The Washington herald., 1907-03-05
CLARK is ANGERED
Florida Member Scores Arti-
Gle on PeOnage,
ATTACK ON W. R. HEARST
representative Talks of the "Siuck
Raker'-HOIds Statements Made by
Writer to BE Decidedly Inaccurate
and Reads Telegram from Gov
ernOr OF the state of Florida,

Peonage IN Florida, as alleged IN recent
publications in a magazine the owner
ship of which is credited to William Ran
dolph Hearst. led 10 a bitter attack upon
Mr. Hearst by Representative Clark, Of
Florida, on the floor of the House yes
terday. It recalled the similar onslaught
made two years ago by Mr.. Sullivan, of
Massachusetts, on which occasion, how
ever. MI Hearst was present and re-
sponded In kind. and Senator Bailey's
excoriatlon Of an article in the same mag
azine last summer.
Some days ago Mr. Clark introduced a
resolution calling on the Attorney General
to tell the House what relation Mrs.
Quackenbos bore to the Department of
Justice. what salary was paid her, and
if il was necessary 10 employ special
counsel in the peonagc cases because Of
the incapacity of the district attorney OF
his assistant This was referred 10 the
Committee on Judiciary. and yesterday
Mr.. Jenkins, Its chairman, moved 10 dis
charge the committee from further con
sideration Of the resolution. and that 1t
lie on The table, which was agreed to-
In this connection, he had read letter
from Attorney General BOnaparte. who
told Of the phlanthropic work of Mrs
Mary Grace QUackenbOs. Of New York,
through which she was brought into a
knowledge of the alleged peonage cases
in Florida. She visited that State. it was
said, as assistant TO the United States at
torney in New York City, where she aided
Assistant Attorney General Russell IN
the prosecution of the cases. receiving no
compensation except 10 reimburse her for
expenses incurred. Mr.. Russell was sent
to Florida. the Attorney General explain
ed, because District Attorney Cheney was
i'll. and Assistant District Attorney Marks
was disqualified 10 act. having long been
counsel for the railroad company the
officials of which were charged with yio-
Iating the peonage laws.
Pays His Respects.
Mr. Clark, speaking to the question
said. ITO deal with a 'muck-raker' is
always unpleasant IL is at no time
agreeable to engage ia disputation with
that product Of our pTesent-day civiliza-
ton known as yellow Journalism which
for a few pennies and an opportunity to
keep ia the HmelIght does not hesitate
to calumniate an entire community. 1t
is disagreeable because the one in
question is generally so lacking in char
acter and so Dereft Of the essential attri-
butes of real manhood that he Will resort
80 any and every form of falschoOd 70
bolster up his original libel
In submitting the remarks I shall
make upon the subject of 'Peonage in
Florida as treated in "a recent article
in the Cosmopolitan Magazine for March.
and partly copied in q New York paper,
I know I shall bring down upon my hum
bic self the relentless fury of the owner Of
those publications. But be that as It may
Mr.. Spea ker. l would be unworthy of the
high and honorable position i hold if
should silently stand here and permit a
member Of this body. either from his
place on the floor. or through the col
umns of his publications, 10 Islander and
malign my people The article seems to
have been written by one Richard Barry.
do not know the man, but I ann con-
strained 10 say that he has either been
duped by some designing person. or else
is d right considerable liar himself
Mr. Clark devoted himself TO a disserta-
ton Of the article. he said. 20 expose
its untruths He read the following telc-
gram from Gov. BrOWard in answer to
one from himself. asking If the governor
had been correctly quoted in the COsmO-
politan as saying he was opposed TO
peOEage, but p0weriess 10 zeal with itY'
No. Was not asked that question. I am opposed
20 peonage and In favor Of prosecuting persons guilty
q It, State authorities able % deal with t. United
states took up the matter and acted by bringing
indictments before State courts acted Doubt whether
any crimes q taat class exist now.