The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-01-09
Washington Newspaper Called
 Down by the President
CAUSED BY MORRIS CASE
pr. Morris Comes Out In Vigorous Interview Expressing His lndigna- ton at the Recent Treat
 ment of His Wife.

Washington, January s.-(special)-The Norris case was the universal topic of conversation in Washington today, partly because of the Shepard resolution but chiefly because of the discovery that the President had attempted to stop the pub lication of newspaper reports of the case. The Evening Star announces tonight that only Saturday MT. Loeb sent for one of its reporters and informed him that the Stars reports were objectionable to the White House from the President down." The Star had printed the facts in the case without comment and without preju- dice.
 Other Similar Action.
 Similar action by the President has been takin in numberless other cases, but not in quite that way. For instance. he once directed Washington paper to recall from the White House its reporter there because he had printed the facts about a visit made by Senator Scott. MT. Scott on that occasion. finding there was de- lay in admitting him to the White House, departed. saying that he would not wait. The publication of this fact dspeased the President and he had the reporter fired
 On another occasion a woman reporter was barred from the White House, though there was no question of the accuracy of her reports. On this occasion, after barring the young woman, MT. Loeb called up the managing editor of her pa per saying that he would like to have the editor call upon in regard to it. The editor refused to go.
 Instances of this kind are without num- Der, but this is the first time the President has ever ntimated his desire to news paper that it should discontinue report ing particular news event in a particu- lar manner. The occurrence was discussed among congressman and others all over the city, and created no little excitement.
 John Sharp Williams Talks.
 What right has the President of the United States to tell newspaper what it shall or shall not print?' said John Sharp Williams, the minority leader of the House, today. 'In the United States a man can't get any higher than being B citizen, being an American gentleman, whether he is President, postmaster, jus tice of the peace, or mule driver. That is fact which of late seems to have been overlooked. The speaker has no authority to censor the press the Pres ident of the Senate has no such power; no such authority is vested in the mayor of city, the governor of a state, the district attorney of a county, or the chief of police. How should the President of the United States come to possess it?''
 "rhe other day" said another promi- nent democratic congressman, T saw dispatch in the paper saying that man up in New Jersey, I think it was, had been arrested for writing annoying let ters to the President about the Panama canal Think of it-for writing annoying letters Every congressman gets annoy ing letters. and this seems to afford happy way of dealing with the writers. waste basket costs only 10 cents, it is true. and I have been in the habit of depositing mine there but this new scheme has merits. Certainly, lese majeste has become an American crime
 Blazing With Editorials.
 The Washington papers have taken the subject up and are blazing with editorials and news articles about the censorship.
 Let us hope said The Post, in such an editorial, that the officialism which limits their usefulness at the White House will not extend to Congress and abolish the reporters galleries. The great mas ter in the discussion of human motives, deprecated the action of those who, dressed in a little brief authority, play such fantastic tricks before high heaven as make the angels weep VI
 The Star devotes the major part of It's first page to the subject tonight.