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The Star's correction of its er- mneous statement in its following issue was not considered by Mr. Ferguson 'ample apology for the seriousness ot the Offense committed-an instance, he buetined it. of "shouting a slander and whispering an apology"--and he press- rd vigorously for adoption ot his reso- "ttion, in spite ot Liberal Leader Sin- clair's claims that his tactics savored ot "Mexiccn," and that trial or a party 'undefended and unrepresented con- stituted the greatest travesty on jus- Hee the Legislature had ever seen: and notwithstanding Progressive Leader Iethbridge's contention that the whole question should he submltte1,.,'e,tl?t Of the ninety-seven members in the House when it irnideti.only some thirty- rive were present on Monday when the , whole story of the Central Conservative iAssociation's Province-wide appeal for Tx'unds. and the prompt action he had .taken to dissociate the Government , from the situation. was revealed by Mr. Ferguson on interrogation by Mr. Sin- Premier Ferguson's resolution. which the House adopted by a 63-34 vote on 'he first division ot the present session. but not before Opposition Leaders had voiced heated protest to the principle involved and its method ot application. and a halt-dozen private members had chipped into the argument for good measure, condemns The Star article as "false, slanderous and injurious. and theredore a flagrant breach of the privileges" of the House. as well as "an abuse of the traditional freedom of the press and a violation of the ethics or clean journalism." Not Thought Ample Apology. Formal censure of The Toronto Star Mry which named Attorney-General William H. Price. instead of J. R. L. Starr, K.C.. as the man who was or- dered by the Prime Minister ot the "rovincc to return the "brewery chest tunds" solicited recently by the Fi- nance Committee of the Toronto Cen- .ral Conservative Association was voted by the Ontario Legislature yesterday. Committee on Privileges and Elecuons {or a decision. Before the vote was taken Attorney- General Price had warmly stated his nosition. asserting that the man who wrote the article had written a "lying report," and J. D. Taylor (Progressive). North Grey: P. W. Pearson (Liberal). North York: Leslie W. Oke (U.F.O.). East Lambton. and Aurellen Belanger 'Liberall. Russell, had made themselves neard on the merits of the resolution. Vote on Party Lines. OPPOSITION LEADERS OBJECT ON PRINCIPLE "Tiii, Premier broached the subject just. before the Orders ot the Day were railed by drawing t? 1t1tttter,ttion. of clair. The vote held rigidly to party lines, _ the Conservatives lining up solidly be- l hind the Prime Minister, and the Lib- ', "als and Progressives showing a united " tront tn opposition. There were no' pairs. i Jug: geyncdunc Uluv-u v- "w a." u--- - " e y rawing to the attention of "I would likevto . t " - the House the misstatement in The tinned. "the (image; ogt,i,'2e,, 0239 Star'shight edition" He regretted the original publication of this story and necessity of his action. but felt that the infinitesimal and small retraction the matter was one "which the House It}! other words, The Star shouts a slam: should take cognizance of, and deal d'er and whispers the apology." with in the proper way." A government members thumped their on a an nnnlnncn ONTARIO LEGISLATURE VOTES ITS CENSURE OF DAILY STAR STORY Shouts a Slander and Whispers an Apology," Declares Premier, De. nouncing Article on "Brewery Chest Funds" as Flagrant Breach of House Privileges Ivy/I; 25/3)" Irriiurxu Ary- J3rh, "Both the statement and the head- line were used in good faith. in the belief that they were a fair report of actual assertions made in the House. The Star regrets any unfair reflection _ cast on the. name ot Attorney-General Price and his associates by the pub- _liotttion of the statement and headline referred to." First Case on Record. Q He paused, held the paper aloft. then" ;continued: "That may satisfy sonic- l what The Star's view as what adequate iamends are in matters ot this kind.,' , But I feel sure that the public and this) I Legislature teel that that is not ample apology tor the serious nature of the; ,oflense committed. I would like to, .point out that the press is accorded: wide latitude. In justice to the news-, ipapermen in the gallery I want to say) that they have been, on the whole, fair.; no matter to what party or newspaper they are attached. Sometimes one feels) cause for complaint, but as a rule thuy , are allowed to pass. But here is am outstanding case, the first, so far as l; can find, in the records of this Legris-) _lature, of tlagraney without any foun-. Idatlon. A remarkable feature is than 'mot another man in the gallery caught; 'it as did The Star representative, and: 'usually there is some discussion among; ithe fraternity. I feel that, in justice toi this House as well as to the public, wet should take cognizance ot it. _ _ HSTARR. NOT PRICE, "ASKED TO RETURN "BREWERY FUNDS "tihhridtidii'i%ernbers" thrsinped their desks in applause. "1njusuce was inadvertently done to: the name of Attorney-General Price in; the report of yesterday's debate in the) Legislature as it appeared in the night) edition of The Star. The writer of the: article. a Star repomr in the gallery; under a misapprehension. wroie the; name of Colonel Price into the lead of _ his running story of the debate. Larer. I on copying the letter addressed by' Premier Ferguson to J. R. L. Starr. hej realized that Attorney-General Prim, did not enter into the affair at all,, which was a Toronto and not, a Pro-t vincial matter. He then wrote out a? correction of the earlier report to bet wired down to The Star desk. By some regrettable omission. this failed to reach ' The Star desk, and both story and head- , line as originally written were published 3 in the night edition. "Under ordinary circumstances. the usual procedure would be for the of- fending newspaper proprietor to be brought to the bar of the House, ex- amined. and make the proper amends and apologies. And the Government thouttht that this should hatreated in the usual nay. But I have observed in the noon edition of The Star what pur- pnrts to be an explanation. an apology. an excuse or call it what you will, for its character leaves it open to be called!' a. variety of names." f l Reads "What Is It'.'" I He then read this item, as follows. headed: After referring to The Star story and its headline of "glaring type." he con- tinued: "Mr. Speaker, I think that the House will agree that an article of that kind. given the prominence and public- ity of that kind, without a tittle ot foundation of fact. requires and de- serves some consideration at the hands of this House. if this House is to main- tain its dignity and privileges as a public assembly. I am not. nor is the Government. supersensitive in the mat- ter of press criticism. I have grown accustomed to it. And I am prepared to accept fair criticism. But I believe that the House will agree that the article in question. and displayed as it is, is an unwarranted breach of the privileges ot this House. and one that deserves condemnation at the hands of this House. It goes entirely beyond all limits of toleration. "Beyond All Lmits." "t'lrtte surprised," the Premier went l on, "it that apology is carried in all the edhipns flf The Star today." Having presented his motion. he con- tinued: "I have sought to avoid giving -any party color to this motion. I have . sought to impress members with the im- portance ot the House maintaining the high standards of dignity we have sought to maintain in general discus- l sior in the House. While we may, and 'Ido. have heated discussions and party "It will be now," shouted W. S. Haney (Conservative. West Lambton). Offense Against House. "Yes, it will probably be done now," the Premier asserted. and then con- tinued: "Another phase of this, and one that concerns the House even more. is that the offense is against the honor and dignity and privileges of this House. It any apology is to be made it is to he insole to this Legislature." "That the attention of this House has been drawn to what purports to be a report of a debate as contained in The Toronto Daily Star of Feb. 11, 1929. published under the following headline: 64 'Price Was Ordered to Return All "Brewery Chest" Funds, Ferguson Tens Legislature.' 7 _ - A "That the said report contained the following strternept: _ __ _ " 'Demanding that an explanation be given by the Conservative Party for its alleged action in soliciting funds for campaign purposes and the sinews of their "war chest" from liquor in- terests, through the medium of its organization, the Liberal-Conservative Association. W. E. N. Sinclair was suc- cessful in drawing from Premier Fer- guson an admission that such letters had been sent. ,, A - - '* 'Mr. Ferguson stated that he had ordered Attorney-General Price to re- turn any such subscriptions so received to the donors and stated that the ac- tion of the local association in sending out such letters was unwise and done on the spur of the moment.' . "That this House, having cognizance of the debate in question. hereby de- clares that no such statement was made: that the said report is false, slanderous and injurious. and therefore a flagrant breach of the privileges of this House. as well as such an abuse of the traditional freedom of the press and violation of the ethics ot clean Journalism as merits the censure.and condemnation of this Legislative As- sembly." Exceeds All Bounds. clashes, I may say that no personal ele- ments have eptered_ into those things. nor has ill feeling of a personal charac- ter been engendered or attempts made to slander or injure any member of this Legislature. Therefore I say that this statement goes beyond anything that comes within my knowledge. and, aside altogether from the source trom where it issues. I say that the time has come for this House to say that it regards .its privileges seriously and intends to math- tain its dignity." 'ouse