The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-01-24
"M'DERMOTT SAID IT"
Newspaper Correspondent Insists on
Nonpartisan Speech Quotations.

Charles Spencer, Arkansas City cor
respondent for the United Press serv-
ice, has written the State Journal de-
nying inaccuracies in reporting Rep
resentative McDermott's speech. He
gives names of prominent Arkansas
City men who heard the Republican
leaders remarks regarding Nonparu-
san league Influence in the Kansas
house of representatives. All of them,
he asserts, verify reports sent to The
State Journal and other newspapers.
Spencer wrote his letter on his own
motion. He says he does not wish to
proiong the controversy. but wants. the
record kept straight. He DECLARES the
ICowley county member gave his audi
enee to understand he would spring a
sensation on the floor of the house on
Wednesday. When the report Off his
speech was printed. McDermott denied
utteranees credited to him.
Following is Spencer's letter:
Dear Sir: From clippings herewith l
note that Rep. MeDeTmott denies having
said what the United Press dispatch from
/ heard distinctly what Mr.. McDermott
said before the Winfield Commercial club.
sat within ten feet of him when he vas
Dermott for several years and have re-
garded him as a pretty level headed man,
and naturally when he made the state
ments accredited to him i'll this dispatch
supposed he knew what he was talking
about and was willing to stand back of
what he was saying.
because 1 felt that 1T was very important.
His expressions were not confidential in
any particular and he. spoke without res
ervation, intimating that he would have
all "this and more to say Wednesday when
the resolution came up for reconsideration
in the house" He intimated that as house
Inn lnr 1,ah od Qt ha nd
would deliver at that time;
! had no intention of getting Mr. MeDer-
mott in bad with his fellows in the house =.
of news that was hot with interest because
of the Noppartisan League talk at salina
I did not keep a copy of the message
filed on the wire, but am enclosing here.
with a clipping from the Daily News of
McDernott's statements exactly.
I do not set myself up as an expert at
the business, but have been doing repor-
terial work for twenty years and have
learned the Importance of quoting people
correctly On such matters. 1nasmuch as
he said he had a much stronger card to
play on Wednesday than he had told in
his address, and that he spoke without
reservation, I had no thought but that he
was ready to be quoted in his important
utterances.
/ went to the trouble today to confer
with A. H. Denton, president of the Home
L
Of the Union State bank; Ed. Mireau, man
ager of the Hill Investment company; o.
B. Seyster, secretary of the Chamber of
Commerce: H. S. Collinsen, Eellinsen Auto
and Hardware company, and w ID. Mac
Allister of Roseherry & MaeAllister, all
of this city, all of whom were present and
heard Mr.. McDermott's speech and they
say the item herewith, which was taken
from the Daily News, my paper, and which
was written from the same notes which
furnished a basis for the press story, is
absolutely quoting McDermott as he spoke.
and althe they are friends of McDermott
they would make public statement tie
this effect.
Now. 1 am not addressing this a1ibi TO
you to give vent to my own feelings,
neither am I doing it to prolong a con-
treversv and get Mr.. MeDermott in worse
condition in the house. but I owe duty
to the press association which carried
this item as authentic, and to you for hav-
ing used 1t with the same impression. to
the end that you may or may not. as you
like, use what have to say here in bring
ing the controversy to an end.
I foresaw at the time the statement was
made what would happen should Mr.. Nc
Dermott be bit enthusiastic over his
ability to make the showing he predicted.
but had enough confidence in his ability
to make good that l accepted his utter
ances to be absolutely correct in their YER
sien. And, again I say, knowing that the
United Press had q client in your paper
at Topeka, and that you certainly would
be interested in such an item, 1 filed it
the first thing when 1 came to the office
Tuesday morning.
Very truly,
CHAS. SPENCER.