Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-28
TREASON CHARGED
Representative Smith Scores
Herbert MyriCk.
PUBLISHER UP IN ARMS
He Quickly Resents 1mputation Put
Upon Him.
EDITORIAL CAUSE OF ROW
Animated Discussion Before Post
sofice Committee-Member De-
clares Myrick Incited Far
mers to Anarchy.
EDITORIAL CAUSE OF ROW

There was all sorts Of ruction and ex-
citement at today's session of the House
committee on post offices and post roads,
which is holding hearings on the pro-
posed increase in the rate on second-claSs
mail matter, with the idea of reducing
the annual postal deficit Treason and
anarchy and graft" and robbery
were some of the words thrown back and
forth between members of the commit
tee and witnesses. Altogether there was
the liveliest kind of a time and great bit
terness was shown on both sides.
The row resulted from an editorial, sent
out in circular form, and distributed
throughout the country, making the rate
ment that the proposed increase N1the
rates on second-class mail matter is a
fresh robbery about to be perpetrated
upon the people"
Incited to Anarchy.
This. Representative Smith of Cal
ifornia, a member of the committee. told
Herbert Myrick, one Of the publishers
testifying at the hearing, was nothing less
than melting the farmers of the country
to anarchistic tendencies. When Mr.. My
editorial Representative Smith declared
that Myrick was guilty of treason.
Il am perfectly willing to leave that
question to the United States Supreme
Court" retorted Mr.. Myrick.
80 am L. cried Mr. Smith, ''and an
perfectly willing to leave 1t to the people
of the country, too"
After other members of the COMMITTEES
had Joined in the inquiry, Mr. Myrick de-
clared that few newspapers and some
railroads were in the scheme to put the
proposed legislation through in a hurry
but he refused to mention any names
remarking that he didn't propose to "ad
vertise these people"
Calls Editorial Treason.
Then Representative Smith put thi
question to Mr.. Myrick:
Did you not use the word graft il
this editorial, just as you used the wor'
the name of the government general:
among the people of the country?
Il believe said Mr.. Myrick in reply
that the. people Of the country woul,
consider 1t robbery if. you increased th
rate on second-class mail matter from
to cents a pound
1T is no ordinary thing" declares
Representative Smith, ito spread state
ments like this among the best people il
our country. 1t Is the sort Of stuff tina.
breeds anarchy among some classes, wht
are led to believe that the government
is bad. 1t does breed anarchy, for sine
this circular which 1 hold in my ham
went out to the people l have received
and other members Of this House hav
received, letters that were anarchistic IL
their tone. 1t Is treason, and nothing les
than treason, on your part If you wrot
this editorial"
There was moment of a<Solute 81
lence when Mr.. Smith dramatically mad
this statement. Mr.. Myrick got red i,
| the face, and then white, and then mad
the heated reply previously mentioned-t,
the effect that he was willing to have th
Supreme Court Of the United States pas
on the question. He replied, each tim
that members Of the committee tried t,
make him admit that his vigorous Ian
guage was not justified, that it would In
deed be nothing short of robbery t,
raise the rate on second-class mail mat
ter to 8 cents a pound.
Raps Tariff Law.
But nobody has suggested any sucl
thing" chorused Mr.. Smith and Mr.
committee
1T is sufficient for me to draw such al
Inference" retorted Mr.. Myrick, ''whel
the President of the United States say.
in his message that the government 1.
handling this matter for 1 cent at 81
Then Representative ]. Sloat Fassett o.
New York took a hand.
Your editorial says" he remarked
that fresh robbery Is about to bt
perpetrated. Do you use the word fresh
to indicate there have been other rob-
beries?'
"Well," said Mr.. Myrick, ''there are
some people in this land who regard the
Payne-Aldrich tariff bill as robbery, ant
this would be another kind of robbery
Myrick Explains Graft.
Just before the tilt closed Representa-.
tive Fassett endeavored to make Mr.. My.
rick admit that he had used "epithet'
instead Of argument in his editorial. bu,
ever, that the graft" referred to as ex.
listing In the Post Office Department wa.
not dishonesty, but another species OF
graft, which he termed advantage ere
ated by opportunity"
Have you seen disposition to rush this
bill through Congress. as you charge
here asked Representative Smith, who
persisted in pinning the witness down
Mr.. Myrick said he had not, and Mr.
Smith asked, who are these schemers
scheme unless Congress, through this
committee, is a party to 1t. Are you acuS-
sing this cOmmittee?
II have told you." replied Mr.. Myrick
s'tndC IleTo were d lew newspapers dIl(
railroad interests behind it. That Is al
/ care to say
'Then you will admit now," suggested
Representative Fassett. that you have
put up a straw man just to knock hin
down.
Mr.. Myrick would make no such admis
sion, and also replied in the negative tc
the question if he believed Congress wa:
COMPOSED of schemerS.
He persisted that he saw no impro.
priety in his editorial and circular.
p. s. Collins, circulation manager fol
the Curtis Publishing Company, and
fishing Company were the two wit
nesses heard before Mr.. Myrick took
the stand.
7. F. WALSH OFF TO FLORIDA.