The sun., 1908-03-28
A DISPUTE WITH ROOSEVELT
DETlILED IN CONGRESS ~ THE
OTHER Participant.
Dick ksma Of Michigan Admits That vigorous
Gestures Mere Used In Discussing the
Nilhey Case and submits 10 q Cross
Examination by ITS Colleagues.

1 uuubudA butut III tne nOllse Oi tt6Illebeulh-
tives to-day when u Republican Congress-
man submitted to questioning and cross
questioning by his colleagues on the subject
Of a conversation which had taken place
between the Congressman and President
Roosevelt. A morning newspaper In Wash
ngton had reported that Representative
Dickema OF Michigan during a call at the
White House yesterday was severely taken
to task by the President. Acoordngto the
published story the President was inoensed
| by tie action Of the subcommittee Of the
House judiciary Committee in going further
with Its investigation Of the Judge Wiley
case than to show that the Judge bad COM
mittsd no impeaohable offence. Mr.
Dinkema is a member OF the subcommittee,
The newspaper report added that Dekema
had replied TO the President in kind aud
that stormy interview ensued
Representative Williams. the minority
leader, wanted to know about the whole
matter soon after the House convened
to-day
1T is a part Of our fundamental law, lie
said, that no representative Of the people
shall be called to account for any vote or
utterance or report made in his capacity as
a Representative. Our forefathes inserted
that clause because II had been the habit
Of George III to call to the king's palace
members Of Parliament and TO berate them
on account OF their votes in Parliament
Referring to the newspaper account Of
Mr. DIekenlas visit TO the White House
Mr. Williams added;
Il shall later on. the House permitting,
examine into the truth Of this statement,
and II il be true shall Introduce a resolution
to ask the Committee on the judiciary to
examine whether or not there lias been on
the part Of the Executive a breach Of the
privileges Of the House OF Representatives.
Mr. Dick ema replied promptly, saying:
Now let me say in the first place that
the President did not send for me. ! went
to the executive offices for the purpose OF
introducing to the President Gov. Wagner
Of our State and as We we're conyersing
incidentally this subject came up, the
President insisting that he believed the
report Of the committee. which has now
been made public by the subcommittee.
relating TO the investigation Of JudNe 4
Wiley would do that Judge an injustice I
and would, in his opinion, interfere with
the administration Of justice and the pres
tige Of the American nation in China.
"On the other hand, endeavored.to eI-
plain as best could to the Chief Executive
the report which the committee had made.
explained TO him the grounds upon which
our conclusions in that report rested |
endeayored to explain 10 him why we
arrived at those conclusions OF law and of
fact, and. Mr.. Chairman. not only did he
not act as George the Third would have
acted, in a spirit Of intolerance, but he
gave to mo all the time desired to present
TO him fully the side Of the committee. |
He did not agree " ith our conclusions.
| did not agree with his conclusions.
"The President had a perfect right TO |
debate this with me and 10 find upon what !
grounds We had bssed our report. A men, |
ber Of the House had a perfect right 10 |
defend that position; and in a spilit Of the |
utmost iberslity and Of the utmost con-
sideration for a member Of the House, in a
spirit of the utm ost tolerance, the great
President Of the United States recognized /
the right Of n member Of this House TO
debate before him tn right Of the matter
as we assert II 10 be, and never in all that
discussion did he display the least symp-
toms OF intolerance,
Did or did not this occur at the meetings"
asked Mr.. Williams
Then he read the following from the
report:
THE President thought when the members
OF the subcommittee took up the case of
Judge Whitley they should have gone no
further than 10 find thar the basis OF the
charges against him did not constitute
dn impeaChable offence and let it 70 at
that
=. did not occur said Mr.. pickams
Then Mr.. Williams wanted to know il
IL was true that the President thumped
the desk 10 emphasize his remarks and IL
il was true that MIR. Dickema did the same.
There was laughter on both sides of the
House when Mr.. Dickema replied.
THE President did not thump on the
desk, but the President in his usual vigor-
Gus vie used gestures
MIR Williams, after disclaminK the riRed
20 cross 1amine his fellow member beRRht
that Mr.. DiCkema say whether il was true
that the President questioned or argued
or debated with n member Of the House
his right to cast a vote. 20 make
u q
Il am very happy TO answer replied
Mr. Dickems. THE President did not
agree with the result of the findings of
this committee and expressed his fear
hat the great work which Judge Wiley
had been doing in China in cleaning up
in removing American corrup-
ioniSts, in purifying the administration
Df the law in thai distant land might be !
az the result Of a misconstruction
~ ha ~ ~, !
residing there Of the meaning as expressed |
n our report and felt thai the COMMITTEES
night have been happier in expressing
heir conclusions in a different manner
"One more question said Mr.. Williams,
Did the President say that the sub-com-
nittee had no right to 60 or aud make
heSe reflections upon Judge Whitley. that
III they had the right TO do was 10 say
whether or not he was guilty Of an i'm ,
)eachable ofence?'
"He did not nor did he intimate in the
emotest sense that the committee had not
complete right 10 investigate and report (
N the whole subject
Representative Webb OF North Carolina
member OF the subcommittee with Mr.
)ekema took a hand.
How long did the discussion last?'
INQUIRED Mr.. Webb. 1
About ten minutes. ] should say
Tell us who first broaohed the subject
he e,ty gentleman In;5St or tts ths President
Was il in the public reception room?'
pursued Mr.. Webb. :
1t was said Mr. Diekema !
How many people were there"
81 cannot tell the gentleman
This ended the cross-examination and '
he case was closed. |
In spite Of the fact that Secretary Roots /