The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-04-06
EDITORIAL CAUSES
ACTION FOR LIBEL
Suit Against Secretary
Of Merchant Marine
League.
.PENTON PLACED
UNDER ARREST
Charges Made by Representative
Observation-Disclosures in
"ship Subsidy Lobby In
quiry-Questions to For
mer Assistant Postlnas-
ter General Cause Stir.

Washington, April 5.--The arrest Of
John A. Penton, of Cleveland, o.. sec
retary OF the Merchant Marine League,
for criminal libel against Representa-
tive Steenerson, of Minnesota, followed
his appearance as a witness to-day
before the ship subsidy lobby" in
quiry.
penton accompanied the detectives
to the District Attorneys Office, and
was released after depositinG $500
cash bail. The arrest was made on g.
secret Indictment returned March 30.
based on an editorial which appeared
on December / last in THE Ameri-
can Flag" the official organ OF the
Merchant Marine League
The alleged iibelous statement, ac-
cording to the indictment, appeared
under the heading. "steenerson Soon
| to Have a Chance" and read as fol-
lows:
"If Congressman Steenerson has any
| real solicitude for American labor II
| be Is in truth not throwing dust In
| the eyes of his constituents by de-
claiming against coolie labor, he will
| soon have an opportunity to show his
| sincerity. II he desires to supplant
| coolie labor with American labor, he
1
| loyal members of the Minnesota con-
! gressional delegation, and vote for
| such legislation in the next Congress
| as will effectually do away with coolie
| labor on American ships doing Ameri-
| can business"
] Reference to steenerson.
Continuing under a suhhead, What
| Manner of Man is This?" the alleged
| libelous article reads:
rs man fit to hold public Office
that will deliberately pervert and ma
| liciously falsify the facts connected
with any important public question
Is he safe. q. trustworthy. man? We
i hold that he Is not-that such man
Il is dishonest, and an enemy to his
country. and his country's best inter
i est, and that he and men like hrrl are
4 constant menaces to Americans al
4 home and abroad. There are not many
such in Congress. but there will al
ways be found a few. and the Ninth
District of Minnesota has one.
Mr. Penton asked the House Inrestt-
eating Committee to-day to postpone
his examination until he could obtair
counsel from Cleveland. He Identified a
number of his letters. submitted by
!. Mr. steenerson, and admitted some OF
them were unfortunate in their Ian
guaee," although he said the league
J assumed responsibility for them.
These epistles constituted portion of
Mr.. Steenerson's original charge OF an
attempt to intimidate him into sup
porting ship subsidy, Mr.. Penton also
!. told the committee that the November
issue of '"rhe American Flag" which
had been offensive to members of the
House had been destroyed and the
publication of the paper had been dis
continued The committee will con-
slider Mr. Penton's request in executive
: session.
Charge Against McClenry.
At the hearing to-day, Mr.. Steener-
SON caused a stir when he inquired OF
] James r. McCleary, of Minnesota. for
:. merly a member of the House, and Tor
merlv second assistant postmaster
$ general, who was also a. witness. II he
: had not used his privilege to the floor
: Of the House to urge members to sup
/ port ship subsidy.
t Mr.. McCleary Indignantly denied tn
I: charge. 81 do not say said Mr.. Nc
s lc,learv. that I never talked about 1u
E merchant marine to the members
= the House, but I certainly was no
: active in behalf of legislation"
"Did any one tell you that you should
not talk ship subsidy on the floor Q
the House?" asked Mr.. Steenerson.
81 think some member made sug
u sestion which amounted to that" re
: piled Mr.. McCleary.
= isn't it a fact" continued Mr.. steen
l. erson, that member of the Hous
d would not sign petition you wer
y circulating, asking that you be ap
70 pointed director of the mint, hecaus
:, You were lobbying for ship subsidyP'
=. '.rhe man who declined that petition
n. Idid not have courage enough to stat,
l. 1T that way, and you are the man.
e lotlj, retorted Mr., ATcCleary,
Mr.. McCleary admitted that he hat
le delivered number of addresses o
les the subject OF ship subsidy for whic
- "a he was paid expense money for III
re Merchant Marine League. Once he re
ceived 500 for a trip to New Orlean
and birmingham. He said he lSne'
nothing about a paid lobby for sh'
subsidy.