Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-18
is DENOUNCED BY HEPBURN
Idaho Senator Digresses Ions
Enough to Score Newspapers.
NO ACTION ON MEASURE
Consideration Ordered on Motion Of
Senator Williams-To Be
Erected at Vicksburg.


for a monument at vicksburg commence
rative of the courage and constancy' of
the sailors of the Confederate navy pre-
cipitated discussion in the Senate this
afternoon The bill was called up by
Senator Williams, was objected to by
Senator Hepburn. and its consideration
finally ordered by a vote of % to ID.
Senator Dixon of Montana. whose
kindred from his native state of North
Carolina fell in the Confederate serv-
ice. opposed the bill. declaring that
this was not the time to press 1T. He
could not vote for a bill of this kind
in the lifetime Of half a million Union
soldiers and he questioned and de-
p. ,red the Judgment of urging such a
bill.
Favored by Senator Works.
Senator Works OF California favored
the BILL declaring that there was no
animosity in the minds of the Union SOL
diers, as shown by the frequent reunions
with the former Confederate soldiers. He
declared that the monument did not say
that the Confederate cause was right, bu,
that it proposed to commemorate the
bravery Of men who fell in a cause they
thought was right.
Senator Hepburn of Idaho then took
the floor. He began by saying that
he regretted the occasion which calls
for consideration OF this or any SINH
lar legislation. He declared himself
incapable Of understanding how a man
loyal to his country could contemplate
voting for a monument to commemo-
rate those who tried to destroy this
country. He said 1t was intolerable
recite the record of men who fought
against the government.
Attack on Newspapers.
At this point he branched off into an
attack on the newspapers generally.
He said It was evident that the news
papers were in sympathy with this
kind of legislation. His mail recently
had been deluged with garbled reports
Of his recent discussion Of tho reten-
ton Of a senate employee which action
was forerunner of such legislation as
this. His mail. he said, brought him
unsigned letters from men threatening
to come to Washington and destroy his
library.
1.-THE letters were probably written in
the back room of a bar, and instead of
being on their way to Washington they
were probably on their way to take an
other drink" said Mr.. Hepburn. He had
tied the letters together as a relic of
barbarism.
He said the press Of the country was
losing its influence because of its unfair
ness. Some papers were loyal. some were
loyal but silent and others were disloyal
Recurring to the subject under discus
sion, he said there are times when a
man has no right to be silent. 1t was
the silence of men IN Congress which
brought on the civil war Their silence
and their cowardice cost lives and treas
ure On both sides, and cost untold treas
ure to future generations, through wasted
opportunities.
Not Bothered by Reports.
Then going back to the newspapers. he
said that newspapers which profess to
mold public opinion had accused him of
waving the bloody flag. He wasn't both
cred by such reports or he would have
been worn out long ago.
There is not a newspaper reporter in
the gallery brave enough to report this
discussion fairly" cried Senator Hepburn
He then referred to the omission by The
Evening Star, from the report of his
speech on the Jim Jones case last week,
Of the word mot" which gave an en-
tirely erroneous meaning to his sentence
ana naQ caused MIN 10 receive mucn
abuse by mail.
Senator Heybu charged that The
Evening Star. by not correcting the in
justice when it had the official record
before it, was cowardly. He said The
Star never takes back a lie when 1t
prints 1t.
Again recurring to the bill in hand. he
said he had not come into the chamber
waving a bloody flag. He proposed to be
moderate in discussing the pending ques-
ton
Confederate Flag on Letter.
Senator Hepburn displayed a letter he
envelope of which bore Representative
Of the Confederate tag. He said the
post Office authorities said there was no
flag on mail matter.
mo law ought to be needed said
Senator Hepburn, there is but one flag
in this nation entitled to such presenta-
ton"
A motion of Senator Smoot of Utah to
adjourn was defeated. "A to -. Senator
Williams abruptly left the chamber when
Senator Hepburn began to speak
Senator Heyburn's remarks We're con-
cluded when the unfinished business. the
reciprocity bill, was laid before the SEN
ate. as that had the effect of putting an
crate monument bill But it did not pre-
clude a reply to Senator Hepburn from
the south, and 1t was "Fiddlin Bob Tay-
lor of Tennessee who made answer.
Late to Reopen Wounds.
ut is rather late In the day for a
senator Of the United States. on this
floor. to reopen the wounds Of the civil
war" he began. There was an outbreak
of applause from the gallery, but it sub
sided with a remonstrance from the Vice
President.
Like the senator from Idaho, I be-
longed to the infantry in those days.
did the senator ask me a question? ?"
Senator Hepburn interrupted.
II decline to ask the senator a ques-
ton" retorted the Tennesseean.
The civil war did not begin in 1861.
remarked Mr.. Taylor. continuing. It's
beginning was at the beginning of this
republic, he said, and, despite efforts to
prevent it, the elimination came in 1861.
THE north came out the victors.' he
continued. THE men Of the. south laid
down the muskets and entered in good
faith the armies of peace"
II do not believe a man can be O good
citizen who will stand anywhere under
the flag and attempt to keep the sections
Of the country apart
Proud Of Gen. Grant.
Many times. he said, he has stood be-
fore the statue of u. S. Grant in Stat
uary Hall In the Capitol and felt thrill
of pride that Grant. was an American,
'ebecause of his genius in war and his