The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1897-01-16
HIS CRIME ExPlATED
PATHETIC DEFENSE or JOHNSON
or AN ATTACK ny MAGUIRE.
Author of the InsinuatiOns Against
Editor Hearst Protested Against
Persecution.

the speakers decision OF the point OF or
der made yesterday by Mr.. Dockery
against Mr.. Powers motion to recommit
the Pacific funding DILL. made after the
defeat OF the bill Immediately after the
reading of the journal the speaker sus-
tained the point OF order. and the bill
will not be recommItted.
The bill TO better define and regulate
the rights Of aliens who own real estate
In the territories was passed
On motion of Mr.. Hartman of Montana
q bill was passed to amend the law rela-
tive to making affdavits in entry on pub
lie lands so as TO permit applicants to ap-
pear before the land ONCE registrars by
deposition. and also place the burden of
proof In disputed questions as 10 classic
cation OF mineral and agricultural lands
upon the agricultural claimant
Mr.. Brosius. from the committee on re-
form OF the civil service. called up the
bill to amend the law giving preference
In the matter OF appointments to union
soldiers discharged on account OF wounds
or sickness contracted In the service so
as to create another preference class TO
include ex-union soldiers and sailors or
their widows. After some debate the bill
was passed
While the bill was being debated a
storm was brewing. 1t was apparent
there was to DO an echo to the Pacific
railway funding bill. a sequel to the SEN
sationA attack made by johnson on Ed
itor Hearst last Friday.
johnson Was Grieved.
Mr.. Johnson OF California rose to q
question OF personal privilege and brought
ka ~ rka Nv "
Mcguire and others during the debate on
the funding bill.
He began calmly to recite his grievances
but It was apparent he was keyed up to
a high tension He had seen ut. he said,
during the debate on the funding bill TO
point out some underlying facts" be-
hind the opposition to the bill But he
said he had done so openly and boldly
He had spoken Of what he knew and had
been responsible for what he said He had
heard the attack OF Mr.. Cooper OF Wis
consin. but he said he had been unable
to get the door to reply TO 1t. Today he
had noticed in the Record a personal at
tack on himself by the gentleman from
California CMaguire), printed under the
privilege granted to members OF extend
ing their remarks
Yesterday, he said. he had been inform
ed he was to be personally assailed by
Mr.. Mcguire. not for what he had said of
him (Aaguire). but OF another. He had
waited all day in anticipation OF the at
tack. and none had come, and this morn
ing. instead OF an open attack, he had
found this bitter personal assault in the
Record. He desired now to say a few
words about matters touched upon in tbs
printed assault because he wanted tbs
''antidote to go with the poison"
He went on TO denounce Mcguire
statement as wanton and malicious auC
dlsregardful OF the rights OF members
He also referred to the fact that Of
Louis correspondent had telephoned :,
his paper that Mcguire was going to ex
pose the skeletons in his closet" Il
show that his was no sudden burst o
wrath on the part OF Mcguire. He fur
Their said that he had received a tele
gram saying Hearsts paper in San Fran
cisco had already printed Maguire's re
marks and charges made.
Admitted His Faults.
1t Is" Mr.. Johnson said, Just as wei
for me to face this matter now as later
and meet the cowardly insinuations mad,
against me at the dictation Of William
r. Hearst. 1: Is true that 80 years az,
was in trouble in New York. that
was indicted; that l went TO California
to rear a new home and live down tn,
past. but 1t is untrue that l went un
der an assumed name"
He went on to describe how he haC
worked in Sacramento to make amends
for the past. His voice shook as h,
told how. by the blessings Of God anG
the help Of his good wife" he had a
last been able 10 pay back every dollal
he owed. The house greeted him witt
applause.
He told how. ever since ls77, he had re
turned each year to Syracuse and hac
been received there at the scene Of III
youthful indiscretion. He told Of tn,
honors ne had been accorded In Callfoc
MIA, where the story was known, but !
remained for the man from the Fourt.
district Of California tNagulreJ to delvs
like a ghouL into the past in order u
disgrace his wife and family.
Il tell this" he said, ITO show that
am not ashamed OF my life: that 1 hay
not concealed this blot upon It: can ey
cry man In this house and this countr7
say as much?
I'm Sacramento l have built up a nam
and a family any man might be pr5uc
Of"
In 1885. Mr.. Johnson continued, he hal
been again nominated, and although tn
bitterest fight ever known had been mad
against him. he had carried every election
district in Sacramento, and had carried
the county by 1900. He had been mos
viciousy attacked by editorials and carl
catures by this poison called Hearst.
The honored speaker Of the house and
Mr.. Boutelle had been similarly attacked
while visiting California last summer
but the attacks upon them had been but
the drippings Of brook beside Niagara
as compared with those made on him.
He said copies OF the paper had been
sent to his Oohnson's) wife while she
lay on a bed Of sickness in danger OF
death. and the caricatures and editorials
had been put in envelopes, az correspon-
dence. that she might not fail to get
them
He asked: rs It wonderful that
struck back when the opportunity camel
Is there any man who would do less. ex-
cept the gentleman from California, Jas
G. Maguire?''
He knew that ne would be attacked. but
did not expect It to be in such an inta-
nous. understand. oowardly manner
There was a race IN ireland called IN
formers." There were hired assasslns IN
Italy. and paid spies In Russia. but any
one OF them would have scorned 10 dc
what the gentleman from California had
donA
The Attack on Hearst.
Referring 70 his attack on Mr.. Hears.
he said: EVERY charge I made Is capable
of proof. I do not shelter myself behind
my constitutional privilege Everything |
say rs a member OF congress | am respou-