Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1922-07-14
Senator Simmons Defends The
Press And Exposes Republican
AssaiIants.


While the metropolitan press is being
assailed in the Senate in the interest OF
tariff extortionists. 1t does not lack de-
tenders in that body. The able Democratic
Senator from North Carolina (Mr. Sim
mons). former Chairman of the Finance
Committee, not only defended the integrity
of the press but exposed the reason for
the assault in his usual clear and forcible
manner in a recent speech. In part, he
said:
Il assume that these gentlemen IRE
publican tariff makers) are not after the
importers and the department stores as
they are after the newspapers Of the country.
the press Of the country. That is their
objective We did not hear much talk
about the activities and the sinister
motives Of these importers and depart
ment stores until we began to read into
the Record these editorials from the great
metropolitan newspapers Of the country
denouncine that bill in unmeasured terms
II was these editorials under which the
Senators on the other side, in charge Of
this bill. squirmed and writhed. 1t was
these editorials that drew their FIRE. Bat.
il became necessary TO ascribe a sinister
and a corrupt motive to the newspapers.
especially OF the Republican press. that
were so severely criticizing and denounc-
ing this bill ; and then for the first time.
coming in force. in overwhelming force.
we saw and heard these assaults upon the
department stores and the importers. For
whatf For the purpose Of fixing an ute
rior and unworthy motive upon the news
papers for their attacks upon the bill.
when these great newspapers declared
themselves. and when their lead was fol-
lowed by the big papers Of all the large
towns of the country. without reference to
whether they were importing centers or
not. when Senators on the other side saw
that the clamor against their bill. which
started with these newspapers, was being
taken up by the smaller dailies and week
lies throughout the country, and saw the
number. day after day, of these assaults
from the Republican sources. from news
papers that had always supported the
theory Of protection and Republicanism.
with respect to whose partisan Republican
affiliations no question could be made.
they saw the necessity Of Immediately
finding some plausible excuse for that
attitude on the part Of this large number
Of newspapers throughout the country. not
only Of their own party, not only Of the
Democratic party. but Of the nonpartisan
press, Of the trade press In fact, this
movement was led by the commercial
papers Of New York and Chicago, and by
the Republican papers Of those cities and
and other large centers. And 50. the
Senators from North Dakota (McCumber)
and Indiana (watson) are simply using
the department stores and the importers
as the evidence in their indictment against
the newspapers Of the republican faith in
this country. | say that their evidence
has broken down as against the importers
and the department stores.
HAS a more serious charge than thai
ever been framed or presented in the
American Senate--a charge that the great
newspapers, the chief sources Of public
information. constituting as they do one
of the Republics chief safeguards. have
suddenly fallen from their high estate and
surrendered their editorial and news col
INNS b. an uair'-'hy assault upon bill
presented aud Sponsored 1y IRE psrsy to
tuey belong and which the have
tfiu se-ved in the past think
ro m0te iols chaEse than ihai asever
lFlrie3 ln the American Cor. $: and
nos Ssh shat Is ,he evteo.. upon
which the MAJORITY side sf q. hamber
seeks to convict the Repuo.lS.. oness OF
this country who are opposing their bill
Of this infamous charge that they have
leveled against III Where is the evidence :
Il say here now. and challenge success
full contradiction. that Up to this time
there is not one particle Of evidence to
sustain this charge against the newspapers
Of the United States except the bare. IN.
supported statements Of those who have
made the charge in the Senate. Therefore
I ash. have you proven your casei You
certainly have not proven il as against
the importer as to prices or seainst the
department stores as to prices Where is
your evidence to establish your charge
a charge that involves and pCesuppose:
almost unspeskabie venality on the pari
Of large and influential part Of the pres.
Of the Republican party