Red Lodge picket. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1889-1907, 1897-01-16
HIS CRIME ExP|ATED
PATHETIC DEFENSE OF JOHNSON
OF AN ATTACK BY MAGUIRE.
Author of the InsinuntiOns 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 bill, 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 affidavits in entry on pub
lie lands so as to permit applicants to ap-
pear before the land office registrars by
deposition, and also place the burden of
proof in disputed questions as to classiti-
cation of mineral and agricultural lands
upon the agricultural claimant
Mr.. Brosius, from the committee on re-
form Of the civil service called I'D 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 recite his grievances
ont 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 personal at
tack on himself by the gentleman from
California NMaguire) 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 Magure), 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
1,ri,, tn1 l,o +lo
''antidote to go with the poison.
He went on to denounce Maglire'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
thcr said that he had received tele-
gram saying Hearst's paper in San Fran
cisco had already printed Maguires re-
marks and charges made
Admitted His Faults.
"It is Mr.. johnson said, ''just as we'll
for me 10 face this matter now later,
and meet the cowardly insinuations made
against me at the dictation Of William
r. Hearst. 1t is true that 80 years ago
l was in trouble in New York, that |
indicted; that l went TO California
to rear a new home and live down the
past, but it is untrue that l went un-
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 ana
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 a ghoul, into the past in order to
disgrace his wife and family.
Il tell this he said, ito show that | |
am not ashamed Of my life; that / have
not concealed this blot upon it; can ev-
cry man in this house and this country
say as much?
IN Sacramento l have built up name
and family any man might be proud
of
In 1896, Mr. Johnson continued he mad
been again nominated, and although 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 |
vicously attacked by editorials and carl
catures by 'this poison called Hearst.
The honored speaker of the house and
IL
while visiting California last summer, |
but the attacks upon them had been but
the drippngs of a brook beside Niagara
as compared with those made on him.
He said copies of the paper had been
sent to his (Johnson's) wife while she
lay on a bed of sickness, in danger of
death, and the carcatures and editorials |
had been put in envelopes, as correspon- |
dence, that she might not fail to get |
them.
He asked: rs it wonderful that
struck back when the opportunity came2
Is there any man who would do less, ex-
cept the gentleman from California, Jas
G. Maguire?"
He knew that he would be attacked, but
did not expect it to be in such an infa-
nous, underhand, cowardly manner.
formers There were hired assassins in |
Italy, and paid spies in Russia, but any
one of them would have scorned to do !
what the gentleman from California had
done. |
The Attack on Hearst.
Referring to his attack on Mr.. Hear5t |
he said: every charge I made is capable |
OF proof. / do not shelter myself behind |
my constitutional privilege. Everything | |
say as member of congress I am respon- |
sble for a citizen, personally and fnan- |
cially.'
In dramatic way Mr.. Johnson appeal |
ed TO the chivalry of the members from |
the south, whether their constituents |
would not tell them to repudiate such at |
taeks on brother member. Then, in an |
equally dramatic MANNER, he turned to 4
the republican side and appealed to those