Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1905-02-22
Lawson Offers Big Moaey for
Opportunity at Beck.
WOULD MEET IN fANuE.L HALL
Accuses Attorney Of Having Attacked
Him From Safe Distance-sue-
oests Means Of Beretitting Fund FOR
Home For tho Journalists.
Especial to the Daily Prcss.)

BOSTON. MASS, Feb 2O.-Thomas
w Lason has just issued the following
open letter to James NJ. Beck. ex-as-
sistant attorney general Of the United
States. now counsel and chief orator
fer the Standard Oil Company and
the. SYSTEM
MIR. Beck: Last February YOU were
called 10 Boston as counsel for Henry
| H. Rogers. and OH the eve Of the gas
trial in The Massachusetts Supreme
Court where MIR. Rogers and myself
were to testify, you tried to have 1nc
match up my testimony. I refused
Shortly after 'Frenzied Finance be
gan, you ard James II. Eckels, ex-
comptroller Of the currency Of the
United States. now representative of
ed to sling mud at ME at public din
ners. and banqucts-he in the West.
you in the East
From Safe Distance.
| you have 10th been industriously
at it wherever YOU knew it was safe:
that is, wherever YOU were sure l
could not answer you, and now tonight.
at the dinner Of the Boston Life I'm
Iderwriters' Association, here in nv
cwn city. you are to again un]imEcr
your mud guns.
The International League of Press
Clubs is endeavoring to raise the re-
manning s5nOCO fund for building and!
lcQuipping home for journalists. j.
i Pierpont Morgan has agreed to fur
IRISH the last $4,000 provided tho frnc
is raised before June 30 am asked to
furnish $4,000. 1t is, as YOU know, Il
most WORTHY cause. You and your
losses Of the Standard Oil. Amalga.
mated City Bank.J Big three inSur.
ance crowd Lave never yet in rour at
tacks upon tho public or individual
inclHGcrs of the public been known t.
come cut, in the open, but have Away;
made your cowardly attacks Wien you
were sure it was safe.
$4,000 For Chance
Therefore. make you the following
Offer if YOU the recognized mouth
piece CT the STANDARD Oil it's leading
cr3tor. man SO thoroughly verseu in
lpublc defamation as to stand in the
very front ranks OF the great public
speakers OF this countr" will meet
INC in Fancuil ball the cradle Of
American liberty and free speech
meet me, the layman who has never
delivered a public address-and there
debate tho crimes and the coWarlly
] viilainies Of your employers within ten
days Of the assault you are to make
upon me in the house Of your friends
tonight. will pay over to the Journal
istic League the sum Of $4,000 and if
you decide that it is hest. VIC will
raise further sum by charging admis-
sion to the hall.
| II think We could easily raise the en-
tire flnd Of $4,000 by such means. If
you will bring along your talented col
league from the West, MIR. Eckels. 81
much the better, and if YOU wish will.
consent to have every ticket in the
hall sold to Your friends. and | Will
ask no odds but to reply 10 what You
will say.
Dares Beck to Accept.
Now. Mr.. Beck, will you dare to
help this good cause, and Incidentally
give tue people one honest chance to
learn the truth. You have male on
slau.ilts OF, me in public addresses.
where l have had no opportunity to
answer. In your last address at Phila-
lclphia YOU called me a rFrenzied
Falsjr a Wild Runamuck Malay In
sritc Of your wages from STANDARD
Oil:' yoN will surely not prove yourself
SO cowardly as TO do this and not ac-
cept my proposition.
Il will await your answer in the re.
ports Which will read tomorrow Of
what you say in the house of your,
friend. the insurance people
| THOMAS w. LAWSON