The Washington herald., 1908-04-24
PAPERSFILE PROTEST
Publishers Call Trust Probe
a "Subterfuge."
WILLIAMS MAKES RESPONSE
Every Member of House Gets TeIe-
gram from Newspaper Publishers
AssOcfHtfOn-WaRt stevens Bill Put
Upon VOte-MinOrity Leader Says
1t Is Up to Speaker Cannon.

If the agitation to obtain the passage
at this session Of Congress of bills plac-
ing wood pulp and print paper on the free
1 list continues. several Republican leaders
will be driven to nervous prostration.
As petitioners, the American Newspaper
Publishers Association, in the opinion Of
Speaker Cannon, Serene E. Payne, Of
New York, and John DaIzell, of Pennsyl-
vania, have got everything beaten that
ever attempted to force a reluctant lesis-
lative body 10 act.
The association is taking full advantage
Of its constitutional right of petition. II
has the cordial aid and support Of John
Sharp Williams, OF Mississippi, the Demo-
cratic leader. whose performance as the
second fiddle is highly edifying to the
publishers and eorrespOndingly annoying
to the normally urbane and agreeable
Mr.. Cannon, of Illinois Uncle Joe is mad
at the publishers. and he is not an agree
able man to meet these days.
When the House met yesterday morn
ing the desks Of the members were cover
ed with kilograms from every section Of
the country. II looked to stranger as
ii the House chamber was covered with
autumn leaves.
There were kilograms from publishers
in Maine. and kilograms from publishers
in California. In fact. every State in the
Union was represented in the collection
want Bill Passed.
All Of them voiced the almost universal
desire of the populace that the House
should pass a bill putting wood pulp and
print paper on the free list. n telegram
from Z. H. Baker. secretary Of the Ameri-
can Newspaper Publishers Association,
was received by every member of the
House. It read as follows:
The American Newspaper Publishers
Association, in convention assembled, pro-
tests against the subterfuge designed by
Cannon. Payne, and Dalzell to prevent
relief from the eXtOTtjOns Of the paper
combine.
1--WE ask that the Stevens bill, now
throttled in the Ways and Means Com
mittee. De put TO a vote on the floor OF
the House We represent the seventh.
largest industry in the United States, and
have rights that Congress is bound to
respect"
Speaker Cannon heard from Secretary
Baker, but he did not reply. John Sharp
Williams replied instanter as follows:
II Join in your protest. Get the Speaker
to recognize me or somebody else 10 make
the motion and it Will pass. 1t IS up TO
him"
Mr. Williams. who has grown expert in
shooting darts into the quivering Repub-
al hr-
filing the telegram from Mr.. Baker In
Connection with the following: Il respect
fully petition the Congress Of the United
States to grant the request of the News
paper Publishers Association in telegram
herewith fled
Has Right OF Petition.
81 reckon a member may petition Con-
gress as we'll as anybody else, he oh
served, casting a roguish glance at
Speaker Cannon. Uncle Joe did not re
spond with the usual cordial smile. He
was mad, mad clean through. and he
didn't care who knew IT,
Chairman Payne, Of the Ways and
Means Committee, the pet aversion of
Herman Ridder and other members of the
publishers association, was serene and
imperturbable. His ''ha-ha-ha'' was just
as loud as ever, and he beamed on the
House Ike a new moon.
AS fast as the members opened up their
telegrams from Secretary Baker they de-
posted the little yellow slips on Mr.
Payne's desk, thus placing the whole re-
sponslbiity for alleged obstruction on
his shoulders. But Mr.. Payne didn't
mind He plays well the role of watch
dog OF the tariff.
Mr. Payne said that perhaps the news
papers would come some time to the con-
clusion that they do not constitute a
separate class entitled to special favored
consideration. When we put through
an anti-pass law they came down here
and asked TO be exempted from its opera
tiOn," he continued.
They failed then, and I think they
viii fail to establish their right TO special
legislation instead Of waiting with all
other American citizens for general tariff
/ legislation, 10 be enacted for the bene-
NJ Of all alike"
Cannon Is Master.
Speaker Cannon is master of the situa-
tion. By securing the appointment of a
select committee to investigate the opera
/ tons Of the so-called paper trust he has
| bottled up the publishers more effectively
| than Hobson bottled UP the Spanish feet
| in Santiago Harbor