Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1894-08-09
MUST BE TRUSTWORTHY.
Otherwise Newspaper Men Can
not Secure GOOD Stuff"
-EsSz the Secrets of Executive Sessions of
eAe Senate Reach the PubIic-The Nc
1 KinIey Bill " Given Away" by
Congressman.
Especial Washington Letter. |

Especial Washington letter.
1t Is the object of the executive de-
garments to keep great many mat
Gers secret from the people: and the
cGne idea of secrecy concerning execu-
&zge business Is entertained by the SEN
ate
During the administration of Presi-
cent Hayes, one of his annual messages
% congress was pur1oined from the
government printing Office and printed
In a New York newspaper on the morn
ing before the message was sent to
congress It caused a great deal of
comment and excitement in this city,
but the leaky employee of the govern
znent printing Office was never discov-
cred 1t was stated at the time that
She newspaper which published the
message paid 5000 for the copy.
"A little over year ago the Russian
%xfradition treaty, which was then be-
Eng considered in the senate, was
stolen and given to the public through
the medium of a Chicago newspaper,
and from those columns it was copied
Into every paper in the country. The
secretary of the senate and all of his
employees were thoroughly investigated
3f the time, but no evidence could be
obtained to reflect in the slightest de-
gree upon any one of these employees.
Nearly three years ago, practically
correct reports of the proceedings of
she senate in executive session were
printed in the newspapers of the coun-
Try and the most particular sticklers
fOr the maintenance of secrecy in ex-
Gcufive sessions instituted an investi-
cation. But no discovery was ever
made, whichswoufd implicate any indi-
~idnal connected with the senate.
NeTertheless, suspicion was aroused
against the executive clerk of the SEN
sa4e. AR James R. Young, by one of the
senator's who personally disliiked that
official. Although no evidence what
ever was obtained which would in the
asizhtest degree inculpate Mr.. Young,
rehe pressure brought to bear by the
senator referred to and by his friends
was SO great that Mr.. Young resigned.
The proceedings of the senate in exec
HEive session were published from time
to time just as accurately as they had
been before this enforced and unmer-
fitted attack upon the honorable and
popular executive clerk.
a great deal of excitement was oc-
Tribune printed, in advance of it's rati-
Gezfion, the important Washington
treaty with Great Britain. Hon. HAM
1ItOn Fish was secretary of state at
chat time and caused his department to
10 thoroughly investigated to ascer-
Tain if possible whether the leakage
occurred under his own official roof.
AT the same time the senate ordered an
and
Besses the Washington correspondents
<1f the Tribune. These gentlemen fat
ny refused to give any information con-
Ssexnlng the manner or method by
Tasans of which they had obtained the
G-eaty. And after having been in the
eEs1ody of the sergeant-at-arms for
Esea-fy two weeks the newspaper men
~gcre finally discharged by a vote of
TSbe senate. All of the newspapers of
The country at that time INDUCED in
UAs1inted raillery of the senate for its
Inability to keep state secrets, or to
discover the methods whereby such
secrets were given to the public.
Ea the United States senate there al
ways is, always has been, and prob
yaSlkY always will be, at least one sena-
ter who disagHees with the custom and
belief of the majority of the members
al that body, and who will see to it
chat the actual news upon all impor-
liant subjects shall be given to the pub
lie 4t the proper time. The giving out
-cf news by senator's is a matter CT
strict confidence between the statesman
zz2d the newspaper representatives
whom they know thoroughly, and in
GzhOIn they have absolute confidence.
Under such circumstances the senator
who gives the information is perfectly
&zkc in the hands of his friend, for
I'D newspaper man has ever re-
xczled the source of his informa-
1&iU1 here, nor will any CORE
@PCndent ever divulge the name
al his informant upon any important
Ezztser- In the first place newspaper
Euan mnst be long in service, personally
~zeH acquainted with the senator, and
Known to all of his friends as an hon.
<sxabic and reliable man, or no member
s1G &hc senate will repose in him such
SzzGdence- In the second place no
E8SEspaper man can succeed in his bust
E1ESS and continue in Washington who
S3EEulges the name of his informant.
Every newspaper man realizes the fact
tit after he loses the confidence OF
ear public man in any great matter he
NEzu hose the confidence of all public
EEEn- Without personal relations oi
zzze zzost cordial character and upon
zsszzczs OF social and intellectual equal
1EF with public men, no newspaper
szz2 IN the national capital can reach