The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-06-03
THEY QUARREL
Aldrich and Stone Engage, in
Battle OF Words
Over Remarks Made by the
Rhode Island Senator.
HE is TAKEN TO TASK
For an Alleged Insult to the
German Government.
The Finance Chairman Denies
Any Intention to Offend.

The Finance Chairman Denies
Any Intention to Offend.
washington, June 3.-Senator Aid
rich's recent characterization of the
course of any government which
might send to this country any
anonymous statement concerning
prices in the foreign country with a
view to influencing legislation was
made the subject of an acrimonious
colloquy in the senate today be-
tween Mr.. Aldrich and Mr. Stone.
The previous remark of Mr.. Aid
rich was based upon the fact that in
response to request from our own
state department. the German
authorities had forwarded to this
government statements of manufac-
turers concerning the rate of wages
in Germany. with a request that the
names of the manufacturers be mot
used.
Senator Stone brought I'D the oues-
ton soon after the senate convened
by reading a telegram from Berlin in
which it was stated that the German
government had taken offense at Mr.
Aldrich's language because of the i'm
portant position he occupies in his
party and in congress. Reading from
Mr.. Aldrichs original remarks, Mr.
Stone said:
when the senator from Rhode
Island made that somewhat petulant
and extraordinary declaration every
one here took notice, and 1 think
every one regarded his utterance as
impoltic if not impelite.''
Continuing to comment on the in
surprised that the German govern
ment and the German people had
taken notice of this utterance and
felt offended by it.
A1drich Replies.
Mr.. Aldrich. who had listened at
tentively to the words of the Mis-
souri, senator, arose and said:
-fI made no charge against the
German government. I was talking
about German manufacturers whose
furnished information with the ex-
press understanding that it was not
to be used in the enforcement of our
custom laws. The senator may con-
slider that information of value. I
do not There is no question about
the German government at all. The
German government forwarded these
statements with the distinct under
standing that they were not to be
used to raise the invoice value of
goods imported into the United
States contrary to our laws. I repeat
that any attempt aon@the part of any
ss1vernment to influence legislation.
on the tariff is impertinent. 1 did
not say the German government
made such an attempt but if any
government made such an attempt it
would be impertinent.''
Mr.. Stone insisted that the senator
from Rhode Island had referred to
the German government as impertln-
ent, again read the statement made
by Mr.. Aldrich as it appeared in the
record. IT was not discussing the Ger
man government in that regard, but
was referring to various statements
before the committee" said Mr.. AID
rich who added with energy, the sem
ator is mistaken
Il am not mistaken" insisted Mr..
Stone
Mr.. Stone contended that Mr.. Aid
| rich's utterance must necessarily have
| had reference to the course of the
German governments he was not dis
| cussing anything else.
| Mr.. Aldrich declared with a con-
| siderable show of impatience that
there could be no question about his
| position.
II said" he went on, that any at
tempt by any government or anybody
! to influence by anonymous commun-
| ication the legislation of this govern
ment was impertinent. I said that
| and repeat it with all the emphasis
at my command"
THAT statement bearing upon the
| German report as it did, was neces-
sarily made with reference to that re-
port, the document, which the Ger
man government had furnished said
| Mr.. Stone.
II said nothing of the kind" hotly
retorted Mr.. Aldrich. II was discuss
| ing the general proposition of any eff
fort to influence our tariff legislation
| BOUQUETS for Germans.
s'The German government con-
tinued Mr.. Stone, lis represented by
men of great ability, learning and ex-
perience who understood the proprie-
! ty of international intercourses as we'll
as any people of the world. They
would have been the last to intrude
| themselves in matter relating pure
| ly to our domestic affairs and they
did not do anything of the kind
He said the German government
could not itself directly, nor through
any of it's diplomatic representatives
call the senator to answer for what
| has taken place in that body. ct is
for that reason continued the Mis-
souri, senator. that the German gov
eminent and people may understand
| that the senator from Rhode Island in
what he says and the senator from
| New York, Mr.. Depew, who spoke in
| the same fashion. stand alone in the
senate of the United States and in
or the support of their colleagues that
| 1 have brought this matter up here
| Replying Mr.. Aldrich said his critic
| ism was directed towards the effort to
use the information from Germany to
influence American legislation. He pro-
ceeded to express his great admiration
for Emperor William and the German
people, and then read a number of ex-
tracts from the German report to show
there had not only been an effort to in
ffuence legislation, but the report con-
tanned criticisms from the house COM
nnittee on ways and means. Senator
Depew said it was absurd to think the
German government had in reality
given serious consideration to the mat
ter.
| Mr.. Stone concluded his presentation
] of the question by saying that while
there had not been a direct retraction
the dose had been SO sugar coated by
~ ~, :.