Evening star., 1912-07-16
HEPBURN IN DOUBT
Questions Authorship of Dec
Iaration of independence.
JEFFERSON is DISCREDITED
Declared to Have Taken No Part in
Founding Government Of
United States.

Senator Hepburn CHALLENGED Thomas
Jefferson's reputed authorship Of the Dec
| laration Of Independence in the Senate
this afternoon. And his challenge led to
a discussion which prevented action by
the Senate today on the MARITIME bill pro-
viding for a committee of Congress to in
vestigate the matter Of acquiring the
home of Thomas Jefferson, at Monticello,
Va.
II would not responsibly concede," de-
| clared Senator Hepburn, "that Thomas
Jefferson wrote the Declaration OF Inde-
pendence. or that he was in any way re-
sponsible for 1t. He was merely the sec
retary Of committee that prepared it."
Senator Cummins called up the bill for
action, believing that 1t would be passed
in few minutes. But Senator Hepburn
took exception to the preamble which
read:
whereas the Declaration of Independ-
ence was new light and gospel to the
downtrodden world: and
Whereas through the genius splendid
patriotism and teachings of Thomas JEFF
ferson America was started on a career
that has brought untold blessings to this
country, 1t is deemed most fitting and
proper that the home OF Thomas Jeffer-
son at Monticello should be the property
of the great nation and country he loved
and served SO we'll"
1t was instating the reasons for his OBJ
jections that Senator Hepburn questioned
the general belief that Thomas Jefferson
wrote the Declaration Of Independence
Senator Bailey retorted that the docu-
ment was In the hand writing OF the
Sage of Monticello
Mr. Hepburn replied that his clerk wrote
many things for him which he would not
wish his clerk to get credit for.
Not a Patron Saint.
'I know he has been set up as the
patron saint, when convenient, for polit-
| ical party" continued Mr.. Hepburn. But
he is as well-bronzed and moss covered as
any old statesman 1 know. I do not de-
sire to be carried away on the wings Of
sentiment"
Senator Bacon tried to interrupt Mr.
Hey burn. But Senator Hepburn declared
that his physical condition would not per-
nit him to get into a controversy and
| that he simply desired to make q state
ment of his views.
II object to the statement that he was
the o founder md = OF this goyernment:" !a con.
| in the founding Of the government of the
United States, for he was out OF the
country at the time. am opposed to
/ the sentiment the committee that
Thomas Jefferson was the founder Of the
United States. the author of the Declara-
| tion Of Observation-Disclosures were too
many interlinations by the good old hand
| of Ben Franklin
Just one word, Mr.. President" shout
ed Senator Bacon. But Mr.. Hepburn
would not yield.
| Mr. Hepburn continued by admitting
that he was political partisan. To
apologize for being a partisan, he said,
was to apologize for being in public life
at all. He then withdrew his objection
to the immediate consideration of the bill
| Senator Culberson suggested that the
resolution provided only a Senate COM
mittee although 1t was joint resolution
to be passed by both houses OF Congress-
Senator MARITIME of New jersey sponsor
for the resolution, announced his willing
ness to change the phraseology.
Reply of Mr.. MARITIME.
| II do not see what the senator from
| Idaho finds to object to in the preamble
continued Mr.. MARITIME. God knows
cant see anything in it that will harm
the Senate.
| 1.-THE senator speaks Of his physical in
abilities. II he will vote willingly for
the preamble / think he will get better
health: 1t might advance the general we'll
being of every man who votes for it,
Senator CumminS saw the bill would
Head to discussion, and withdrew the re-
uuoSf for consideration.