New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-08-16
TAFT HOTLY DEFENDED
House Republicans DenounCe
Delay in Alaska Inquiry.
HUMPHREYS TALK BITTER
Arraigns Democrats for Airing
Controller Bay Charges and
Stopping Hearings.
From The Tribune Bureau.

ardlce and or deliberate attempt 10 shield
those responsible for the fake Controller
Bay charges. the majority members OF the
committee which began. and then aban-
doned. an investigation Of this latest
Alaskan controversy were placed on the
defensive In the Rouse to-day and were
forced to listen to such condemnation as
is seldom hurled across the aisle.
In language as strong as parliamentary
usage would permit Representatives
Mann Humphrey, OF Washington. and
Burke arraigned the arbitrary methods Of
the Democratic members OF the investigat-
ing committee who ordered the Controller
Bay investigation halted until October or
November The "Dick-to- Dick letter was
denounced as a forgery or a myth. Repre-
sentative Mann characterized as the
scandal Of the House" the manner In which
the investigating committee had denied
hearing TO witnesses who could have ex
ploded the fake charges. Instead. ne said.
the committee, realizing that the scan
dalous charges against the integrity Of the
President could not be proved, had not had
the manliness TO come forward and say SO.
Asserting that the country wants to know
the full truth Immediately and that 1t is
demanding that the investigation begun by
the committee shall proceed, Represent
alive Humphrey said
Is the famous and Infamous Dick-to-Dlck
letter an ordinary and stupid forgery, ms,
shapen and untimelv born Of the distorted
and distempered Imagination Of an IRE
sponsible, hysterical and petccoated MUCK
raker? or was she only the unslspecIlns
tool OF designing enemies or me Fr esluei ~,
who were too cOwardly TO strike except III
the dark, and from behind?
Mr. Humphreys speech was bitter
throughout. and he expressed nothing but
contempt for ar investigating committee
that would dignity and give publicity 70
charges tending 10 besmirch the President
OF the United States. only later TO deny d
hearing 70 those who might disprove them.
Referring to Miss NJ. F. Abbott, VINO as
serted she had seen the "Dick-to-Dick
letter. Mr. Humphrey said that In justice
70 her. -, committee should nave neard her
story before abandoning its inquiry and
leaving the grave charges against the Pres
ident unsupported but still lingering IN the
public mind.
II is not in the interest Of decent govern
n1ent. argued Representative Mann, 70 post
pone an Investigation OF this sort.
Calls Il Scandal Of tho House.
This Is the scandal ~ the House. ne
continued. The only excuse you can oner
e. that YOU GOT hold Of the hot end 81
poker and wanted to let go. II your com
r,ittee had had the manliness to say, We
have brought out what appeared to be
scandalous charge against the President
hut We have learned that It is lie and 10
net wish 70 go further the American peo-
rle would have paid tribute 70 IFS honesty
Of purpose But when the committee brinGs
cut what appears to be scandal, and then
refuses n go ahead with its Investigation
they put themselves down as towards
Chairman Graham, in a long speech. de-
Tended the course Of the Democratic mem
bers Of the committee. The committee, he
soid had not received all the documents IN
the Controller Bay case, and since the in
duiry was 70 he more comprehensive than
AZ first planned, he thought II was best TO
make haste slowly"
REPRESENTATIVE Burke. a minority member
Of the committee told OF his efforts 20 push
the investiga ton. The postpCnement, he
said. had not been ordered in G full COM
n1ittee meeting. but had been decided on by
the chairman and his Democratic col
leagues
Practically the entire day in the House
was devoted 10 the reafing Of the Presi-
dents veto message on the statehood bill
and 10 an acrimonious discussion Of Con-
trolIer Bay. In support OF his resolution
demanding the discharge Of The Graham
committee from further consideration Of the
controversy. and providing that a special
committee shall be named to continue the
inquiry, Mr.. Humphrey said.
DELAY in this instance can benefit only
those who have something TO conceal No
honest man can object 10 tn complete
truth. Again I demand 70 know why no
further proceedings are being taken con-
corning these unsupported. scanddlous and
scurrilous charges against the President.
This committee stands discredited when Dy
itg inaCtiOn IL gives Endorsement 10 the
cowardly. dishonest, dastardIy attempt Dy
falsehOod and forgery 10 discredlt tnat
great and splendid man now President OK
WHAT has become Of this investigation
which Chairman Graham announced In
heroic tones would turn the light into every
crack and Crevice2 II no longer holds
meetings The headlines have disappeared
in the sensational press. Suddenly the
committee begins 70 look for excuses 10
postpone and delay, and - now using every
endeavOr 70 prevent further hearings.
What is the matter? What has come over
the spirit OF the dreams OF these enthuSi-
astic investigators? What has so suddenly
cooled their patriotic ardOr? Why VIII not
the committee hear the evidence and give
the truth 20 the country Are the tracks
OF yilihcatlOn and SANDER leading IN the
wrong direction?
President is guilty Of the things directly
charged in that letter, which no person in
the | nited states now believes, then he is
unworthy OF mis- great Office. The people
OF the country are entitled TO know upon
what ground such charges are based. II
Z
the letter was an Infamous forgery. then
why does il not inquire who was guilty or
such criminal methods TO traduce the
President and 10 cast shadow over his
great reputation?
/ cannot believe that the committee. haV-
ing gone so far that IL has discovered that
the charges made against the President are
false now desires delay, hoping by that
means that some stain may be left in the
public mind upon the President The issue
now is the great name OF the President or
the United States. Shall a committee OF
this House be permitted by delay deliber-
ately 20 assist those VINO Desmirch the
name Of the President? In reality. the
question is not now that OF Controller BAY
or conservation. II Is larger than that.
The American people are familiar Win
the record OF President Taft. They ap-
proved and admired him as great and
lust Judge. They watched and approved
his work in the Philippines. They watched
and approved HIS action In regard TO the
construction Of the Panama Canal. They
watched and approved his remarkable sue
cesses in cuba They put their seal OF ap-
prevail upon his splendid record as Score
tarv of War From the day when he re-
signed his office as Judge and at the re-
quest OF the martyred Mckinley went 10
the Philippines the whole world has known
watched and applaudcd the career Of VIII
lam r. Taft.
No man in the history Of this Republic
ever hore a more stainless repu' alton. No
man ever stood higher I'm the confidence OF
the American people as 10 his honesty. in
II. Of n
agree always with his Judgment. some may
differ with him on questions Of policy, but
no honest man doubts the honesty OF Will
lam n. TAFT And this committee has com