Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-06-04

Aldrich declared with considerable |
show OF ,impatience that there could be
no question about his position.
II said and l repeat" he went on,
sthat any attempt by any government
or by anybody to influence by anony-
NOUS communications the legislation OF
this government is impertinent. l said
that and repeat it with all the en-
phasis at my command"
THAT statement, bearing upon the
report as it did, was necessarily made
with reference to that report, the doc
ument which the German government
had furnished" said Stone.
II said nothing of the kind" hotly
retorted the Rhode Island senator, II
was discussing the general proposition
of any effort to influence our tariff leg
isl3ticn."
He said he did not believe that the
course of the German manufacturers
had pursued with view to affecting
American legislation. Stone interposed
these remarks of Aldrich as a with
drawal and a disavowal of his former
characterization and Mr.. Aldrich again
taking the floor declared that there had
been nothing in his previous language
which could by any reasonable con-
struction be made to look like an af-
front to the German government.
Stone said that he had gained the i'm
preston that the chairman of the COM
nittae on finance had given a deliber-
ate affront to a friendly power and he
said that the dispatch from Berlin in
Dictated that such construction had
been given to it by the German Of
ficials.
Replying. Aldrich rehearsed the en-
tire incident and incidentally said that
he had been at loss to account for
Stones interest in the matter unless
he appeared as representative of the
German government. This intimation
made Stone mad
THAT statement" he said, with de-
liberation, lis an impertinence." and
apparently feeling that his characteri-
Zation had not been strong enough he
added, yes it is worse than an imper-
thence"
This remark had been interjected in
AldricE's speech and apparently with
out losing his temper he proceeded
with his recital of the details of the
| whole transaction. concluding with a
statement which had reference to the
Missouri senator Now" he said, "he
| may explain why he takes such II great
| interest in the matter, if he can do So"
| Promptly responding Stone said:
Il am an American and I represent
| American interests on this floor as
, much as does the senator from Rhode
Island and 1 resent his effort to place
| a stigma upon me. l repeat that his
expression is an impertnence, gross
impertinence."
Proceeding he said that he had fully
explained the facts regarding his
knowledge of the German document
and he declared that in view of this
explanation there had been absolutely
no excuse for Aldrich's statement con-
corning himself. Il do not call on him
to retract," he continued, but l do
say that no senator should make such
an utterancc of affront to a great and
friendly power as was originally made
in this matter"
Assuming that the case was reversed,
Aldrich asked what impression would be
made if similar statement to that from
Germany had been forwarded by the
United States to Berlin with a view to
influencing tariff legislation by the Ger
man Reichstag Stone replied that he
would not think much of it had been
supplied by this government in response
to a request from our own secretary of
state.
.Aldrich insisted that there would have
been no question had the information
borne on conditions German. but he said
these statements undertook to answer
and deny testimony given before a COM
,,,sft IS xl1r4 l., 4 &C.
where the impertnence has BEEN
Il have as great admiration for the
German people and for their great Ger
man Emperor anybody can possibly
have" said Aldrich with energy AS he
was about to go on with further remarks
he was cut off abruptly by the Missouri
senator
Il insist that it is regrettable circum-
stance" said Stone. 1T is to be regretted
that a senator widely known and with
such large influence as the senator from
Rhode Island should have. as 1 think. so
far forgotten himself and so lar forgotten
the proprieties. however great the ex-
igency of the moment. as to offend a
friendly government he did with so
little prOvocation. The German govern
ment was not guilty of any improperly
or impertnence."
1.-THE German government" continued
Stone. lis represented by men of great
ability. learning and experience, who I'M
derstand the propriety of international in
tercourse as well as any people of the
world. They would have been the last
to intrude themselves in a matter relat-
ing purely to our domestic affairs and
they did not do anything of the kind"
Stone read a published statement of
Count Won Bernstorff, the German am
bassador. as to the part his government
had taken in furnishing this conclusion.
He denied that this was the first time
a foreign government had furnished such
information and declared that the entire
data received from abroad and now in the
possession of the committee on finance
should have been published long ago, so
that it might have been spread broadcast
through our "virtuous and impartial
press" He said the German govern
ment could not itself directly, nor through
any of its diplomatic representatives
call the Senate to answer for what had
taken place in that body
1T is for that reason" continued the |
,..s