The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-04-22
MR.. HEARST MAKES
HIS MAIDEN SPEECH
Career as Orator Begins in
Committee Room.
IMMACULATE AND DIGNIFIED
: Trust Buster. Explains Resolution Call
ing on Attorney General for
Coal Road Evidence.
IMMACULATE AND DIGNIFlED

Representative William Randolph /
Hearst made his maiden speech today |
as member of Congress. 1t was not |
delivered on the floor of the House, but |
before the Committee on the Judiciary, |
which several days ago sent the New |
York member a formal notice to appear |
an dexplain his resolution calling upon
the Attorney General to produce the ev-
ideace which he has against the anthra- |
cite coal Carrying roads. tending TO show |
that they are in a trust which operates /
in restraint OF interstate commerce.
The invitation was 10 cali Mr.. Hearsts |
bluff. Mr.. Hearst came TO deliver the
goods He did not come alone. however. |
for accompanying him was his attorney, /
Clarence J. Shearn of New York. who
sat at the elbow OF the Presidential can /
didate and trust buster and acted as his |
counselor and prompter. and assisted
IN the busting.
An Hour on the Griddle.
Mr.. Hearst was before the committee
for an hour. and came armed with an
array of papers, decisions. briefs, argu-
ments. and the like. From these he |
read at length. II was easier TO
read Mr.. Hearst found, than TO make /
ofrhand argument. and Il didn't seem 20 /
make any difference to the committee,
Fifteen OF the seventeen members OF
the committee were awaiting Mr.. |
Hearst's arrival He entered the room
modestly. almost surreptitiousiy. When |
Chairman Jenkins announced that the
committee would hear Mr.. Hearst upon
hi sresoiution. Mr.. Hearst took a posi-
ton at the foot OF the table. Address !
ing the committee. he began 20 read
copious extracts from petitions and de-
cisicns.
He was handsomely groomed. Had he
been standing before the Daughters OF
the American Revolution in session IN
Washington instead OF before COM
mittee OF statesmen, he must certainly
have made a big hit He looked the part
or nice young man. r
Immaculate ana Dignifed.
His statesman-iike siik-lined Prince
Albert, gray striped trousers, a cravat
with blue stripe, were very becoming.
Ills hair was parted In the middle ans.
Il most serious expression adorned his
countenance.
Only once throughout that nour did
the serious expression leave his face,
Then Mr, Hearst made a little witty
sally, comparing Attorney General Knox
TO an old hen sitting on a duOr knob
Then a smile lighted up his features
and his eyes sparkied,
For the moment he felt happy The
members or the committee looked seri-
Gus, The silence which followed was
cniy broken by Mr., Hearst's chucSle.
II should not be understood that Mr.
Hearst fel! down IN his argument. he
did nothing OF the Sort, although he did
occasionally sit down during the course
OF his remarks, This was, however only
Tor The purpose or gathering up new am
muniJion FOR further assault upon the
trust octopus,
Like Brisbane Editorials.
Mr.. Hearst would read for a while
some remarks which sounded much ike
Mr., Brisbsnes editorials. Observations
which seemed more OF less original were
made without reference 10 notes,
After such an effort he would usually
take seat and consult with Mr.,
Shearn, Then, as If infused with an
other idea. he would slowly arise and
resume.
During these iapses there was a nun
OF undert0ne conversation, each mem
Der talking with his neighbor, either
abeut something Mr., Hearst had said
or the prospects of an early adjourn
ment- Not always when Mr. Hearst
arose TO proceed was the hum Of con-
Yersation silenced, and upon several &C.
casions Chairman Jenkins was obliged
to rap Loudly with his gavel for order
and suggest TO his colleagu that Mr.
Hearst had honored the committee with
his presence To make an argument, and
that ii was their duty 10 listen 10 him.
On the whole, however, Mr., Hearst
was given respectful attention. Now
ana then member manifested sufficient
interest 20 ask question, sometimes
for enlightenment and sometimes with
the lll-conceeled purpose OF causing the
speaker embarrassD
Wicked Question,
Fer instance, Representative Palmer
(Rep., Pal was wicked enough 70 ask
Al.
tanning what Mr., Hearst kaeW about the
coal carrying roads, and 20 these Mr,
Hearst would almost invariably reply
with some hesitation that ne ecould not
say" as he was mot familiar with the
business" Ons OF these questions was:
"be you think $40 ton for carrying
coal an ezhorbitant price, and can the
roads make any money by carrying IL
for less :"
To this Mr.. Hearst replied that he did
not know. as he was mot familiar with
the business,
Thereupon Mr.. Palmer POINTED out
that the roads had raised wages before
increasing the carrying Arice. Here Mr.
Hearst fumbaed for a Vile. Everyone
three Dagger
Mr.. Clayton Dem. Ala came TO AR.
HEARTS, rescue and stopped the ball
lie asked Mr.. Hearst n he thought ths
Increase IN wages was commensurate
With the Increase in cost OF carrying
That question gave Mr.. Hearst the tip
he was looking for. and which Mr.
Shearn had neglected 20 supply,
Mr.. Hearst said Il had not The IN
crease In wages would not amount TO
more than $4,000 q year, while the In
crease 20 the public IN the price OF coal
By reason OF the charge OF SO a ton
for carrying would amount 20 81, O00. OO0
year.
Time for Breath.
After another breathing spell. Mr..
Hearst proceeded 10 read from a doe
ument-
What are you reading from. Mr..
,Hearst?'' asked a member
From a brief prepared at the Office
Of the Attorney General" replied the
trust buster.
Who prepared NJ
Mr. Hearst turned the paper over
scanned through IL hastily and with
some embarrassment. but there didn't
seem 70 be any name upon IL; the au-
thor had evidently neglected TO sign
Mr.. Shearn jumped up and whispered
something in Mr. Hearst's ear That
seemed 10 be an inspiration.
oh. yes; yes he replide, lit was
prepared by W A. Day" That was
satisfactory. and Mr. Hearst proceeded
The principal point which he made was
that he had submitted The evidence re-