The news & observer., 1897-01-09
Mr.. Johnson Uses Very Bitter
Words in His Speech.
HE CREATED a SENSATION
Pacific Railroad Funding Bill
Causes 1t All.
MR.. CooPeR's TIMELY DEFENSE
He Pays a High Tribute 20 Editor
Hearst. and Declared He Had Done
Nothing TO Call Forth
the Remarks.

Washington, Jan. 8.-The second days
debate on the Pacific Railroad Funding
bill developed into one of the most sensa-
tional incidents of this session of Con
gress. Mr.. johnson (Rep., Cali, the only
member Of the California delegation who
| favors the funding bin, in the course of
his remarks, took occasion to make a re-
| markably vituperative personal attack
on Editor Hearstt, Of The San francisco
Examiner. He described Mr.. Hearstt
and Mayor Sutro as men who were ter
| rorizing nhe pacific coast members, and
made statements concerning the former
which led afr. Cooper Rep., Wis.,, To
| characterize it as ''the most disgracefui
attack in the legislative annals OF the
United States" The members who had
| been listening attentively to Mr.. John
| sons remarks, as he always is one of the
/ most entertaining speakers in the House.
| were thunderstruck at the lengths to
which he went. Once at the last session
Mr.. johnson denounced Mr. Hearst but
on that occasion he was called to order
| by Mr.. Mcguire, OF California. To-day he
| completed his philippe without Interrupt
| ton.
| Mr.. johnson, in the course of his re-
| marks said:
IF Mayor Sutro and that Hearst" to
/ whom he applied an opprobious adjective
| had built these roads, they would not
| only have made money, they would have
| bankrupted the government itself. Sup
| pose the projectors did make money, the
question with us as members and custo-
| dians Of the governments interest is:
How shall we get the governments mon
ey back?
Mr.. johnson denounced the ex-mem-
hers who were lobbying on the floor
against the bill. lie then proceeded to
argue that it was idle to insist that the
roads sheuld pay more interest than
they wre able to. He declared with much
feeling that there was not a member from
California, except, possibly, Mr.. Dowers,
whe, If he would express his honest SEN
timents, would not support this meas
ure. He said they were all afraid OF
newspaper Of San Francisco. All this
illumination against the bill, he said, was
due to Adolph Sutro and William II.
Hearst. The mention OF these names
seemed to arouse all the pent-up indigna-
ton In Mr.. Johnson's nature, and he pro-
ceeded to pour out the vials OF his wrath
upon them.
Mr. Johnson is always a vigorous
talker and a man who uses strong die
ton, but the members who sat listening
to him were not prepared for the phil
hpic which he launched.
He detailed Mr.. Hearts connection
with the San Francisco Examiner and
how he had built UP that paper, and said
that the people of California admired il
HI said they were suspicious at first and
knew that Mr.. Hearst was erratic in
his conduct. He then made insinuations
and allegations against Mr. Hearst's per
sonal habits, but added that the people
had believed he was honest.
This was followed by more sensational
charges, and vituperative language, "and
that is the man." he added, that has
created all this furor in California"
lie said that Hearst had intimidated
the people aud created terrorism among
them with his paper. The paper had
maligned and caricatured people in the
House, the chairman of the committee,
Mr.. Powers, and the honored Speaker.
i will not speak for myself" he said,
because / can get reasonably even with
this man before / get through with him"
he said that Mr.. Hearst had issued his
edict that any man who dared favor the
funding bill "shall be driven from public
life and be ruined in private life and shall
be disgraced before the people and gods"
When Mr.. johnson concluded his
speech there was an OminOus silence on
the floor. Mr.. Arnold, of Pennsylvania, |
made a brief speech for the measure, but !
the House was still buzzing with the SEN
sa ton created by the California mem
Der. When Mr.. Arnold finished Mr.. |
Cooper (Rep., Wisconsin,, one OF the |
strongest foes of the Pacific railroad bill |
now and in the past, took the floor. |
About the first words that fell from his !
lips intensified the situation.
I'm view of what has been said by the !
gentleman from California he said, |
about the gentleman from Wisconsin; |
in view of the exhibition which we saw /
here, as / think, one OF the most dis /
graceful known in the annals Of the legis- /
latiVe history Of the United States; the /
attacking OF a man absent from his place /
in manner known only to towards, +
blackening his name, running it Gf it were
in the power OF the gentleman from Cali
fornia to ruin anybody who has ever
had any reputation at alD to the best Of
his ability, | feel it proper for me to say
at least few words
Mr., Cooper then paid a high tribute
to Mr.. Hearst, and the hard work he
has done to build up his paper, and de-
clared that he did not think that any /
thing he had done entitled a member to /
attack him as the gentleman from Cali
fornia had done.
Mr.. Johnson made no attempt to reply
to Mr.. Cooper This incident completely
oyershadowed the interest in the debate
on the funding bill and thereafter 1t pro-
ceeded quietly to the hour when the re-
cess was taken. The general debate