Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-13
Spectators Chuckled. at First.


tent upon the proceedings, and the cham
Der was breathlessly quiet.
Spectators Chuckled, at First.
At first the members on the floor and the
spectators chuckled and laughed aloud at
some of Mr.. Sullivans thinly-veiled and
frequently humorous references to Mr..
Hearst. But as Mr.. Sullivan proceeded hu-
NOR was succeeded by venom, he became
caustic, sarcastic and condemnatory. and
the auditors on the floor and in the CALLER
les gasped with establishment and opened
their eyes in wonder as the remarkable ar
raigEment went on.
Always in parliamentary terms, or at
least invariably within the rules of par
liamentary proceedings, Representative Sui
livan proceeded, and as he went on his ar
raignment grew more and more bitter.
There are some men," he said, in the
course of his remarks, who lack the sense
of proportion; who cannot see the differ
ence between the characteristics of the men
fitted to be President of the United States
and their own contemplate moral and
mental outfit"
Nothing like his arraignment has ever
been heard in the House, and although
clothed in niceties Of parliamentary dis
course, there was never any doubt as to his
meaning
MI. Hearst's Reply.
Representative Hearst's reply was brief
and as sensational as can be imagined. He
accepted responsibility for the New York
American article, although he said he did
not inspire 1t, and declared he was proud to
have excited the ire and incurred the en-
nifty of that class of men, The inference
was plain.
Then Mr.. Hearst said impressively that
in 1885 while he was student at Harvard
a murder had been committed in a low sa-
loon in Cambridge. A drunken man had
been kicked to death by the two owners of
the saloon. One of these men was named
John A. Sullivan. Then Mr.. Hearst turned
impressvely and said that perhaps the
gentleman from Massachusetts can tell US
who this gentleman was.
Mr.. Sullivan, whose full name is John
A. Sullivan, will make a reply tomorrow.
Replies to the American.
Immediately after the House convened
Mr.. Sullivan (Mass), in pursuance of no
tice given by him last Friday. addressed the
House in reply to certain statements re-
garding himself alleged to have been
printed in the New York American. Mr..
Sullivan's remarks were the outcome of
last weeks debate on the railroad Fate
question, in the course of which he in
quired of MIR. Lamar (Fla.) why Mr..
Hearst On " was not present to ex-
plain his own bill.
Mr.. Sullivan at the outset stated he had
given his notice early in order that Mr.
Hearst might be present today. He had
interrupted Mr.. Lamar he said, because
he thought Mr.. Lamar was criticising too
harshly his democratic colleagues for
their failure to support the so-called
Hearst bill and he felt that Mr. Hearst
himself might produce the desired effect.
Ordinarily, he said, public men expect
fair criticism of their official acts, but
where the proprietor of a paper is
S,f l. III
duty to his colleagues to be fair and i'm
partial in his criticisms of them He read
the article in the New York American of
February 9 in criticism of himself, which
he said had been called forth by an in
fraction of Mr.. Hearst's monarchical dig
nifty and thereby had been consigned to
the political assassination of Mr.. Hearsts
paper.
The article in question. Mr.. Sullivan
said. touched his representative capacity,
land is celebrate insult to one member
by another"
He was interrupted by Mr.. Robinson
Cnd.), who raised the point that Mr.. Sui
livan was not in order. Immediately
there went up howl Of no." no." no"
The speaker ruled that Mr.. Sullivan
was proceeding by unanimous consent
"Congenital Incapacity" Discussed.
Continuing, Mr.. Sullivan said: The
writer raises the query whether my ig-
norance of pending measures was due to
congenital incapacity or indifference to
the peoples rights. Congenital incapac-
ity is a serious charge, yet obviously one
which a person accused would not care
to discuss. II the charge is true he is
not guilty. but unfortunate, and it is
surely a grievous misfortune not to be
able to appreciate the value of the Iegis-
lative service of the gentleman from New
York. But congenital incapacity to I'M
derstand Is a term that covers a wide
range of mental and moral deficiency.
1t covers the case of the moral degen-
crate, the unclean, unproductive. shiftless
members of society, and 1t includes the
man who, totally bereft of the sense of
propriety, raises his profaning eyes to-
ward the splendid temple of the peoples
highest gift-the presidency of the
United States-bliSSfully unconscious of
the woeful contrast between the qualifi-
cations requisite for that high Office and
his own contemplate and moral equip
ment."
Declared to Be in Order.
Mr.. Sullivan again was interrupted by
Mr.. Robinson. but the Speaker ruled that
Mr.. Sullivan was in order
Mr.. Sullivan then was permitted to pro-
coed, commenting on the non-attendance
and lack of record on roll call exhibited
by some members"
Mr.. Sullivan referred to Mr. Hearst as
1.-The unknown man or political novice
whose only recommendation is his inher-
tied wealth"
The scheme of political assassination, he
said. had been mapped out. evidently with
the idea Of destroying the respectable ele-
ments of the democratic party. He COM
mended Mr.. Williams, the minority leader
for refusing to indorse the Hearst rate bill,
also "a refusal of that leader to stoop to
q controversy with contemplate oppo-
nent."
AS soon az Mr.. Sullivan concluded Mr..