New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-04
UNHAPPY CONGRESSMAN.
The Hon. Charles A. Towne Thinks He Is
Misunderstood

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: Inasmuch as you unsolicitedly gave mo
considerable proportion OF your editorial space on
yesterday, may not hope that you will grant me
now q small place in your correspondents columns
for the purpose OF correcting some OF your mis-
statements and OF commenting briefly on the flip
pant and self-conplacent observations with which
you accompany them?
A public man Is absolutely at the mercy OF the
nswspapers So long as they observe those exceed
ingly liberal provisions OF the statutes on libel
which the policy Of institutions has prescribed
tbs newspapers can say what they please about him
and he cannot help himself. Perhaps he would
have no Just OF complaint at least on grounds
OF public policy, II he suffered from editorial COM
rrent merely. II this commsnt were based on facts,
or even on honestly made effort to ascertain facts.
he might be rightly held TO taking his chances with
them however sophistcal their reasoning and how
ever rnaIovolent their spirit; though even then he
would be at a great disadvantage because OF the
free and constant access to the public enjoyed by
his critics.
But when ell the cunning OF editorial casuistry
and all the rhetorical resources OF practised
calumny are given free rein TO roam IN the bound
less fields OF imagination when diScreditins reports
about a man are accepted without any attempt TO
verify them; when rumors that are ambiguous are
construed preferably TO his prejudice when sroIeo
or best, Inaccurate accounts or what ne says III
pbc ara taken as literal transcripts OF his utter
auces and made the basis OF amusing detractive
commentary; when even downright falsehood Is re-
sorted TO order TO support some supposedly Drill
liant period rejecting upon his conduct the haTd-
ship becomes persecution in which public interests
often suffer and the newspaper Is false 10 its duty
public teacher
have seldom tried 10 refute misrepresentation OF
me in the newspapers Generally 1t IS useless 10
expect fairness on review where there was no ols-
,o,iron toward il In the first instance Neverthe-
less l have decided in this instance 10 FISK an
appeal 10 your sense of decency and ask you 10
print this communication
First as to certain errors Of fact You repeat the
,,,rF-
that in a public speech there 1 had complained or
being unable TO get hearing in the House OF Rep
resentatiyes. never said any such thlng' ana the
report that 1 said was merely the cusIeaTg re-
man to report an address on a subject as 10 WhlCh
skin Of condensing into Ineligible narrative even
what he does understand Inc spetcRh III SI GeE
undertook discuss the FUNCTION OF tne ~.
shin in the House and the rules OF debate in ioTce
there IN AN h a62 a of against
myself There never has been any dscrlI RIM
was AS TO inc 70 ne very basis Of the office OF
he DopuaT branch of Congress in our system You
may not know this, but II IS nevertheless uqe.
Your assumption that Mr.. Charles F. Murphy
refused to renominate me for Congress Is without
foundation. never asked him to do SO. l an an,
nounced long before the S0nsressloh1l SolT t
was held that for financial reasons shoula hoC
think that could not return the Goth Congress
I desired to do 50. The habit that the New LOTS
senting me an humble petitioner for ONCE az
the hands OF pohucai lsaasr mas 5a mo invention
Of course / shall find NJ fault with the intended
fnferences that Turk the cumbersome and l0LCrl-
Gus levity with which in vain attempt TO do some
fine writing clothe the inConsequenCe OF illucn
IT your editorial but, In my opinion. the trivial
tone I'm which dismiss the questions or federal
ACKNOWLEDGMENT and executive aggression raised
by recent and pending political occurrences, and
which enlist the earnest concern or thousands or
spect for your journal in the minds OF people who
really think that readers of newspaper or long
and honorable history entitled To expect from
II some and sincere attempt To Gra2ple with
EItat political questions.
Your alleged quotation from my Baltimore speech
is in many respects inaccurate For example: Il
don't care II tsiC) you like II not is state
ment absolutely impossible for me TO make.
really Go come within hHiling distance OF the Eng
fish grammar, even in eXtempOre speech Again,
the expression government by executive absolute,
with which jOCund muse attempts To have 4
lot OF fun never used at all 1t is substitute
by the reporter for what he may have thought l
sad, but which Though n may surprise YOU he
unable to hear by reason of the fact that the
Unfortunate Baltimoreans whom the obligations OF
ospitality compelled to listen TO me- actually ap-
Iauded the sentiment loudly that llIy conclud-
ug words not audible to more than a very
mall proportion of the company. Nevertheless. the
natter quoted serves TO bring forward the subject
# the growth of Presidential preroEative IN the
ands OF Theodore Roosevelt, a subject which.
admOnish you. you will yet be compelled to
consider seriously. OF course nobody expects can
dor on this matter from a sheet whose owner is our
Imperial Ambassador TO the Court OF ST. Jarres's
Even smaller office would probably have pro-
would exhibit much better taste in ignoring a sub
tect which cannot afford 70 be honest rather
than in trying to be funny when neither the sub
ject nor your talents will permit IL.
CHARLES ~ TOWNE.
Washington Feb. /, 1907.