The Washington times., 1908-10-30
Chairman of House District Committee Sends Times
Private Messages to the Editor of The
Washington Post
KEEPS CORPORATIONS PAPER INFORMED
Member of Congress Even Goes So Far AS 70 Violate
Postal Laws BY Sending Private Letter
in Official Envelope

in Official Envelope.
Representative Samuel W. Smith, of Michigan chair
man of the House Committee on the District Of Columbia
maintains such relations with the Gas Monopoly in the Ma
tona Capital that he sends of the trusted agents of
that monopoIy-over his signature and marked 'of-
cia business" of the Govemment-copes of kilograms
by members of The Times staff parties in Michigan
Proof of these relations has to light in Wash
ington. It has the form of letter Ira T. Bennett the
editor of the Washington Post, reading follows:
Committee on the District of Columbia
House of Representatives u S.,
Pontiac, Mich. TO- 26, 'O8.
Dear Mr. Bennett:
I enclose some FURTHER reading matter
from THE WASHINGTON TIMES, Mess-s
WELLIvER and ALBERT; I confess don't re-
call Mr. Albert and also two documents which are
being freely circulated throughout the District
LET THE GOOD WORK GO ON. Whatever the
result may be am trying to keep them busy
Sincerely yours, S. W. SMITH.
THAT FURTHER MATTER.
The "furher reading NATTER referred to by Mr.
Smith included
An exact copy of a telegram sent by Allen D.
Albert of The Washington Times to o. H. Reed at
Lansing, Michigan, October 81. It dealt with is
involved in the campaign against Samuel W.
Smith in the Sixth Michigan district
An exact copy Of a telegram sent by P c. Pat
terson, of The Washington Times to J. c. Welliver,
chief of the political staff of this paper at the Ho-
tel Ponchartfain, Detroit, Michigan This message
also dealt with the Smith campaign.
An exact copy of a typewritten statement Civ
out in Detroit by J. c. WeIlver to a few news
papers, in which he told why The Washington
Times is opposed to the reelection of Mr.. Smith
FACSIMILES OF PAPERS GIVEN
Facsmies of these three copies reproduced
another page.
But the most remarkable document in this most un-
collection is the letter to Mr. Bennett of the Post
The significance that letter is due to these facts
That the president and chief factor of the Gas Com
pany a controlling interest in the Washington Post
That the chairman of the House Committee tLs
District of Columbia is Samuel w. Smith, standing for
reelection to Congress from the Sixth district of Mch
gan
That Mr. Smith deems it important to the Gas Com
pany and himself to keep the Washington Post informed
the state of his campaign that he sends the editor of
that newspaper confidential information the subject
That for the sake of keeping those agencies fully in
formed he is willing send to him the Enclosures indicated
kilograms by another newspaper to its
spondents
VIOLATES THE POSTAL LAWS.
That for the purpose of conveying this matter to the
agents Of the Gas Company he is willing directly violate
the which forhds the of the franked envelope
cept for the official business of the Government.
The Washington Post is the newspaper-the only one
in the District of Columba-which did not print single
word when of citizens associations adopting
strong resolutions demanding protection from the Gas No
nopoly.
Nor did it print a word the action instituted by the
District Government for the punishment of the Gas Com
pany on the ground that the gas furnished below
the standard fixed by law.
Nor has it printed than brief notices of the
G. Il 1