The St. Louis Republic., 1904-01-23
EDITORS EXPEL LEE AND PAGE:
RETAIN SPEED IN ASSOCIATION,
Missouri Newspaper Men Spend Discussing Report
Special Committee Concerning Charges Booding
Vote Is 46 to 20-Fy Members Depart New Orleans
Macon Republican Wins Prize
BY BROWNLEE BROWN.

By a vote Of two to one, one-thfrd o
the members present not voting. the Mis-
souri, Press Association yesterday adopte
the minority report OF the special com
mittee expelling John A Lee and I. L
| Page from the organization, and retaining
R. B. Speed, editor Of the Nevada Mail.
| While the result was not unexpected
the debate, which occupied two hours o
/ TIE morning session, was sharp, and lef
| no doubt as to where the participant
stood. Only about half a dozen member:
OF the association took part in the discus
sion, but they handled the subject withou
| gloves. When the vote was finally taken
which was after 1 o'clock. it stood Is te
% in favor of the adoption Of the minority
| report.
When the association was called to order
at 10 a. m. consideration Of the report OF
| the special committee appointed at the
| last session to revise the rolls was made
| a special order for IL o'clock. At that
time, Chairman. T. T. Wilson recognized
w. o. L. Jewett, editor Of the shelbina
Democrat, and chairman OF the special
committee.
Mr.. Jewett prefaced the reading OF his
report by stating that since his arrival
one of the committeeman, J. b Tucker OF
the Parksvilie Gazette, had changed his
mind, and probably would submit a minor
ity report
The majority report recounted the for
nation of the committee, and the fact
that letters had been sent to John A
Lee, L l. Page and r. b. Speed. asking
them either to answer by letter the
charges which had been made against
them In the public press or to appear
before the committee on the ffrst day OF
the associations meeting.
Lee was charged with accepting money
to influence his vote and Of using money
to influence the vote of State Senators.
1. L. Page refused to divulge where he
got a $1,000 bill on tho ground that 1t
would incriminate him. Speed was asked
to answer the charge that he had paid $50
to former State Senator Lyons to influence
his action on a bill cutting down the
fees OF the Coal OH Inspector, which ofice
Lee was the only one to answer the let
ter which was sent to him by the COM
mittee, said Mr.. Jewett in his report Lee
held that as he represented a paper with
which he was not connected at the pres
ent time he did not consider himself
member OF the association, and asked
Neither Page nor Speed replied by letter
or by personal appearance before the
committee. In conclusion the report rec
commended that Lee. Speed and Page be
dropped from the list of members"
CRITICISES SPEED.
When Mr.. Jewett had finished Mr.. Tuck
er read the minority report, which recon-
but said that he did not consider Speed
equally guilty with the other two. as
things which he had heard since his ar
rival in the city had caused him to change
his mind. Mr.. Tucker had originally
signed the report.
In support Of the majority report, Mr..
Jewett made speech that made the is
sue plain. 1t is up to the association"
he said. I'VE have a reputation to sus-
tain. We owe duty to the public. to our
selves and to the profession which We
How can We make fish of one man and
flesh Of another? I cannot understand
such a distinction.
II grant that Speed Is an amiable gentle
man. one of whom 1 originally thought
much But when 1t comes to public acts
of the association. don't know friend
ships. | don't believe bribery is a mere
conventional crime. II there ever was
bribery. he committed it. No man can say
it was not bribery, because outside Of the
statute of limitations. You can't white
ry you and may be. the fact stands out
in bold relief. Like thousands, he was
tempted and he fell.
"Is it for US to tolerate this because he
our duty? We come here and read high
moral essays and pass fine resolutions. |
Those are words here we have acts. VIII |
We preach one thing and practice an
other? You have got to draw the line"
In seconding the adoption of the minor
ity report, Jewell Mayes. editor of the |
keep politics out OF the organization"
he said Let us be the brothers that We |
should be. This opens a partisan discus.
sion. brought outside Of the statute of |
The minority report has no /
dynamite in Ii. 1t assails no ones char |
acter in an underhand manner. In these
days, when any man who gets in the way
of fayorite of the public press. ne occu-
pies a dangerous position. also object to
placing the name Of Speed between that
of Lee and Page. He Is not equally guilty
With them"
Philip GAM of the Macon Republican |
pleaded that the discussion might remain
ilong proper channels, in a short admon-
tory speech ]. B. Tucker then spoke in
'avor of the minority report. which he
,ad written.
Lee and Page are confessed criminals"
le said. page worked the newspaper pro-
ession and descended to the level Of the
Common CRATER. do not seek to condone
he sv OF Sp do mot not even know
md his standing in the fraternity. Aside
rom this single instance, there Is nothing |
hat he has done which would prevent any
nan from being honored in having him for |
i'm not guilty. but expulsion from this
ssociation Is the greatest penalty which
ould be inflicted upon him. He did not
lead the statute of limitations. but con-
essed that he was sandbaeged by MEM
0 censure. agree. ExpeIlng him would