The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1911-12-05
LITTLETON HAS
The SPOTLIGHT
Denies Trust Affiliations at
Opening Of Congress.
PETITION TO THE SPEAKER

ocSFctaiy Mdrtln OF tne american
Antitrust League Asks That New
York Member Be Impeached and
Copies of Paper Attacking His Rec
ors Are Distributed on the Floor of
the House.
Washington, Dec. 5.-Both houses of
the Sixty-second congress convened
in first regular session. Practically
every member of each house was in
his seat. The galleries were crowded,
and hundreds of people were unable
to gain admission. The speech of
Representative Littleton of New York
regarding the steel trust question, was
the sensational incident featuring the
opening day.
There was furry in the house just
before it was called to order, caused
by the distribution of copies of a To-
cal newspaper which featured a mass
meeting at which Representatives Lit
tleton and Young were attacked by
Henry B. Martin of the so called
American Antitrust league. A copy
was laid on the desk of each member
OF the house.
Instantly Mr.. Littleton Indignantly
rushed to the speakers Office and de.
manded to know by what right these
copies had ben allowed distribution in
the house chamber The copies were
Immediately ordered gathered up and
removed from the house.
Later in the day a petition for the
impeachment and expulsion from the
house of representatives of Martin w.
Littleton of New York was presented
to Speaker Clark by Mr.. Martin.
Littleton Defends Course.
Representative Martin w. Littleton
of New York stirred the house with
a diatribe against those whom he al
legged had maliciously DETAINED him
because of his Independent attitude
as member of the house committee
of inquiry into the United States Steel
corporation.
He charged that Henry B. Martin,
secretary of the Antitrust league,
had circulated false accusations
against him, and he accused Martin
of consorting with David Lamar, a
bear operator in Wall street, to aid in
the depression of Steel stock. He
charged that William j. Bryan "had
gone off half cooked" i'm the Common
er in comment on the steel corpora
ton.
Mr. Littleton did not demand that
the house investigate his charges, an.
nouncing that he would content him.
self with the statement of his position
and denial of the allegations against
him.
Most of Mr.. Littleton's speech was
devoted to a defense of his position on
the committee and to a complete de-
nial of the accusation that he was al
lied with the trust interests
His references to Mr.. Bryan were
based upon the Nebraskan's editorial
declaring that Mr. Littleton was a
thorough going reactionary and will
be retired from the committee If the
house Democrats really desire that
the house profession on the trust
question be accepted seriously"
Tariff and Trusts First.
With the gavels falling in the house
and senate the tariff and the trusts
stood out as the most important sub
jects for legislation with big fight as
sured in both houses. Many other
great questions confronting the con
gress, all of them to be approached
vigorously, include monetary reform
ratification of arbitration treaties with
Great Britain and France, and the
loan treaties with Nicaragua and Hon
duras; ALASKAN legislation, the cleo
tion of senators by direct vote of the
people, pension bills and the regular
and permanent annual appropriations
to be under the direction this time In
the house by Democratic committee
While the legislative struggles are
In progress politics is certain not tc
be oyershadowed With the Demo
Gratis looking ahead with sanguine
hope for triumph at the polls nexi
November, and insurgent Republicans
striking out in earnest to capture their
party convention, IL possible; every
move made in either branch of con
gress from now until adjournment viii
be thoroughly considered from polit
ical as we'll as legislative viewpoints
The political pot in Washington will
soon begin to boil, with the Republic
an national committee meeting here
Dec. 12, to be followed Jan. s by the
Democratic national committee.
lowa's First Librarian Dead.