Evening star., 1902-02-25
McCoMAs AND WELLINGTON.
Yesterdays Episode From a Maryland
Point Of View.

From the Baltimore American.
Maryland has no reason to be proud OF
either OF her senators on account OF the
episode in the Senate chamber yesterday af-
ternoon. Senator Wellingtons comments
upon the assassination Of the late President
Mckinley, and his more recent utterances
rejecting upon that martyrs honor and
integrity, have been such as to merit the
severest punishment the Senate can deal to
one Of its own members. In view OF the
utter contemptibiity Of this conduct, Sen
ator McComaS would have done well to re-
frain from making any reply TO Senator
Wellington. 1t is Inherently wrong to dig
nifty the diatribes of one who had no SYM
pathy for the stricken President or for the
woe-weighted, invalid wife, and who now
has no part in the nations unanimous trib-
ute Of honor and reverence to her most re-
cent martyr, by replying to what he might
say. But. since the affair has assumed its
present form, Senator Wellington attacking
the honor and yeracity of the late Presl-
dent the American feels called upon to
publish certain hitherto secret history re-
latinS to this matter, for the purpose or
showing how entirely wrong Senator We'll
lington is The death of President McKin-
ley removes the seal OF secrecy which un-
til now has rested upon US
Senator Wellingtons charge that Presl-
dent Mckinley deceived him into voting
for the ratification Of the Paris peace treaty
by making false promises and pledges as
ment relative to the retention of the Phil
ippines was first made through the columns
Of this newspaper. On August 4. 1900, the
American published an authorized interview
with Senator Wellington, In which that
gentleman announced his abandonment or
the republican party and his intention to
support Bryan for the presidency. One or
the reasons he gave for this step was the
alleged deception which President Mckin-
ley had practiced against him.
This assertion. directly involving the
veracty Of President Mckinley, was too
grave for the American to permit 1t to
pass unnoticed. On the same day the in
terview appeared in these columns the
American communicated by long distance
telephone with President Mckinley, who
was then at his home in Canton, Ohio That
portion of the interview involving Senator
Wellington's charge was first read to the
President. who then called Mr. Cortelyou,
his secretary, to the telephone. 1t was
read again, Mr.. Cortelyou taking 1t down
in shorthand. The President then gave the
matter consideration, and later In the same
day called up the American over the long
distance telephone and authorized a posi-
tive and unequivocal denial Of the truth OF
Senator Wellington's statements. That de-
nial appeared in these columns at the time,
being reported as coming from official and
unimpeachable sources. We have. there
fore, against Senator Wellington's state
ment the word Of President Mckinley him.
self. and Of Senator McComas, who was
present at the interview.
Against the word OF a man nod dead. but
one who in his life was never known to ut
ter false word or to equivocate about the
truth, and against the word Of living sem
ator who was present at the interview
when the promises are alleged to have been
made, Senator Wellngton's word can have
no avail This statement should, once for
all, close his mouth. He is wholly and in
defensibly wrong in this matter, his splen-
etic disposition having led him on until he
is at place where his conduct Is indecent
In Its relation to- the dead and reproach
to the state which he represents.