Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-20
HEARST DEFENDS COURSE.
Norris Letter Called Hysterical and
Void of Truthfulness.

NEW YORK, December 20 CP)-W.
r. Hearst last night issued Il state
ment in reply to an open letter from
Senator Norris of Nebraska regarding
publication Of documents by the
Hearst newspapers. che statement
says in part:
1T is not necessary TO reply 10 Sen
ator Norris hysterical and vitupera-
tive statement in kind.
Il might state, however, that if
Senator Norris is anxious to establish
the truth, he might begin by telling
the truth, a thing that he has dis
tinctly refrained from doing through
out his whole statement.
1.-The plain facts of this whole Mex
lean matter are that these Mexican
documents are apparently quite au-
thentic, and that no proof whatever
has been produced of their lack of
authenticity.
Might Have Ignored Documents.
II might have, in the first place, re-
Trained from publishing any Of the
documents, in which case, my posses
sion of the documents being known, /
would eventually have been accused
by persons as careless Of facts as SEN
ator Norris of having been too cow
ardIy and too concerned for my prop
erty interests in Mexico to have re-
vealed facts through the medium of
my neWspa pers, which affected the
welfare of the American people, and
which the American people had
right to be acquainted with.
I'm the second place, might have
printed some of the documents and
suppressed others, in which case I
could have been accused of suppress
81 - or. Vcfn n
facts to suit my own prejudices or
opinions.
I'm the third place. might have in
terviewed the Senator'S mentioned and
published their explanations in my
newspapers, but I could not see, and
cannot now see, how denials made in
my newspapers would have any SUI
perior force or effect over denials
made by them under oath before Il
governmental body.
Question of Senator's Names.
Moreover, such a course would
have necessitated the publication Of
the Senator's names, and I was in no
way adequately informed of the prob
able course of the Government, and,
as to whether it ever would be con-
sidered necessary or desirable by the
Government to make public the Sen
ators' names.
Therefore, I mentioned no individ
uals, but merely printed the docu-
ments deleted of names, and left the
determination of that important point
for the Government. -
1T was only when the authenticity
of the documents became almost over
whelmingly established, that publlca
ton began.
1T is true, as Mr.. Norris said, and
as / told the committee, that | have
property valued at approximately
$4,000 900 in Mexico. which l had pos
sessed in peace and security through
the friendship and favor of the Men
lean government.
Sees His Interests Imperiled.
Certainly nobody but a perfect
jackasS-and Senator Norris IS not
that-at least not perfect one-couId
imagine that my property holdings
were benefited by losing the friend
ship and favor of the Mexican govern
ment.
"As a matter of fact, in publishing
these documents there was strong
bability--in act, the near Ger
tainty-that these properties would
be confscated at the earliest possible
moment by the Mexican govern
ment
Finally, as to the alleged evil mo
tive in endeaVoring to reflect upoi
the insurgents in the Senate through
the publication of these documents
that seems to me to be the most ash
nine statement that can be picked on
of Senator Norris scrap heap OF mis-
representa- ton and billingsgate.
MY papers have always been II
the main supporters Of the lnSurSeh
group of Senators.
''As a matter of fact. 1 am an III
surgent myself, and have always beef
and always will be an insurgeni
against whatever seems to be con
trary to the interests OF our Govern
ment and the welfare of our people;
and in sustaining those principles ana
that policy I published these Mexlcah
documents, believing then and DeheN
ing now that 1 did my simple dut%;
regardless of consequences to myseI1
and considering merely the HeS'
benefit of the American people.