Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-03
REBUKED BY POSTMASTER
His Charges Termed Foolish, Wick.
ed and Untruthful.
DINERS SHOW IMPATIENCE
Wisconsin Senator Talks for Two
Hours After Midnight, Despite
the Frequent Interruptions.

diner of the Periodical Publishers AS
sociation did not break up until an early
hours this morning, ad it's close was
marked by a tart denunciation of Senator
La Toilette by Don c. Seitz of the Ameri.
can Newspaper Publishers Association,
who acted as toastmaster.
Senator La Toilette began his speech
near midnight and spoke for nearly two
hours. The more than 600 diners were
visbly wearied by the long-drawn-out
remarks Of the Wisconsin senator and
toward the close frequently interrupted
him. Much of his speech was devoted to
the money power and an attack upon the
sincerity Of the newspaper press Of the
country.
Scored by Toastmaster.
When he had finished Toastmaster Seitz
said:
II shall not attempt nor have l the time
to come to the defense of the newspapers
of the country, which have just been fool
ishly. wickedly and untruthfully assailed.
Senator La Toilette made no sign OF
hearing the cauStic remark, which was
uttered in half angry tone.
Today. in an interview. Mr. Seitz said
As the banquet was given by the mag
azine publishers and as / was a guest OF
Cyrus Fl. *. CuStis, president of the
association, had TO he cautious in my
remarks on Senator La Toilette. / dol',
recall exactly what I said when the SEN
ator had finished, but I do remember de-
claring that the senator had made all
mkind, unjust and wiifully malicious at
tack on the newspapers of the nation
and if 1 had more time L would have
said something stronger upon the sub
ject
Calamity for La Toilette.
'IAst nights dinner during which we
thought we would josh tho statesmen
ended in calamity. 1t was a tragedy
for Senator La Follette's hopes. He has
simply wiped himself off the map.
Undoubtedly he came to Philadelphia
to make the address Of his life, and when
it developed into an infamous slander OF
the newspapers and a wanuwing, syco
phantic praise Of the magazines, 1 reaiz
ed that the man had overstepped his
marx.
Previous to that time the. seanto,
had talked for more than two hours, and
when he concluded l certainly rebukei
him. In my mind the senator, not know.
ing the relationship between the maga
zines and the newspapers, came to the
dinner to attack the latter and to curry
The portion Of Senator La FoIlette'l
speech to which Mr.. Seitz took excep.
tion was as follows:
Voice Of People Confused.
81 have sketched the growth and power
Of the great interests that today contro
our property and our governments.
have shown how subtle and elusive, We,
relentless, they are. Rising up against
them is the confused voice of the people
Their heart Is true, but their eyes do no
yet see all the intricate sources o.
power.
"Who shall show them? There ART
ony two agencies that In any way car
reach the whole people. These are the
press and the platform. But the plat
form in no way compares with thu
press in it's power of continuous repeat
ed instruction.
''One would think that in a democracy
like ours, seeking for instruction, able Il
read and understand, the press would
be their eager and willing instructors
Henry Raymond. Charles A. Dana
Joseph Medill and Horace Rublee
But what do we find has occurred in
the last few years since the money
power has gained control of our in
dustry and government? 1t controls
this Their confidence Is weakened
and destroyed. No longer are the edi-
torial columns of newspapers a potent
force in educating public opinion.
Patronized for News.
"The newspapers. Of course, are still
patronized for news. But even as to
news the public is fast coming to
understand that wherever news items
bear in any way upon the control of
government by business the news is
colored: SO confidence in the newspaper
as newspaper is being undermined.
Cultured and able men are still to
be found upon the editorial staffs Of
all great dailies. but the public under
stands them to be hired men, who no
longer express honest judgments and
sincere convictions, who write what they
are told to write. and whose judgments
are salaried.
ITO the subserviency Of the press to
special interests in no small degree is
due the power and influence and pros
perity of the weekly and monthly maga-
zines. A decade ago young men trained
in journalism came to see this control
Of the newspapers Of the country. They
saw this unoccupied field. And they
went out and built up great periodicals
and magazines. They were free"