The sun., 1898-03-09
PRESS GAG BILL DYING.
or MACK HAS TAKEN a STAND
AGAINST THE MEASURE.

49,, Cav, roodru6 Anuounces ME Oppeaf'
,,., .. tho Rlii. aud RcpusIican senatsrr
,.,. Como out Openiy AFaipst tt
p.uecratic senator who Beiieves II
v,e,ou. Might Vote rOr II Undsr Orders.
,,o,xv March ST. tho Ellsworth Press
,lll ia not dead tonight, IL 10 at least mort.
"a The process Of dissolution began this
'.,r,ru and has boen going on all day. II be-
..m. known early In the day that Gov. Black.
~. has been non.committal on the subject
.,,.toiore, had finally taken a stand against the
..,urc and number OF Republican Senators
I.odcd TO speak openly the faith that has been
" ,hom all along and declare their Judgment
,h,, tho bill ia unnecessary and vicious. Lieut.
aov woodruff also came out openly against 1t.
This state Of affairs is due to tho action Of the
..,,er,nce of editors and publishers. held here
,.,t ovenng The bill would never have got az
a, along as 1t did had tho other great news-
..,.rs hacked up THE Sun whom II made the
s,ht against the bill, sngle-handod. In Its early
,,,res. Tho apathy OF tho newspapers generally
,s,o,cd the impression among many OF tho nom.
~, who had not studied the bill itself. that II
-opd affect only such papers as are really
~ob.eene, indecent or degraded" This I'M
,,.,,ion was disspated when tho members read
hb resolutions adopted yesterday by represen-
,st,ves OF the most reputable papers in the
State.
mi, morning John II. Farrell Of the Albany
Times. Union. who was Chairman Of the con-
t.r,pce. called on Gov. Black. Tho bill was dis
,rs,ed at length and Gov. Black assured Mr..
y,rreIl that he was opposed to II. Then Gov.
BLACK had long talk with Senator Ellsworth.
The Governor Is reported a. having told him
that the bill had done tho Republican party
harm enough now without pushing It any
fprthsr and he had better drop It. Soma
ter Ellsworth refused to say afterward
what his plans with regard to tho bill wsre.
When it was reached on the calendar, It
was passed over. and 1t 10 expected that when It
|, reached tomorrow Senator Ellsworth him
,elt will move to recomnit 1t. Some Of the
editors who were at the conference have asked
senator Ellsworth for another hearing on the
bill, In order that he might have 1t recommitted
for that purpose and SO let himself down easy.
It was a similar feeling of consideration for
Senator Ellsworth that prevented some oppo.
pent Of his measure from moving to recommit
the bill to-day.
ADemocratic member of tho Judiciary Com.
uittee, which reported the bill originally, made
.tgnif cant statement to-day. He Is one Of the
hrHe numObT VI StuhIOEb "hO uOloV0 tudU Ll0
bill is vicious, and who are outwardly among ita
supporters because they arc under orders. II
the bill ever came to q vote. this Senator would
probably vote for It..
'"if the bill goes back to the committee" he
taid, 1t will never be reported again."
The bill is quito US bitter dose for a number
otRepubican Senators, who would have voted
for it II it ever got that far. One of those whose
vote has been counted as absolutely oure for the
II sincerely wish that something would turn
up to prevent 1t from coming to a vote. or that
those who are pushing It would drop it. don't
III comes up.
Soon after Gov. Black had his talk with Sen.
,or Ellswort h: Lieut. Gov. Woodruff announced
bis opposition to the bill.
am emphatcaly against 1t" he said, land
have always been against any such legislation.
0tcourse have no vote in the Senate and no
means OF expressing my opinions In that body.
but II had q vote you may be sure that 1t would
be cast against this bill. The newspapers ava
unanimous against i. and they are certainly en-.
titled to some consideration. Aside from that,
there Is no necessity for such legislation and nc
The turn that affairs had taken this afternoon
cursing the bill in private to como out into the
open.
BIZ S'nacr smsSdiS w5sy dReP kings said when the
'libellous' supposed that all opposition to it
on the part OF reputable newspapers had been
withdrawn This find is not tho case. Not
that the people in my district, when they saw
that 1t might be passed, took strong ground
against IT. Tho public sentiment is emphati.
eally against 1t. shall not vote for it under
any conditions"
Senator Brush REP Kings, said: lam ono
lated to limit licentious publications and any
enort TO control degrading and immoral litera-
ture and II the present laws wore insufficient to
u the individual would gladly @ Vote T for amy any
measure to do 1t. After careful inquiry am
sa',hed "a that the Ellsworth bill is superhuous
sorship expressed In such terms ss would lead
S eptr oppression aSd Injustice While the lib
@ ss 10 Sabe Safsn SSSSsa
regulating such matters. Purity and morality
cannot DO leRislated into tho Individual citizen.
an aroused and enlightened public sentiment
laws Is much more needed than additional
cessation Holding these views, am utterly
opposed TO the Ellsworth BILL"
senator Davis utep. Eriel. who 10 o member
81 tbi the ~ JUDICIARY Committee. said: 81 believe
sbsil bsT inc OH Is unnecessary and vicious. and
senator sebsrt tRep.. Erie, 10 also outspoken
tSsaihst the bill. Senator Pavey. another mem
and f o, yotnd tnG has opposed 1t all along
There yOspe spe against repG5ng 4 in the first place
WI nIll NOT now vote for the bill. They believe,
no. t"UweFer that 1t will never come to vote. and
record against it publicly at this time. They do
nUs is wish 10 arouse any unnecessary antaRon-
sns a, and are also actuatod by regard for Sen.
ator ELLSWORTH s feelings
nsrVm mMonld DO great mistake. however. for tho
iheWsphpers which have been SO tardy in follow.
sns sas,. LIE SUNS lead to DO lulled into false
Iii bjiHIufy hay oy the state into which tho Ellsworth
where where bill has been bowled over, and after
Hdhg sHng qnlescent for weeks or months, has been
snn uueny picked up In tho last days OF the ses-
Iun ntass ana pushed through. The liberty OF tho
H'eso can 6e ssfeguarded only by the same viCi.
.Ce ara REQUIRED TO protect other liberties Bills
Ssiamrner never absolutely dead till the Legislature