Evening star., 1902-03-19
MR.. MAS0N'S CRITICISM
sBY SENATOR BACON
AS A PERSbNAL REFLECTION.
Intention Dise1aimed by the Other
Attacks; On the President.

The Senate continued the consideration
of the bill providing for the protection Of
the President until adjournment yesterday
afternoon. The measure was discussed at
length ~ Mr.. Bacon tGa), who opposed it,
and by Mr.. Hoar (Mass) and Mr.. Mason
ul), who supported it. Mr.. Bacons argu-
ment followed the lines of his speech de-
iiVered ten days ago. Mr.. Hoar's speech
was largely legal and constitutional in its
scope. He maintained the right Of the
government to protect itself against as
saults upon its sovereignty through the
President Mr.. Mason made an attack up
on anarchy ana it's methods and incident
ally sharply criticised an amendment to
the bill offered by Mr. Bacon. He de-
nounced 1t as opening the door to special
pleading for the benefit of assassins of the
President This drew Mr.. Bacon's fire. He
considered Mr.. Mason's criticism a per-
sonal reflection upon himself and resented
1t with heat. An explanation by the Illi-
nois senator cleared the atmosphere.
The Popular Will.
Mr.. Mason declared that the pending bill
was IN accordance with the wishes Of the
people, and they were right in demanding
SUCH legislation.
THE towards and sneaks,' he insisted,
who take the advice they receive in dark
halls and kill the President of the United
States ought to pay the penalty as pro-
vided in this bill''
He said the present was a bad time to
fix special pleading for anarchistic crimi
nais Their crimes were against e0,000.000
people and when they struck down the
PRESIDENT I0,00O,0OO people wept. 1t was
worse than murder.
Mr.. Mason concluded with an eloquent
denunc1ation of anarchy which elected
hearty applause from the galleries.
In the course of a legal and constitu-
tional argument in support of the bill. Mr..
Hoar replied to some of the points made
by Mr.. Bacon. He suggested that Mr..
Bacon's amendment and his objections to
the bill were founded not on special rule of
law, but special rule of escape for the
criminal specified by the measure
Mr.. Bacon took sharp exception to the
criticism Of Mr.. Hoar. asserting that the
Massachusetts senator's statements were
"unJustlfable' and "mfsrepresented" his
argument.
Mr.. Hoar said he was willing to submit
to the Senate whether he or the senator
from Georgia was right.
In conclusion Mr.. Hoar maintained that
1t would afford real protection to the Pres
ldent and would safeguard the interests of
the government to have such crimes
against the President punishable by the
government Of the United States.
Takes Exception to Criticisms.
Mr.. Bacon replied with some evidences
of heat to criticism of his amendment made
by Mr.. Mason-criticism which he felt re-
fected upon hins personally. He demanded
to know whether there was a senator on
the republican side who believed he could
be guilty of defending anarchists or their
schemes or a senator who believed that he
had presented anything that would afford
method of escape of anarchists from Just
punishment when guilty of an assault
upon the President.
Mr.. Mason replied that he certainly be-
lieved what he had said and was willing to
state it again. The senator from Georgia
knew. however; that he was incapable Of
rejecting upon his (Bacon's) honor or in
tegrity of purpose
What said.'. replied Mr.. Mason, was
that the amendment offered by the senator
from Georgia was basis OF special ole ad-
ing for men who shall be caught in the act
OF taking the life of the President 1t
opens. wide the door for special pleading.
What l said did not reflect directly or re-
motefy upon the. honor of the senator I
was characterizing the amendment, not
the senator"
Mr.. Mason declared that such a mea sure
as that pending ought to have been passed
the day after the assassination of Presi-
dent Lincoln and that no such amendment
as that presented ought to be adopted
The debate on the bill was not concluded
when the Senate adjourned.