Los Angeles herald., 1908-03-28
ROOSEVELT
AFFRONTS
DEMOCRATS
WILLIAMS CALLS ON PRESl-
DENT TO EXPLAIN
Minority Leader Says Executive
Criticism of Decision in Whitley
Case is Like Act of
George III

By Associated Press. -.4-
WASHINGTON, March 27.-Minorlty
Leader williams of Mississippi IN lhe
house today gave notice or MS lhteli-
tion to introduce resolution 10 aSn E'N
the committee on judiciary to eXahnlle
whether there has been on the par os
the executive a breach OF pri,ileee u
the house of representatives
Mr. Williams said his resolution
would be based on a news item ap-
nearing today in a Washington news
naneT bearing the heading RooseEelU
Rakes Diekema."
The story states that upon the oc-
casion of a visit yesterday 10 the
White House Mr.. Diekema or Mlcnl-
gan. who was member OF the sun
committee which investigated tns
charges against Judge Wllney' hau
been taken to task by the president
for having censured the Judge
Mr.. Diekema, one of the principals
to the contest, got the floor to explain
lust what happened. He completely
absolyed the president of any lntoler-
ance.
In calling attention to the matter Mr.:
Williams said that it was part OF
the fundamental law that no represen-
tative of the people shall be called 10
account for any vote, utterance or
report Hlduo ia Aii9 NNfN|NNS" 49, - -
resentative.
Likens Him TO George III
"Our forefathers," he declared, lin
serted that clause because 1t had oeen
the habit of George Ill to call TO the
kings palace members of the parlla-
ment and berate them on account of
their votes in parliament, or when
members of parliament called upon
other business to take advantage of
the fact to berate them and to class
them among the crowds OF KING S
friends or not kings friends"
Mr.. Diekema said 1t would have been
coWardly, a neglect of his duty and
an injustice to the president did he
not make an explanations
THE president did not send for me, ,
he said emphatically. THAT statement
is an entire mistake"
He said he called to present the gov
ernor of Michigan TO the president, and
the Whitley matter came up incident
ally.
The president, he said, insisted that
the report of the subcommittee would
do Judge Wiley an injustice and influ-
ence opinion unfairly to the adminls-
tration of justice and prestige OF the
American nation in China.
ION the other hand" said Mr.. Dieke-
ma. Il endeavored TO explain to him
why we arrived at these conclusions OF
law and fact"
Raising his voice TO a high pitch, ana
speaking directly at Mr.. Williams, Mr..
DiekeIna exclaimed: mot only did he
not act as George III would have acted,
with spirit of intolerance, but he gave
me all the time I desired to fully pre-
sent to him the side of the committee y
The president, he said, did not agree
with the committees conclusions, nor
did he agree with those of the presi-
dent. He insisted that the president
had a perfect right to debate the ques-
tion with him.
Defends President
"a member of the house, said Mr..
Diekema, "has a perfect right to
defend his position. and in the spirit of
the utmost liberalty and of the utmost
consideration for a member of the
house. in the spirit of utmost tolerance,
the great president of the United States
recognized that right"
Neither i'm the discussion, he said, did
the president display the least symp-
toms of intolerance, but at all times dis
played the broadcast spirit of American
tolerance, such as has made our country
great and such as has exemplified the
deeds of this president in the history OF
his past career.
"Did the president thump his desk, as
the article states?" Mr.. Williams in
quired
Il am glad to say" Mr.. Diekema re-
piled, that the president did not thump