The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-05-24
A Letter to the Senate

Gentlemen: Many times it has been our privilege
to commend the splendid service of the United States
senate But for the senate what would have happened
regarding the stolen oil reserves the administrative
graft the Indian scandals the political corruption
the secret tax refunds the lobby and propaganda OF
power interests and other dangers to democracy I'M
covered chiefly by your initiative and courage?
Having so often extoled your record perhaps we
now may venture with good grace friendly sug-
geStion.
Certain members OF your rules committee are try
ing by indirect censorship restrict the freedom OF
the press. They are attempting to intimidate the
press and to suppress legitimate news.
We shall not waste moral indignation on this
So far as the press itself is concerned the situa-
on is not serious For your rules committee has not
and can not succeed in censOring ntimdating the
press. The press always has given to the public
which has right to the information reports Of your
so-caned secret sessions. And your rules committee
can not stop it.
All that your rules committee can do is to make
fools, of its members and Of the senate
It is this. and this alone. which lends seriousness
tn an otherwise futile and ludicrous situation. For
democracy. unfortunately. suffers when the senate
becomes the laughing stock OF the people
The senate has an archaic and undemocratic rule
whereby secret sessions consider among other matters
confirmation OF appOlnteeS SuC as Cdo41SO C4lS04'
diplornats and federal judges You have been trying
for years to make those sessions public But reform
is blocked largely by senators unwilling to let then
constituents know how they vote on persons charged
with representing partisan interests.
These sessions, as you know never are secret II
fact because many OF you tell the press what happens
in them. This occurred regarding the recent secret
vote confirming Mr. Lenroot as federal judge That
sneered certain friends OF Mr. Lenroo on your rules
comuitee-who have themselves in the past violated
the secrecy rule.
Nav we respectfully inquire why your rules COM
nittee If it is sincere. does not subpoena all senator's
and so discover the leaks? Why it does not impeach
sueh senator's. and cite them for contempt ana jail
sentencesq Why committee members who nave broken
this rule in the past do not now publicly confess theil
euiIt and resign from the senate?
Instead they have barred from the senate nooF
the United Press which enabled this newspaper ana
others to publish the Lenroot secret roll call Ihey
threaten to jal for contempt Paul R. Malon author
Of the United Press story, he refuses on MONDAY 70
divulse their own leaks for them.
Mr. Mallon. who broke no rule and no law-out
who would be breaking the high moral code OF MS
profession if he violated the confidence OF his sena
orial souces-is being victnized by senators for sins
they themselves have committed.
The United Press and Mr. Mallon do not need our
sympathy. Indeed, bit envious Not every
day does the press in its simple line of duty get such
splendid recognition for protecting the peoples in