The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-09-20
AN EDITOR SoUNDLY ROASTED.
COLUMBIA STATES ALLEGED ABUSE
OF PRESS PRIVILEGES.

A Resolution of Censure offered in
the Convention and Urged I'm Warm
Debate, in which WrathfuI and
Sarcastic Words, Mainly at the Ex-
pense OF the Newspaper Fraternity,
Form the Chief POrtion-It Is Pass
ed by Decisive VOte-TIIIman No.
ticeabIe for His violent and Bitter
WOrds-A Sensational Session All
Around.
Columbia, S. c.. Sept. 19.-The constis
tutional convention to-day devoted prac-
tically its whole days session to the dis
cussion Of the Patterson resolution to de-
nOunce the editorial statement in the state
newspaper and vindicate Gov. Evans.
president OF the convention, from
the charge Of having wilfully
mlstated the vote on a resou-
tion on Monday last and there was an
other sensationl session in consequence.
Things were lively from start to finish,
and particularly when Senator Tnlman
made one of his hottest speeches, point-
ing his finger at Editor Gonzales who
was on the floor of the hall until tho
vote had been taken and the amended
Patterson resolution had been passed by
a vote Of 123 to %. II was a matter OF
great VuhiH interest," anu lAt galleries
We're filled with spectators from the time
the days proceedings were opened until
the final vote was taken about o'clock
in the afternoon.
Aside from this matter there was no
other feature of the days session, though
"A great many ordinances and resolutions
OF more or less Importance were present-
ed near the close Of the days session.
The coming storm was scented at tho
opening Of the days session even in the
prayer Of the Rev. Mr. Parrott who
prayed that they might have a pleasant,
practical and profitable session and made
reference to editors
Mr.. Patterson presented q substitute for
his resolution introduced yesterday, which
concluded as follows:
Resolved. That said editorial statement
Is unsupported by facts, Senator Irby hav-
ing announced upon the floor of the con-
ventiOn that the announcement of said
vote by the president was correct and as
said editorial Is reflection upon the hon
esty and integrity Of the president Of this
convention, and an insult to this body,
Resolved, That the convention desires to
express its entire confidence in the in
tegrity, honesty and fairness OF our
president, the Hon. John Gary Evans, and
we do hereby declare the statement in the
aforesaid editorial to be unsustained by
the facts and untrue
Resolved, That we consider the editorial
In question an abuse OF the privilege
granted TO the press in admitting It's mem-
Mr.. Patterson made quite a speech on
the resolution saying It was a rebuke that
they owed 70 the people 70 make. They,
as convention, had right to revoke the
privilege granted the press and could pun
ish for contempt, but this he refrained
from urging because he did not wish the
writer OF the defamanatory article to ap-
pear as a martyr. Let IL not go on the
world that they sustained the charges
made against their president. He called
upon them 10 rebuke the slanderer
Mr.. Bates wanted merely to reaffirm tho
confidence Of the convention In the hon.
esty and integrity Of the President This
Col. Aldrich offered the following as
an amendment to Mr.. Patterson's resolu-
tion to be substituted for the third resolu-
tiOn: THAT the said newspaper, the State
has abused the privileges allowed to tho
press by this convention and that for the
balance Of the session It's representatives
be denied admission to the floor OF the
convention and that the sergeant-at-arms
be charged with the enforcement OF this
resolution"
Col Aldrich. in his speech, said they all
knew that the elevating influence exer-
They ali knew that In the morning when
they saw something In a paper Of a sen-
sational and defamatory nature they new
er even bothered themselves to find Qua
II it was true or not. Any honest man,
particularly their president, could afford
not to notice 1t at all. His impulse would
have been not to notice II at all. The
paper had abused the privilege given II,
and the only legitimate thing for them
the convention had given H. The repre-
sentatives of the press were granted tne
privilege TO sit there and report the pro-
ceedngs of the convention for the benefig
OF the public, and for their own financial
advancement. 50 long as they behaved
themselves When the privileges wers
could do was to put them out.
A strong speech was made by ex-Gov.
Sheppard against the Patterson resolution,
In which he stated that Col. Aldrich-s
resolution should not be adopted, because
theTeporter OF the paper on the floor had
demeaned himself as a gentleman, ana
furnished fair and full reports. He had
no objection TO reaffirming his condolences
in the president and thought it well.
Many speeches were made on both sides,
some taking the position that in stating
that the second vote bore out what 1t was
claimed the first vote was, 1t was reQuir-
ing them to swear to what they knew was
not true, although the president had been
honestly mistaken in announcing 1t.
Many were opposed to the convention'a
taking any notice of it, Mr.. Aldrichs res
olution was tabled.
Senator Tillman made one Of his hottest
speeches, drawing factional lines and say
ing that 1t was not personal matter
where you could go frail a man with q
such things are beneath the dignity OF
that gentleman over there, who has dish
ed out more hell-fre and damnation in
this state than had come from any mouth
Mr.. Gonzales smiled and bowed to him
ironically. fractional feeling was there;
1t was cropping out on all sides. He
jumped upon the conservative members.
Gov. Sheppard later resented the mo-
tives imputed to himself and other con-
serYatives.
A viva voce vote was finally taken,
and Tillman demanded the roll call. The
Patterson resolution was adopted by q
vote Of l23 to 2S some ten or twenty mem-
bers having their reasons for their votes
spread on the journal Later Tiilman
apOlogized to the conservative members
for the language he had used in regard
10 their motives, saying that their argu-
ments had appeared suspicious TO him.
During the day a petition was received
from the State w. c. I. u. asking the
convention to raise the age of consent
from 10 to IS years.
Treasury Gold Reserve.