Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-01-17
Denounces Them as Afro
cious Liars in Speech
to Colleagues.
DENIES EVERY CHARGE
Informal Reception Given Him.
Proceedings of National
Legislators.

Washington. Jan. I7.-At the in
stance of CulIOm. the senate today
adopted resolution setting Feb. Il
+. as tie time for receiving the statUi
Of Francis +. Willard. the Temperance
advocate by the state OF Illinois. 20
Statuary hall in the capitol. The stat
ue will be the first figure Of woman
To- be placed in Statuary hall
Mitchell Hold. Attention.
While the routine business OF the
morning hour was in progr IS Mitch
ell. Of Oregon. entered the chamber
The announcement that Mitchell
would address the senate in eXplsna-
ton of the charges against him had
the effect OF filing the galleries.
The senators faced about when
Mitchell rose from his seat to speak.
and few OF them changed position un-
Ill he closed. The scene was impres
siyc.
~ the outset Of his statement the
senator declared the charges made
against him il true. untitled him to
occupy a seat in the senate He then
detailed the charges and said:
I--. strong Terms.
Il assert in the most positive and
unqualified manner. that each and ey
cry one Of the charges. insofar as they
relate TO or involve me. are absolute
~. unqualinedly and atrociously false.
and here and now Indignantly and
defantly denOunce their authors. and
each and every one Of thfm. and
brank them publicly as malicious and
atrocious liars"
g. More specific.
Following this general denial with
one more specific the senator gave
what he claimed 10 be n complete ac-
count Of his connection with the lands
I'm question. The senator then refer
red 10 his long career IN the senate
and said that II was not until this time
that any charge had ever been made J
against his integrity either as man.
member Of the bar or member Of the
house. n may be- thought. he said I
by some that he had violated precedent
I'm coming to the senate at this time
but be- declared:
same Right Others
II am an innocent man and I have
AT tns- NIt-<f ~ ptbfF'4aA-<N Ati' Eeh-a+'
right A. any other senator To come
here, IN defense Of my character. which |
Is n dear To me as that Of any other
senator on this floor" !
lie trusted and believed the time
would come when he could with pro
prfefy demand Of the sena'e thor
ough investigation of every one Of the
charges against him
D..Iat Held Duty.
The senator said In conclusion;
Il nave been declared by unproven
charges To be unworthy To remain
longer as your associate. and being
conscientious 81 the absolute rectitude
OF my actions and my innocence NJ al
wrong. have deemed u not Ouly my
right. but my duty TO myself and -
members of this senate. that ] should i
come here and thus publicly deny ali
charges which I know TO De absolute
Iy false. and also 10 explain publicly
the acts upon nay part which admit.
and which are now invoked by pros
ecutfnr officer of the government and
bv n portion Of the public press. as
badges OF crime"
Gives Nay to Tears
MLfrntllS statement tftl~uultl
quarters Of an hour. Toward the close
his voice was broken by sobS and he
was compelled To dry his eyes with
his handkerchief. Many other sena-
tors were visibly affected
when the senator concluded there
was a series OF hand shaking and a.
surauces OF confidence ON the part of
senators When the reception iermi- /
mated Mitchell resumed his seat but
soon let the chamber.
V-ady to Vote lmp-a-hm~nt.
Washington. Jan 1.-THE house |
agreed. before proceeding with the |
Sxayne Impeachment debate today. tc
begin voting on the articles Of i'm
peachment at ; O'Clock tomorrow. Mr. /
Lacey occupied 10 minutes in further
tnc the discussion OF the $40 a day ex-
psnse proposition drawing the conclu- |
sion that impeachment ought not be |
voted on this ground
Fer shipping BILL
Washington. Jan. 1.-THE house |
committee on merchant marine AM
1~he-ieS TODAY ant horned a favorabi.