The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1905-02-14
SENSATIONAL DEBATE BETWEEN
MEssRs. SULLIVAN (MAss.
AND HEARST IN. W.
LATTER FINALLY CALLED TO ORDER
ACCUSES HIS OPPONENT OF HAv.
ING BEEN INDICTED FOR
MANsLAuGHTER.

after the house convened Mr.. Sullivan
(Dem., Mass.) in pursuance OF notice
given by him last Friday, as,ressed
the house in reply to certain state
ments regarding himself alleged to
have been printed in the New York
American. Ordinarily, he said, public
men expect fair criticism Of their Off
clal acts, but where the proprietor of a
paper is a member of congress he
owes double duty to his colleagues
to be fair and impartial in his criti
cisms of them. He read the article in
the New York American of Feb. in
criticism. OF himself, which, he said,
had been called forth by an infrac.
tion OF Mr.. Hearst's monarchial dig
nifty and thereby he had been co1l-
signed to the political assassination
OF MI. Hearst's paper.
The article in question, Mr.. Sullivan
said, touched his representative ca
pacity ''and is deliberate insult to
one member by another
Mr.. Sullivan referred to Mr.. Hearst
as the unknown man or political
novice, whose only recommendation is
his inherited wealth."
Hot Shot for Mr.. Hearst.
The scheme of political assassina-
ton, he said, had been mapped out
evidently with the idea of destroying
the respectable elements of the Demo
cratic party. He commended Mr. Will
Jams, the minority leader, for refusing
to endorse the Hearst rate bill, also
"a refusal Of that leader to stOop to a
controversy with a contemplate op-
ponent." Continuing he said:
"fhe writer raises the query whether
my, ignorance of pending measures
was due to congenital incapacity or
indifference to the peoples rights.
Congenital incapacity is serious
charge, vet, obviously, one which a
person accused would not care to dis
cuss. II the charge is true he is not
guilty, but unfortunate, and it is sure
ly a grievOus misfortune not to be able
to appreciate the value of the legis-
New York. But congenital incapable
1ty to understand is term that covers
a wide range of mental and moral de-
flciency. It covers the case of the
moral degenerate, the>unclean, unpro-
ductive, shiftless members of society;
and it includes the man who, totally
bereft of the sense of propriety, raises
his profaning eyes toward the splendid
temple of the peoples highest gift
the presidency Of the United States
unconscious of the woeful
contrast between the qualification
requisite for that high Office and his
own contemplate equipment"
Hearst Springs Sensation.
AS soon as Mr. Sullivan concluded
Mr.. Hearst rose to reply. He denied
that he either inspired or suggested
the publication referred to, but said
he assumed all responsibility for it.
He declared that he had no desire
to criticise Mr. Sullivan because if he
had he would not have done it in so
puerile manner. He then sprung a
sensation which threw the house in
All uproar. He charged that John A.
Sullivan was one of two brothers who
had kept a saloon in Boston where a
was committed and that the
two Sullivans were indicted for man
slaughter.
81 would like to ask the gentleman
from Massachusetts, calmly inquired
Mr.. Hearst, "what he knows about
that incident.
Mr.. Sullivan arose and, facing Mr..
Hearst, said:
"If the gentleman is asking that
question of me l will be very glad to
answer it,
Mr., Hearst ignored the remark,
however.
"This is not a wash shop" shouted
Mr.. Butler (Pa.), who appealed to the
speaker to end the discussion
The speaker ruled that Mr.. Hearst
was proceeding by unanimous consent.
Butler Thoroughly Enraged.
"But, Mr. Speaker said Mr.. Butler,
che has inferentially charged the gen
tleman with murder"
Mr.. Butler was thoroughly enraged
and as he walked across the aisle ex-
claimed: ''This is not fair to the
country
After the excitement had subsided
Mr.. Hearst, resuming, said he recog-
nized the Justice of the remarks Of
Mr.. Butler about the turn of affairs
and that he greatly regretted it, but,
he added, he was compelled in defense
OF himself, ..to define the character Of
men who have made their attacks
upon me-
At this juncture Speaker Cannon,
potlng the effect on the house of Mr..
Hearst's charge, interrupted and de-
clared that s'an accusation Of homicide
against a member seems to fall within
the parliamentary prohibition
The speakers admonition caused Mr.,
Hearst to cut short his remarks with
a statement that he was proud of the.
hostility of such as Mr.. Sullivan and
that he would continue ito incur the
hostility Of that class of individuals
SO lcng as he was in journalism or in
congress-