Baltimore Evening Sun (17 July 1912): 6.

Further contributions to the dictionary of intolerable pests:

Journalistic circles, as the estimable Hot Towel would say, are much excited by the Hon. the super-Mahon’s charge that various newspapers have printed “absolutely untrue” accounts of the massacre at the Fifth Regiment Armory, on the fatal night of July 2. In the absence of specifications, every journalist feels himself accused, and many are in a high state of abashment. Meanwhile (as the Hot Towel again loves to cry) speculation is rife as to just what paper and what account the super-Mahon is hitting at. Does he allude to this sentence from the New York World of July 3:

When Mr. Miles finally got out the name of James H. Preston the hisses from the gallery and floor were far louder than the cheers.

Or to this from the New York Times of the same day:

Apparently Mr. Preston was not popular with the delegates. Evert time the speaker referred to Mr. Preston the hisses increased.

Or to this from the Baltimore Evening News:

Or this from the contumacious Evening Sunpaper:

When the name of the candidate was finally mentioned, after half a dozen riots of low comedy, the galleries roundly hissed it.

Or this from the ancient and licentious Sunpaper:

The Preston boom collapsed last night about 11 o’clock. By the time it was formally presented to the convention by Mr. Alonzo L. Miles it had shrunk to microscopic proportions, and when Mr. Miles concluded his speech it was entirely invisible to the naked eye. * * * Neither the delegates nor the galleries took the boom seriously at any stage of the proceedings.

Or this from the rascally New York Heraldpaper:

With the mention of his [Harry’s] name came a storm of hisses, hoots and groans.

Or this from the hitherto-unindicted Philadelphia Record paper:

Mayor James H. Preston of Baltimore, whose name was roundly hissed * * *

Or this from the amazed and indignant Deutsche Correspondent:

Harry reached for a rose
But they slipped him an onion;
It was crool, goodness knows—
Harry reached for a rose—
So the Towel bellows “Foul!”
And goes back to Doc Munyon—
Harry reached for a rose
But they slipped him an onion!

Let the hon. gent., by all means, tell just what scoundrelly sheet has been slandering him. And let him cite chapter and verse, so that a coroner’s jury may be summoned at once, to inquire into the matter exhaustively and bring in an appropriate verdict.

The Hon. the City Council having failed to withdraw the name of The Evening Sun from its resolution of July 8, heaping absurd and embarrassing praises upon the newspapers of Baltimore, the staff of The Evening Sun, smarting under the insult, has caused its attorney to draw up the following application for it, writ of mandamus:

The Evening Sun
vs.
John Doe, Richard Roe, et al.,
Trading as the
City Council of Baltimore.

Court of
Common Pleas,
No. 2½.

To the Honorable the Judge of Said Court: The Evening Sun through a committee duty appointed and qualified, consisting of Henry Edward Warner, Alex. H. McDannald and H. L. Mencken. and by Philip B. Perlman, its and their attorney, respectfully shows unto your Honor:

1. That heretofore, to wit, on the 8th day of July, in the year 1912, the City Council of Baltimore, both branches concurring, adopted a resolution purporting to vent its praise and congratulations upon certain newspapers, alleged newspapers, gazettes and public prints of all descriptions and character, for their treatment of matters incident to and attendant upon the Democratic National Convention;

2. That the said Evening Sun was mentioned by name in the list of newspapers, alleged newspapers, gazettes, etc., contained in the said resolution of July 8;

3. That prior to July 8, 1912, the said Evening Sun enjoyed an enviable reputation for accuracy, honesty and veracity in the community in which it is daily circulated, and that the reputation of each and every member of the staff of the said Evening Sun was of the same high standard as that borne by the said Evening Sun;

4. That the encomiums and eulogies of the said Evening Sun contained in the said resolution of July 8th, coming from the said City Council of Baltimore have had and will continue to have the effect of arousing public mistrust and suspicion, to say nothing of ridicule and scorn, and that, as a result, the said Evening Sun and the said members of its said staff are in grave and imminent dangers of suffering permanent harm and injury to its and their enviable reputations aforesaid;

5. That the said City Council of Baltimore knew or should have known the effect of the said resolution of July 8th, but notwithstanding did deliberately and maliciously insist on its adoption, without the knowledge of your petitioner and to its horror, amazement, stupefaction, etc.

6. That the said resolution of July 8th was in contravention of your petitioner’s privileges and immunities under the Constitution of the United States, the Constitution and Bill of Rights of Maryland and the City Charter of Baltimore, and an act in violation of the statutes of the General Assembly made in such case and so provided and against the peace, government and dignity of the State and of the said Evening Sun;

7. That heretofore, to wit, on the 11th day of July your petitioners caused to be published in the advertising columns of The Evening Sun of that date an open petition addressed to the said City Council in which that honorable body was respectfully requested to immediately withdraw the name of the said Evening Sun from the said resolution of July 8th, the said petition being drawn and published under the personal direction and supervision of a committee from the said staff of the said Evening Sun, to wit, Henry Edward Warner, Alex. H. McDannald and H. L. Mencken, and Philip R. Perlman, its and their attorney.

8. That the publication of the said open petition of July 11th has failed to bring the remedial action requested. Wherefore your petitioner prays that a writ of mandamus issue from this honorable Court against the defendants, John Doe, Richard Doe et al., trading as the City Council of Baltimore, commanding them to strike forthwith the name of the said Evening Sun from the said resolution of July 8. And, as in duty bound, we will ever pray long life and health to your Honor.

Henry Edward Warner,
Alex. H. McDannald,
H. L. Mencken, Committee.

Philip B. Perlman,

Attorney for petitioner.

Col. Jacobus Hook, who is at Frederick today with the Old Town merchants, began his annual address at the City Hotel at 11.52 o’clock, and at the hour of going to press with this edition–3.17 o’clock--he was still in the midst of it. At 5.30 Colonel Hook will stop for change of cuffs, a glass of buttermilk and a cold shower. At 6.15 he will resume his remarks. Eager to hear him, the farmers flocked into Frederick this morning from places as distant as Chewsville, Wentz and Mullinix.