The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-04-27

seen Mr.. Kelly within the last ten days
and had been told the story iii that
time, he made no EFFORT to ascertain
from Senator Gibbons the truthfulnesa
or the report.
You, as q newspaper man or thirty
years experience. as managing editor
and q reporter. believe ii your duty 70
publish the truth. do you not?" asked
Senator Simpson. The witness stated
he did.
The senator then asked the witness
If he would be willing to vouch for the
truthfulness of the Gibbons state
mept and Mr. Bloom stated that he
was not.
Senator simpson stated he assumed
the witness, as an editor OF SO many
years standing, was familiar with the
libel law and the liability OF such ar
ticles. The witness refused to an
swer the question.
do you refuse TO answer. Mr..
Bloom" inquired the senator. "Be-
cause you are afraid of discriminating
yourself?"
mo SIR replied the witness. Il
simply do not think the question IL
pertinent to the issue
BIancs Courier News.
When questioned about the story
referring to the mention OF men ''high-
err up in official life taking a part In
the impeachment trial, who were said
In his paper to be urging the ac-
quittal of Judge Cowan, the witness
stated he meant Senator Gronna. that
1t was common talk and he had seen
it published In The Fargo Courier
News.
With all his thirty years experience
he stated he did not know it was "a
crime for a United States senator to
endeavor to influence the action of a
legislative assembly, that he thought,
1T was wrong, but he didn't take any
step to inquire from Senator .Gronna
himself or anyone else whether 1t was
true or not.
Reference was made In the head
lines OF the article under discussion
about the Shiny hand Of the profess
sional politicians and he declined to
tell to whom he referred In that state
ment.
When finally pinned down to the
facts concerning the Gibbons story, at
which there was so much resentment
IN the senate chamber in general, Mr..
Bloom admitted he had absolutely no
personal knowledge of them, and in
answer to question directed by Sem
ator Talcott, he stated the opinions
expressed In the other parts of the
story were based on the opinions OF
others including the names Of the men
already mentioned in connection with
his testimony and he agreed that 1t
was largely hearsay.
Senator Gunderson. at the conclu-
sion of the testimony, asked the wit
ness IL his real purpose for not writing
that story was not to poison the mind
OF the public against whatever was
being done in the Cowan impeachment
proceedings. Mr.. Bloom stated that
1t was not.
you swear to that?" asked Senator
Jacobson.
Il am under OATH" answered Mr..
Bloom, and there was q great deal OF
laughter throughout the galleries.
5rennan's Sweeping Remarks.
Dan ". Brennan. editor OF The Dew
IDS Lake Inter-Ocean, was quite sweep
ing in his remarks. taking in several
Of the senators on the floor, two OF
the press representatives, and Senator
Simpson who was conducting the ex-
animation. He was asked about the
interview supposed to have
come from him which appeared in The
Devils Lake Journal on his return from
Bismarck recently, In which he is sup
posed to have. said that there was lit
tie hope of conviction OF Judge. Cowan
as there was pact signed up to ac-
quit him regardless of testimony or
evidence.
Mr.. Brennan admitted that he made |
such statement. but he didn't use
the word pact, but recalled having en- |
ployed the word ''frame-up'' in that
He stated he said ii didn't |
make much difference what the testi-
mony was though he acknowledged |
that the statement was prior to the |
time when the evidence was ali in.
Conversation With Simpson.
Senator Simpson asked him for his |