here is the |
evidence to prove your innocence. Use it
and will stand by it,
Mr.. Young declined to take the envel- |
opes or to use the evidence, saying: "While |
,annot abuse the honor or integrity of any
Senator, and I will not use the information |
7ou have. thank you for your kind inter-
,st in me, but you can readily understand
he propriety of my position.