The Washington herald., 1910-04-06

| A sensational turn was given the House
inquiry into the ship subsidy scandal yes
terday, when John a. Penton. secretary
| Of the Merchant Marine League, was
arrested on an indictment for criminal
| libel upon charges preferred by Repre-
sentative Steenerson. Of Minnesota, au-
thor of the resolution under which the
Olcott special committee is investigating
/ allegations that two lobbles are at work
/ TO further subsidy legislation and TO put
! obstacles IN its way
| Mr.. Penton had just concluded testify
ing before the committee, and was Ieav-
ing the House Office Building. when he
was taken into custody by two detectives.
He was conducted to the Office OF the
United States attorney. where he gave
bail in the sum Of 500
Charged with Libel.
Mr. Penton was arrested upon the au-
thority OF an indictment returned March
lS0 He was charged with criminal libel
| in connection with certain editorials ap-
pearing in the December issue OF the
American Flag, the official organ Of the
Merchant Marine League.
The indictment recites that Mr.. Penton
impugned the integrity Of Representative
Steenerson. who is an opponent of sub
sidy legislation. 1t IS set forth that the
libel appeared under the heading "Steen-
erson soon 20 have a chance" reading
as follows:
IF Representative steenerson has any
soiicitude for American labor, If he is in
truth not throwing dust in the eyes Of
his constituents by declaring against
coolie laber. then he viii soon have al
opportunity to show his sincerity.
If he desires TO supplant cooIe labor
with American labor. he may follow
President TAFT and the loyal members Of
the Minnesota Congressional delegation
and vote for such legislation in the next
Congress as will efectually do away with
coolie labor on American ships doing
American business
Indictment Set Forth.
1t is further set forth in the Indictment
that the libellous article continued as
follows:
rs man ut to hold public office that
viii deliberately pervert and maliciously
falsify the facts connected with any i'm
portant public question? Is he a safe
a trustworthy-man? We hold that he is
not; that such man is dishOnest. and an
enemy 10 his country and his cOuntry's
best interests, and that he and men ike
him are constant menaces to American
progress at home and abroad. There are
notmany such in Congress. but there VIII
always be found a few, and the Ninth
district Of Minnesota has one"
In his testimony before the House COM
mittee yesterday, Mr.. Penton practically
assumed responsibility for the statements
in the American Flag rejecting upon the
integrity Of Representative Steenerson.
Mr.. Penton issued a statement last
night saying. among other things. that
in the trial Of the libel case the Merchant
Marine League would have no difficulty in
proving the truth Of the charges against
Mr.. STEVENSON and the good motives"
which prompted their publication He
said in part:
Our campaign of education seems to
have stirred UP Representative Steener-
son, who wrote a letter to one OF k.s con-
stituents. in which he stated: OF course
you understand that the Merchant Marine
League is an organization Of interested
parties who expect to get big contracts
and make money al the ship building
and other enterprises stimulated by the
subsidy and that their patriot-
ism and love for the flag is largely. if
not wholly, due to the appropriations is
volved.
Provoked the. Statement.
BY his letter, Mr.. Steenerson provoked
the statement made in the American Flag
in effect of which was to show that he
was guilty Of deliberate untruthfulness.
This showing hurts him; hence his anger.
when the libel case comes to trial We
will have no difficulty in proving both
the truth of our allegations regarding
Steenerson and the good
motives which prompted their publlca-
ton.
we have no quarrel with Mr.. Steener-
son or any other member of Congress
Continued on Page B, Column O.