The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-10-25

San Francisco a plain story of plain
facts in reference to William r. Hearst
and the newspaper vehicle through
which he levies tribute upon this COM
munity. AS a further evidence of its
faith to the people of San Francisco
The Call publishes this morning fac
simile of the original secret agreement
in which Hearst deluded a powerful
corporation into an absurd belief that
he, even as a blackmailer, would re-
main bought
The document thus published repre-
sents something more than an affair or
passing interest. It demonstrates TO
the people of the State that the single
remaining shibboleth of the Examiner,
the cry of Railroad, Railroad, in poll
tics" is dictated and voiced in the
Southern Pacific building.
William R Hearst valued his honor
and his papers silence at $4,000. The
public is certainly at liberty to judge
whether the silence of the paper or the
honor Of it's proprietor was worth the
price. But the railroad officials agreed
to pay the money and William K.
Hearst accepted it and with it the
stamp of dishonor that decent people
will place upon such a transaction.
In a puerile effort to evade the con-
sequences of his bargain William r.
Hearst resorts to q personal abuse of
those that exposed his infamy. He for
got that personalities are dangerous
weapons in such hands as his own, but
he remembered, with a towards conf
dence, that there are some facts in
some persons history that a decent
newspaper cannot publish. The Call,
in justice to itself and to its readers,
cannot discuss Mr.. Hearst as a person.
The Call is concerned only in pre-
senting to the public the facts that
prove William r. Hearst blackmailer
and his newspaper a cheap subsidized
agent OF a corporation that has given
TO the Examiner a cheap notoriety.
The facts may be briefly stated. Will
liam r. Hearst sold whatever position
he may occupy among decent people
for $50 900. He sold his personal honor
and asked in the sale only one CON
cession, that his purchaser would not
expose his shame to the community
upon which he imposed.
In his secret contract with the South
ern Pacific Company Hearst stipulated
that his newspaper and his para
sites would indulge only in
''such criticism as may be
found necessary 10 keep and
maintain the confidence of the
pubiic.'' Hearst promised more.
He was bought not only to silence what
the Southern Pacific people believed to
be a malignant tongue and a malicious
influence, but to open at the same time
the columns of his newspaper TO what
ever railroad officials cared to print.
Mr.. Hearst, through the medium of
one Of his employees, has declared that
The Call delayed the expose of his
shame until two of the parties to his
blackmailing exaction were dead.
Charles F. Crocker and A. N. Towne
are dead, but William r. Hearst is
alive. He was the blackmailer and they
his victims. They need no more de-
fense for their conduct than a way
farer who is halted on the road by a
highWayman and throws up his hands.
The history Of Hearst's blackmail is
interesting. For a long period preced-
ing 1892 the Examiner had persistently
assaulted the Southern Pacific Com
pany with deliberate Misrepresentation.
The COrnOratiOn felt itself pOwerless
under the attacks unless 1t bribed
Hearst and his newspaper to silence
their malienity. A conference was held
and compact was made. Hearst
wanted money, and the Southern Pa
cific was eager to give it for fair treat
ment.
Agents of the Southern Pacific Com
pany and employees of William r.
Hearst met in consultation. There was
some haggling over terms. Hearst had
placed himself on sale and wanted the
best price he could obtain His pur-
chasers sought to drive bargain, and,
as was proved by subsequent corre-
spondence, which The Call publishes
this morning, the Southern Pacific Com
pany made the most Of its predicament.
1t eXacted from Hearst the privilege of
using the columns of his newspaper as
we'll as locking his tongue for thirty
months.
AT that time Hearst, through his
authorized agents. promised in con-
sideration Of $780, 900 to give the railroad
and It's interests immunity from un-
warranted abuse. The columns Of the
Examiner were opened for what the
railroad pleased to say. A bogus quar-
rel with the Southern Pacific was to be
maintained TO delude the public, but
the railroad was insured as far as
olackmailers promise may insure,
against material criticism.
Hearst declares that when the secret
contract was made he was in Egypt
doing on the banks of the Nile and
striving to read the secret of the
Sphinx. But when he returned, how
ever, he hypothecated to a local bank
his blackmail demand, sanctioned the
extortion of his employees and pocketed
the ill-gotten gains of their labors as
the price Of his dishonor
1t has been said that sometimes there
is not honor even among thieves. VII
liam r. Hearst had been bought but he
refused to remain bought He violated
the conditions Of the compact that his
agents had made and that he, over his
own signature had indorsed The con
tract is now public property When It
was made there was, as already indi-
Gated, a heated discussion Of terms.
Some indication of this is given in the
written statement Of A N Towne, who
wrote across the face of the contract:
0As remember the talk tire
above covers the understnnd-
inG fully
n,,,in uas Me Tnwne,s ernrhatfc a.