The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-01-26
THEY ARE "v1NDIcArED."
Senators Declare That They are Hon
est While Jumping Onto
Correspondent.

atOr Titus, (POp-, Harper county, de-
priving D. O. McCray, the we'll known
neWspap per correspondent of the privi-
leges of the senate floor The resOlu-
ton explains itself, and is as follows:
Whereas. There appeared in the
Leayenworth Times of date January IA,
1897. and in the ST. Louis Republic of
date January is, 1897, an article libel
ling the senate together with the presi-
dent and the committee on education
and educational institutions. and
Whereas, one d. o. McCray, is spec
ial correspondent of these papers, there
fore, be it
'Resoived, By the senate of the state
of Kansas, that said D. o. McCray be
and is hereby deprived of the privileges
of the senate floor and all other courte-
sizes. until proper apologies have been
made by said printed articles.
After a discussion which lasted for
30 minutes, the resolution was adopted
on vote of "A yeas and u nays.
The printed articles referred to in
Senator Titus resolution had reference
to the school book trust. 1t was stated
in both papers that three of the mem
bers of the committee on education had
been fixed" by the American Book
company, and that no legislation ad-
verse to the trust would be allowed to
get farther than the committee room.
1t was also stated that the appointment
of the chairman of the committee had
been made at the dictation of the man
who was chairman of the same COM
nittee in the legislature of 1895, and
who had been hired this year by the
American Book company to arrange
the membership of the educational COM
mittee. The chairman of the committee
in 1895 was Harry Lands, recently ap-
pointed warden of the state peniten-
tiary.
Immediately upon the reading of the
resolution it was seconded by Senator
Lupfer, Pop., Pawnee county,. This
started an oratorical entertainment.
participated in by the five original
members of the committee on educa ton
and several other members of the SEN
ate. Senat tor Campbell, (Pop.. Labette
county) was the first to take the floor
and his brief remaks We're against the
adoption of the resolution He sadi:
Mr.. President, oppose the adoption
of this resolution for the reason that
the gentleman at whom it is directed
is not present to make a defense. I am
in favor of giving Mr.. McCray a hear
ing before anything is done in this
matter. L therefore hope that the resO-
luton will not be passed upon until Mr..
McCray can come before US and make
an explanation"
Senator Hessin of Manhattan. one of
the leaders of the Republican faction
of the senate and member of the edu-
cational committee, was on his feet at
the conclusion of Senator Campbells
remarks. Il have read the articles re-
ferred to in this resolution said he,
and 1 wish it distinctly understood that
the articles in question are not libelOuS.
Neither of the articles say that the
statements contained are facts, but
NOR or common gOsSip.I have no doubt
that these rumors came to the ears of
! the correspondent, and that he didn't
manufacture the story out of whole
| cloth. 1t does the chairman of the ed
| ucational committee more harm to pro-
| pose a resolution of this kind, than to
let it go by without any expression at
| ALL
The last remark of the gentleman
from Riley county had the effect of
bringing Senator Titus, the author of
! the resolution and the chairman of the
| committee on education, to his feet with
| jump. Although the youngest mem
! Der of the upper house. the expression
| of seriousness on his face at the mo-
| ment he arose to reply to Senator Hes
! sin, would have become the most VEN
cradle of his fellow legislators He said:
Il am as unable to account for the
! motive which prompts the gentleman on
| my right to say that these articles are
not HbelOuS as 1 am to account for the
| motive of the correspondent in sending
out such report. The articles may or
may not be libelouS from legal stand
| point, but they are absolutely false The
| book trust is known to have a heavy
| lobby in this city, and for such articles
to appear is sufficient to cast suspicion
| on the educational committee. l was
| appointed chairman of this committee
| on my own request to Lieutenant Gov
| ernOr Harvey, and without dictation or
| suggestion from any one. Who ever
! sent such reports out, be it Mr. McCray
| or some one else, should be deprived of
! the privilege of admittance to this han
! until proper apologies are made. I was
! given to understand that Mr. McCrav
| was correspondent of both papers, and
| was the one who prepared the articles
L hope the senators will vote for the
! adoption of the resolution
| AS Senator Titus sat down. both SEN
| ator Lupfer, (POp.,) and Senator Lamb.
| (Rep.,) claimed the floor. Senator Lup-
fer was recognized by the chair and
said:
! In support of this resolution, I wish
to say that my appointment on that
committee was not made at the re-
quest of the American Book COMPANY
nave held a position on this commit
| tee for the past three sessions of the
legislature, and I have taken every op-
portunity and done all 1 could to de-
feat the American Book company Two
! OF the members of this committee Sen
ator Titus and myself, have disclaimed
any connection with the book trust
! and If the remaining members are in
the same position it is now time to say
So
This time Senator Lamb secured the
right to talk. 4 am a member of this
committee" said he, and don't know
! who secured my appointment. All
| know is that didn't know anything
| about it. 1 don't know whether the
| articles are true or not true, but 1 do
know that they are not libelous.
! knew when 1 read these articles that
! they didn't apply to me- The senate
/ can't afford to fool with mere rumors
| II 1t expects to do anything else
1t was the educational committees
TIME to play, and another member of
the committee stood up. This was
senator Coleman (Rep). He said:
| Being member of this committee
| suppose some kind of an expression is
| expected have read the articles in
question, and it doesn't seem to me that
! they contain much of a reflection
! believe that Caesars wife should be
above suspicion, and believe that this
| committee is above Sl1SDicion AZ for
as l am personally concerned, 1 did
not know until the opening day of the
senate that 1 was to be placed on this
committee L believe that as far as
| the senate is concerned and this com
mittee is concerned, we are ready to
[ have the white light of investisatinn