The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1907-10-17
HAYES SWEARS
OUT WARRANTS
FOR sHORTR|DGE
Charges San Jose Editor
With Criminal Libel Of
Congressman
TO BATTLE IN COURTS
Verbal and Newspaper At
tacks Will Be Sifted Be-
fore Jury
REFRAIN FROM REPLY
Brothers Refuse to Hit Back
in Journals They
Control
FROM REPLY

SAN JOSE, Oct 16.-The bitter
political war between the republican
factions dominated by Editor and
former State Senator Charles M.
Shortridgc on the one side and Repre-
sentative E. A. Hayes and his brother.
]. o. Hayes, on the other, has reached
focus and Santa Clara county is to
be treated to a battle in the courts
during which numerous accusations
are to be sifted thoroughly. Repre-
sentative Hayes announced today that
he would at once swear out warrants
for the arrest of Editor Shortridge on
charges of criminal libel. These war
rants will be ready for service tornor-
row morning and Shortridge Will be
placed under arrest If he be within
the county.
Since he began the publication OF the
Times, In October of last year. Short
ridge has poured broadside after
broadside Of allegation and criticism
at the Hayes brothers. During the
present political campaign Shortridge
has supplemented these printed attacks
with verbal onslaug ghts delivered from
the stump. The charges that lie has
preferred against the brothers have
been serious and various. ranging
downward from an accusation OF the
murder of relative and the commits.
sion of arson TO offenses so common
place. relatively, as the purchase of San
Jose voters. Now his political rivals
tunity of proving the truth of these
allegations in court
These attacks upon my brother and
myself have continued until it is inn
of ignoring them" said Representative
Hayes today. "Shortridge has accused
me in print of having set fire to a barn.
He has charged me in a street corner
harangue with having murdered
relative. He has made and reiterated
numerous other allegations that have
not the slightest basis in fact, and we
intend now TO put him upon the de-
fensive and give him the chance to
prove that he has not criminally fbeled
us or take the consequences.
MY attorneys have informed me that
have five specific grounds upon which
to base charges of criminal libel. It so
happens that the barn which Short
ridge accused me of having burned did
not belong to me. When he charged me
In speech with having murdered rel
ative 1 waited, hoping that he would
put the accusation into print. He has
not done so. and my brother and 1 have
decided to proceed Immediately to bring
him to an accounting.
Here, where we are known. these
vicious attacks by Shortridge are with
out effect and 1t has been the policy
OF my brother and myself to ignore
them in our two newspapers, the Mer-
curry and the Herald; but of late I
have received many communications
from the outside, inquiring as to my
silence, while the press of the east has
begun to comment because the accusa-
| tions are directed against member of
the national congress. We can ignore
them no longer.
"Shortridge is backed in his news
paper venture by Jim Rea, the one time
political boss, who is overlooking no
opportunity for petty vengeance upon
us for having oustcd him from political
! power"