The Minneapolis journal., 1902-11-14
THIS IS LIYERNASH
Remarkable Character That Union
Labor in California Sent to
Congress. r
His Remarkable Work in Connec-
tion With Billy Worst" Yel-
low Journalism.
Special to The Journal,

Special to The Journal
Washington. Nov. 14.-There are several
interesting figures among the newly
elected congressman, but none are more
spectacular, perhaps, than Edward J.
zLivernaSh, the union labor candidate from
San Francisco. He is an incident of vel
low Journalism as it exists on the Pacific
coast. He was in Washington all last
winter in the dual capacity Of special
commissioner" for one of the Billy Worst
papers, and as a labor lobbyist for the
Chinese exclusion law. TO his credit be
1t said he filed both positions with no
s little ability. His work for the exclusion
Dill consisted in pestering the life out
OF republican congressman including SEN
ators and representatives. and making life
particularly burdensome for Chairman
Hit Of the committee on foreign affairs.
Between Livernash and Minister WI
the leaders had more trouble than a cat
walking on fly paper. LivernaSh's pic
ture ought to be framed in a crescent; he
works while everybody else sleeps. And
then he works while they are awake. He
is active as an ant and as pestiferous
as flock Of arctic mosquitoes. He Is a
funny looking little man, with a thin,
aallow countenance and attenuated form.
His nose is very sharp and supports heavy
trimmed glasses balanced far out on the
end. He always counts ten before he
speaks. but after he has begun he goes
stop him. But it as a freak artist that
he has gained fame. His specially is the
invention Of freak things for a wild-eyed
paper to do That was his chief Job out
west. He would sit all day in big, bare
room and think; and what his mind
brought forth would make stone image
throw fits.
One Of the remarkable incidents Of the
recent campaign was the circulation by
his opponents of articles printed about him
in the paper for which he worked, but
printed before he had Joined the staff Of
the paper. One Of these articles accused
Livernash Of being insane, and went on
to describe his remarkable doings while
in that condition. 1t told Of a trial of
Livernash for the attempted killing, by
poisoned wine and by shooting, Of man
named Ethridge. It was alleged that
Livernash was the victim Of a sort Of
"sleep- walking condition. He was put
under the intlue~e Of a hypnotic artist
In court and had needles stuck into him.
and told Of an imagined plot against hts
life, at the suggestion Of the hypnotist.
1t was claimed by Livernash that he was
laboring under temporary arrangement at
the time mentioned, brought on by over
work in nursing a sick brother. At an
other time he is said to have masquer-
AIDED in woman's attire and was arrested
carrying a grip filed with chloroform,
prussic acid etc.
Again it fell to the lot Of Livernash to
write up. for his paper, the story of his
own brothers suicide, and the story that
he told of it put the blame on another
yellow journal which, according to Liv-
ernash. had agreed with the brother to
pay 500 to the widow for an exclusive
story Of the suicide, written by the man
just before firing the fatal bullet. In
making such a contract the rival yellow
sheet was charged with the moral guilt
of murder for instigating man to self
destruction Once Livernash was sent by
his paper to cover a lynching, and
barely escaped becoming a victim him.
self. The timely intervention Of his man
aging editor was all that saved him. Such
are a few Of the incidents in the career
Of this remarkable man. He will be an
interesting figure in congress and labor
legislation will be likely to feel the i'm
petus Of his personality Livernash takes
the place of Julius Kahn, the one eX-
actor in congress.
w. w. Jermane.