The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-07-27
HUMPHREY REPLIES
TO SPEECH OF NORRIS
Resents Attempt toDiscredit
Washington Citizens
HE GROWS BITTER
If Any Man Has Done More to
Destroy Republicans Than Nor
ris, He Says, the Democrats
Should Honor Him

Washington. July 2s.--zIn a bitter
speech in the House today, Represen-
tative Humphrey of Washington, re-
publican. replied to Representative
Norris of Nebraska, who yesterday con-
cluded speech in which he con-
demned the recent Chicago republican
convention and charged that the dele
gates from the state of Washington
had been obtained for President Taft
through political corruption.
Mr.. Humphrey disavowed any per-
sonal knowledge of the manner in
which the delegates were selected, say
Ing he was not at home at the time.
Resents Reflections
But / do resent the attempt of the
gentleman from Nebraska. Mr.. Norris,
he declared. ito reflect upon the hon
esty and integrity of large number
CT the citizens of my state by quoting
the opinion of some man who. he is
not willing to name. The member in
his speech said, in substance. that a
certain gentleman OF wide acquaintance
and of high standing, whose statements
would have great weight with the
members of this House and of the
country, and who was conversant with
all the facts, had stated to MIN that
the delegates from the state of Wash
ington to the republican national con-
yention were absolutely stolen"
Mr. Humphrey recalled the fact that
he repeatedly called upon Mr.. Norris
to name his authority. Mr. Norris. he
said, had declared the man In question
vas a supporter of President Taft and
AT f,r aff IN IN raa
son had refused to permit the use of
his name.
May ask the gentleman from Me-
ibraska what rule he uses in measuring
the honesty and other virtoes of candi-
dates:" demanded Mr.. Humphrey. He in
sisted a man of such characteristics as
tho unknown informant WIS entitled to
no credit
Norris Impeaches Himself
THE gentleman from Nebraska is him
self a candidate for high Office, Mr.
Humphrey continued, 'and II he is to
subscribe TO the doctrine that he has adj
vanced in behalf of his unknown witness,
that when he IL a candidate for office he
Is excusable for acting with party that
he knows is corrupt, that he Is excusable
for supporting candidate dishonesty
nominated iov the highest office In the
civilized world. that he Is .oxcusable for
not giving tAclS jii icsdib " th' Nio-
honesty and graft in his own party, does
not the gentleman impeach himself and
place himself in a position where his own
motives may be justly questioned."
Mr. Humphrey vehementiy condemned
| those who charged political corruption
| and intl lgue in the camp OF their oppo-
nents while concealing the truth about
! their own purity and their o~n candidate s
virtue.
.-lhis seems 10 be the logic of the po-
sition of the Nebraska gentleman" he
said ~ regret to say that this does seem
| today to be the approved method of a
| large class of professional reformers of
| tomorrow who are seeking oy the volume
| of their vocabulary TO make the public
believe that with them rests the saliva
| tion of the republic. and that without
| them incentive shall perish from the
earth"
Tho sneaker referred to the statement
| of Mr.. Norris that those who had sup
| norted Mr.. Taft had destroyed the re-
puhlcan party He said with heat that
! r anv man had done more to destroy the
marty than Mr.. Norris the democratic
| r.artv should stamp 1t and erect costly
monuments to his memory and sing his
praise in song and story.
Norris Defends Charges
! Representative Norris said that within a
! few DAYS he expected to be able to make
! public the name OF the TAFT supporter
| who had said he asserted his inability to
Justify the nomination Of raft at Chi
| cago.
MIR. Norris defended all II his charges
.continued ON Page Eisven)