The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1897-01-16
HIS CRIME EXPIATED
PATHETIC DEFENSE OF JOHNSON
OF AN ATTACK BY MAGUIRE.
Editor Hearst Protested Against
Persecution.


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-
tanned 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
bill was passed to amend the law rela-
tive to making afidavits in entry on pub
lie lands so as to permit applicants to APP
pear before the land Office registrars by
deposition, and also place the burden of
proof in disputed questions as to classih-
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 be an echo to the Pacific
railway funding bill, a sequel to the SEN
sational attack made by Johnson on Ed
itor Hearst last Friday
johnson Was Grieved.
Mr.. johnson Of California rose to a
question of personal privilege and brought
up the question of remarks made by Mr..
Mcguire and others during the debate on
the funding bill.
He began calmly to reclte his grievances
but it was apparent he was keyed up to
a high tension. He had seen fit, 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 floor to reply to it. Today he
had noticed in the Record a personal at
tack on himself by the gentleman from
| California (Maguire), 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 (Maguire), 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 the
printed assault, because he wanted the
''antidote to go with the poison"
He went on to denounce Mcguire S
statement as wanton and malicious and
| dlsregardful of the rights of members
He also referred to the fact that a St
Louis correspondent had telephoned to
his paper that Mcguire was going to ex-
pose the skeletons in his closet" to
show that this was no sudden burst OF
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 well
for me to face this matter now as later,
and meet the cowardly insinuations made
against me at the dictation OF William
r. Hearst. 1t is true that 30 years ago
l was in trouble in New York; that l
was indicted; that 1 went 10 California
to rear a new home and live down the
past, but It is untrue that 1 went I'M
der an assumed name"
He went on to describe how he had
worked in Sacramento to make amends
| for the past. His voice shook as he
| told how, by the blessings OF God and
the help of his good wife" he had at
last been able to pay back every dollar
he owed The house greeted him with
| applause.
He told how, ever since 1871 he had re-
turned each year to Syracuse and had
been received there at the scene of his
youthful indiscretion. He told OF the
| honors he had been accorded in Califor-
MIA, where the story was known but It
remained for the man from the Fourth
district Of California (Maguire) to delve,
like ghoul, into the past in order to
disgrace his wife and family.
II tell this" he said, Ito show that l
am not ashamed Of my life; that 1 have
not concealed this blot upon IT, can ev-
cry man in this house and this country
| say much?
In Sacramento have built up a name
and family any man might be proud
Of"
In 1896 Mr.. Johnson continued, he had
/ bSCAA o6eAAii AOAliidlcu, anu the
bitterest fight ever known had been made
against him. he had carried every election
district in Sacramento, and had carried
the county by 1900. He had been most
viciously 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 a brook beside Niagara
| as compared with those made ON him