The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-28
In the WiIfley Case.

Washington, March 27.-The question of whether or not President Roosevelt is an intolerant man after the fashion of King George III, arose in the House of Repre- sentatives today. The discussion was founded on local newspaper story cov- erng what purported to be the details of an interview yesterday between the President and Representative Diekema of Michigan, in which the President was reported as humping his desk and berating MT. Diekema for having joined in the report of the subcommittee on the judiciary committee censuring Judge Wilhey of the United States court in China. On the statement of Representa- tive Williams of Mississippi, the minority leader, that he proposed to offer a reso- lution to ascertain if the President has eneroached upon the privileges of a member of Congress, MT. Diekema. absolved the President from the suggestion of intolerance made by Mr Williams and said that the President in tb conversation which took place had displayed the great est ibertlity in expressing his explanation of the circumstances. He denied that the President dumped his desk, but ad- mitted that he gesticulated a good deal.
 Williams Makes Inquiry.
 In taking up the matter Mir. Williams said that his resolution would be based on a news item appearing in today s Washington Post bearing the heading; ] Roosevelt Rates Diekema." The. story l stated that upon the occasion of visit l yesterday to the White House, MT. Dick 1 ema of Michigan, who was a menrsr of 1 the subcommittee which Investigated tho i charges against Judge Wilfley, had been 1 taken to task by the President for hav- 1, ing censured the judge. MT. Diekema, one of the principals to the conference, got the floor to explain just what happened. He completely absolved the President of any intolerance.
 In calling attention to the matter, MT. Williams said that 1t was part of the fundamental law that no representa- tive of the people shall be called to ac- count for any Vote,- utterance or report made in his capacity as representa- tive
 'our forefathers," he declared, 'in- serted that clause because it had been the habit of George III to call to the king palace members of parliament and berate them on account of their votes in parlla- ment or when members of parliament called upon other business to take an- vantage of the fact to berate them and to class them among the crowd Of King s If1enuS or Hol hlhS AAiohS'
 piekema's Defense.
 MT. Diekema said it would have been cowardly, a neglect of his duty ana an injustice to the President did not he make any explanation.
 "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 ana the Wilfley matter came up incidentaliy- The President, he said, insisted that the report Q subcommittee would do Judge Vilfey an injustice and influence opinion unfairly to the administration or justice and the prestige of the American nation in China.
 "On the other hand" said Mir. Diekema. ..I endeavored to explain to him why we arrived at these conclusions Of law anu of fact"
 Raising his voice to q high pitch and snealiins directly to MT. Williams, MT. Diekema exclaimed:
 Not only did he not act as King Georse III would have acted, with spirit or intolerance. but he gave to me all tne time I desired to fully present to him the side of the committed.
 The President, he said. did not agree with the committees conclusions nor did he agree with those of the President Ho insisted that the President had d perfect right to debate the question with him
 "A member of the House. said MT. Diekema. "has prefect right to defend his position and in the spirit of utmost liberality. and with the utmost consideia- tion for q number of the House, in the spirit of the utmost tolerance, the great President of the United States recognized that right"
 Not lntoIerant
 Never in the discussion. he said, did the President display the least symptoms ol intolerance, but at all times the broadest spirit of American tolerance, such as has made our country great and such as has exemplihed the deeds of this President In the history of his past career
 The republicans applauded this utter. ance.
 Did the President thump his desk. as the article states?' MT Williams in- quired.
 'I am glad to say Mir. Dekema re- piled that the President did not tnump his desk. but he added. amid laughter. in which he himself joined, "the Presi- dent in his usual vigorous style, used ges- tures."
 MT Diekema, answering questions by MT. Williams. denied that tho President had called him to account or that the President said ''the gentleman of the sub committee had no right to go on and make these reflections upon Judge Wil- fey"