The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-10-28


NEW YORK, Oct. 27.-The open and de-
faut defence of trusts made by Senator
Scott OF West Virginia at the Roosevelt
dinner last night is one Of the foremost
topics in political circles. By the Repub-
lican managers it is regarded as the most
stupendors blunder of the campaign.
In the course of his speech Senator
Scott said
Right here l want to say believe in
trusts. They are a good thing. The
Standard Oil Company put in its pipe lines
to all the small towns where oil is pro-
duced and if it was not for the Standard
Oil Company this prosperity that we have
wouldn L be there today
No sooner had the words been uttered
than Senator Scott perceived the blunder
he had made. Gazing around at the dis
mayed faces of his hearers. he saw one
face which he recognized that of l. H.
lie Neen, newspaper man. Pointing his
finger al Mr.. lie Veen, Senator Scott said:
IF that newspaper man puts that down
I will make trouble for him."
Directly after Senator SCOTS assertion
that trusts are good things, and after he
had attempted to intimiGate the reporter,
that man was the centre of an animated
and frightened group of men. Chairman
OGell Cf the Republican State Committee,
and candidate for Governor, begged LIE
VeeI to suppress the news. The latter
said he was there to get the news and
that he would have to send it to his Office
unless otherwise Instructed by his su-
perioTs.
lie Fesn telephoned to his office and was
promptly ordered to give the news of the
dinner without regard to anybody. Then
the big Republicans at the feast set to
work TO deny the story. This task was
u;.iertake:l practically before the diners
had left the room in which the feast was
spread.
Ernissaries were sent flying to the news
paper Offices. In some cases these mes
sengers brought the first news of the oc-
curreace. A request was made to the As
ISOLATED Press to suppress the story. This
request was granted. Efforts were made
by the big Republicans to prove that LIE
Veen. deliberately misrepresented SCOTS
statement and to besmirch his character
for truth and accuracy.
All of the political reporters in this
city know lie Veen. And they know him
SO far0rably that in any conference, din
where Only one newspaper man can be ad-
United. lie Neen has been the one chosen
by his associates. He was the only one
present al the dinner recently given by
Tammany to Mr.. Bryan in the Hoffman
House. Re reported that dinner faith
fully. satisfied both the diners and his
employers.
Every other source of news concerning
this dinner to Roosevelt was choked up
by Republican influence. Part of LIE
Feen's s.ery Of the dinner runs:
Senator Scott had told some funny
stories CT West Virginia, where, he said,
the colored men sit on the fence waiting
to be bought
West Virginia has prospered wonder
fully in the past few years. said Senator
Scott She produces coal and iron in
great quantities and is second only to
Pennsylvania In the output of coal We
have got lot of gas down there. Every
thing is run by gas in West Virginia.
tLaughterl Turning to Senator Frye, he
asked:
Isn't that SO, SENATOR
Yes said the Senator everything is
run by gas down there. I suppose that's
why you sent me down there to speak
IGreat laughterl
Yes continued Senator Scott, we
statement about trusts"
Every effort is being made today by the
Republican leaders to have discredit cast
upon lie Veen's report of the occurrence
They are even erdeavoring to prevail
upon the news bureau by which he is en-
pluyed to discharge him.
Republicans are cursing and Democrats
are laughing today, and Senator Scott's
performance is being likened to that OF
DR.. Burchard. Each betrayed the inward
feeling of his party upon one Of the sub
jects about which the popular mind is
sensitive.
friendliness Of his party to those of the
people who espoused a conspicuous Chris
fian Church
Senator Scott betrayed the attitude CT
his party or at least the managers who
shape the policies Of the Mckinley Ad-
ministration toward trust monopolies.
In one ill-considered sentence Scott did
more for Bryan than all the Democratic
orators in the canvass had been able to
accomplish.
Not since the famous ALTERATION OF the
late Rev. DIR. Burchard. the Democratic
party lis combination of Rum. RomanisIn,
and Rebellion which lost the State of
New York to Blaine by only 141 major
fly. and lost the national election to the
Republicans. has there been any similar
event SO distressing to Republicans as the
bad break of United States Senator n.
B. Scott
Republicans are bitter in their criti-
cisms. and they are recalling series Of
plumbers made by Senator Scott.
It was Scott who tried SO hard to get
Senator Hanna to break silence on the coal
strike.
Everybody knew Senator Hanna's return
to New York for a week in September was
to secure a settlement of the great coal |
strike. That strike was an object lesson. |
In the face OF the harangues Of Republican |
orators about Mckinley prosperity there |
were lao, 600 coal miners on strike.
But Hanna knew that if he succeeded ii
must be under cover, for il it were admit |
ted that he, the manager of the Mckinley |
Administration and OF the Mckinley
campaign. could by a word make the Coal
Trust accede TO the demands of the men,
that would be the best Of evidence of the
truth of the Democratic charge that "the
Republican party supports the trusts and
the trusts support the Republican party"
So Hanna was silent as the sphynx.
But Scott fidgeted. 1t was he who told
o reporter on the morning Of the last day
of Senator Hannas stay that after Hanna
left that afternoon he would be able to
give out q statement announcing settle
ment.
II was Senator Scott who got up that
visit Of ten sturdy fellows to the Repub-