The Paducah evening sun., 1910-04-06
ARREST ALLEGED
SHIP LOBBYISTS
is SECRETARY OF MERCHANT
MARINE LEAGUE OF 4. =.
Former Assistant Postmastcr-Gcneral
McCeary Summoned To Appear
Before Inquiry.
}. PENToN ACCUSED OF LIBEL

Washington, April G.-John A.Pen
ton, OF Cleveland. Ohio, secretary OF
the Merchant Marine League of the
United States. was arrested today on
an indictment for criminal libel as
he stepped from the house Office
building after testifying before the
ship subsidy investigating committee.
In the voluminous papers connect
ed with the inquiry are numerous let
ters addressed TO representatives. 10
newspaper editors and other people,
bearing MIR. Penton's signature. re-
lating TO legislative attitude toward
restoring the merchant marine" in
cluding charges that the foreign
shipping 'plunder bund' Is taking
$500. 900 600 annually from the peo
pie of this country"
Former Representative James T.
McCleary. OF Minnesota, at one time
second assistant poStmaster-gene
had also been subpoenaed to appear
before the committee today.
Penton was released after deposit
ing $500 cash bail this afternoon.
The arrest was made on a secret in
dictment returned March 30. based
on an editorial which appeared on
December l last In the American
Flag" the official organ OF the Mer-
chant Marine League.
Flaws StecncrSon.
The alleged hbelous statement. ac-
cording to the Indictment. appeared
under the heading "Steenerson soon
TO Have Chance"
II charged Congressman Steeuer-
son with bad faith In "declaring
against coo,ie labor" and said that n
he was In earnest he would have an
opportunity 90 so indicate by voting
to do away with coohe labor on Amer
lean ships.
Continuing under the sub-'hcad
what Manner OF Man Is This?" the
article reads:
''ls man NJ TO hold public Office
that viii deliberately pervert and
maliciously falsify that fact connect
ed in any important public question
Is he a safe. a Trustworthy man? We
hold that he Is not--that such a mar
Is dishonest and an enemy 90 his
country and to his country's best I'm.
terests. and that he aud men liz,
him are constant menaccs to Amcri
can progress at home and abroad" "
"Unfortunatc Language"
MFR. Penton asked the house In
vestigating committee today TO post
pone his examination until he oh
talned counsel from Cleveland. n,
Identified a number OF his letter,
submitted by Mr.. steenerson aud ad
m.tted some OF them were "unfOrtu,
nate In their language" although h,
said the league assumed rerponsibil
lty for them
lie said the issue OF the American
Flag which had been offensive e
members OF the house had been de
stroyed and publication OF the papci
discontinued.
The committee will consider Mr.
Penton's request in executive ses
sion.
At the hearing today Mr.. Steener
son inquired OF James r. McCleary
whether McCleary had not used IN,
floor Of the house to urge member.
to support the ship subsidy.
Mr.. McCleary Indignantly denied
the charge.
McCleary said he had talked about
ship subsidy with members OF the
house.
"No Paid Lobby"
Isn't u a fact" said Mr.. Steener.
son. that a member of the house
would not sign a petition you were
circulating, asking that YOU be ap-
pointed director OF the mint. because
you were lobbying for ship subsidy?'
THE man who declined to sign
that petition did not have courage
enough to state II that way. and you
are the man" hotly retorted Mr.. Nc
Cleary.
Mr. McCleary said that his interest
In ship subsidy dated back TO the
time when he was a member of the
house and an official In the pOstonice
department and had difficulty in get
ting mails handled in American bot
toms He admitted that he had de
'lvered a number of addresses on
nip subsidy. for which he was paid
expense money by the Merchant Ma
rine League OF the United States
once he received 500 for a trip to
New Orleans and Birmingham. He
SAID he knew nothing about a paid
'obby for ship subsidy.
Pcnton "Scapegoat."
Ihe committee has no intention at
present Of going TO Cleveland to take
testimony, though that has been tent
au'eIy talked Of. Many OF the Off
GERS of the Merchant Marine League
! I'VE IN Cleveland. Representative
a'eenerson said that so far as he
knew there was no intention of pros