The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-07-23
THE STORY or THE TELEGRAM.

The frantic efforts which the admin
istration papers have been, and still
are, making to create the impression
that the famous gold standard telegram
which Judge Parker sent to the st.
Louis convention was an invention of
former Senator Hill-that Mr.. Hill ar
ranged that the telegram should be
sent in the event he failed to get gold
standard plank in the platform
haven't made the least impression on
the country. Some of the Republican
papers, notably the New York Sun and
Harper's Weekly, are frank enough to
admit the telegram was a genuine ex-
preston of Judge Parker's views. and
was sent by him without a suggestion
in regard to 1t from Mr.. Hill or any
one else.
The Sun quotes with approval the
following statement of Col. George
Harvey, in the current number of
Harper's Weekly. of the circumstances
surrounding the reception of the tele-
gram by Mr.. Sheehan:
LAS they (Mr. Sheehan and Mr..
Thomas f. Ryan, entered the building,
a messenger of the Western Union
Telegraph Company handed to Mr..
Sheehan telegram. He had already re-
ceived during the morning score or
more of messages, and istlessly open
ed the envelope. His attention was
riveted instantly by the signature. BY
a glance the contents were craven up
on his mind. An ejaculation brought
Mr.. Ryan's quick attention to his ashen
face. Without a word they withdrew
TO a corner of the wide corridor, and,
with shaking hand, Mr.. Sheehan passed
the telegram to his companion.
Meanwhile their hurried withdraw
al from the central aisle had attract
ed attention. Before Mr.. Ryan had read
the signature Mr.. Hin had joined them.
Not a word was said until he also had
read and reread the dispatch. Then
Mr.. Hill turned to Mr.. Sheehan and
demanded that the telegram be sup
pressed. Judge Parker must be saved
from the effect of his own hasty act.
Mr.. Sheehan vehemently refused. Mr..
Hill then insisted that it must be
fabrication-a hoaX-designed to create
confusion and bring ridicule upon both
the party and the candidate. MIR. Ryan
suggested that IL would be easy
TO determine whether or not this was
so. Until the telegram was found to
be genuine or false, its contents should
not be divulged'
The foregoing is perhaps about as
near a correct account Of the reception
of the telegram, what was said by
those who were with Mr.. Sheehan
and what he said as will ever be pub
lished. We reproduce Col. Harvey's
statement because the telegram and
the circumstances attending its recep-
tion will no doubt play an important
part in the campaign.
Great credit is due Mr.. Sheehan for
his refusal to follow Mr.. Hilrs advice
II he had done so he would have prac-
tically ruined Judge Parker's chances
Of success. The fact Of the reception
of the telegram would have become
known. but the information, coming
after the adjournment Of the conven-
ton. would have had the effect OF
creating apathy in the party. Fortu-
nate II was that the telegram was re-
ceived by Mr.. Sheehan and not by Mr..
Hill OF course by making the tele-
gram known TO the convention Mr..
Sheehan took the risk OF Judge Park
or losing the nomination. That Mr..
sheehan knew, but In following instruc-