The Washington times., 1912-07-26
HUMPHREY ANSWERS
NORRIS CHARGE Of
STOLEN DELEGATES
ashington n Republican
Wants Name of Inform
ant in the Case.

In speech az bitter az parliamentary
usages would permit, Congressman
Humphrey, a Washington Republican,
today replied to the charge made by
Congressman Norris the Nebraska pro-
gressive, in the House yesterday, that
the Taft nomination at Chicago was
stolen.
Mr.. Humphrey devoted his reply
mainly to that portion of the Norris
speech wherein the Nebraskan said "a
high and influential party leader" had
told him the washington delegates were
deliberately stolen for Taft Mr.. Nor
ris' refusal to make public the name Of
his informant, who was declared to be
a Taft supporter, so angered Congress-
man Humphrey today that he accused
Mr.. Norris of "using the methods Of
the anonymous letter writer"
Resents Attack on State.
Il cannot permit this attack upon
the citizens of my State to go unchal-
lenged," said Humphrey, who said he
would not discuss the merits Of the
Washington contests because he had no
part in them and was not in the State
at the time.
Congressman Humphrey said he re-
sented the attempt of Mr.. Norris TO
reflect upon the honesty and integrity
Of large number OF riniae citizens ~ OF soms s
man whose name he is not willing to
give" He suggested that perhaps Mr
Norris had permitted the hysteria Of
the moment to overcome his sense OF
fairness and better judgment.
"The gentleman from Nebraska once
occupied with distinguished ability
high judicial position" said Humphrey,
though 1 admit that no one would have
ever suspected he had been a judge
from that portion of his speech. to
which have referred. Think of q judge
permitting a witness to testify that a
certain man of high standing In the
community had said that he had inves-
tigated facts and the defendant was a
thief, but that, as he was friend Of
the thief he would not permit his name
to be given"
Wants His Authority.
Humphrey declared that equally
''monstrous" was Norris statements
about large number of reputable citi-
zens and the attempt to assassinate a
great political party, when such state
ments were based upon the claim of an
unnamed witness.
know the gentleman from Nebraska
does not approve any such methods,
able to account for his using such
methods or having used them to fail
upon reflection to have this portion of
his speech stricken from the Record.
This Is the method of the anony-
nous letter writer. held in scorn and
contempt by all decent men. This is
the method of the blackmailer, the most
cruel and cowardly of criminals, to ex-
tort blood money from his terrified and
helpless victim while shielding himself.
! Himself Supporting Taft.
'Is 1t any excuse that this high and
influential Republican should withhold
his name because he is running for
office himself? Is 1t any justification
for a man to support another for office
when he knows that that man has
stolen his nomination, because he him.
self Is candidate? Is a man tusti-
fed nj refusing to expose political
thefts because he himself is a candi-
date Of the party that practiced such
corrupt and dishonest methods?
Il regret to say this seems to be the
approved method of a large class OF
professional reformers who are seeking
by the volume of their vocabulary tc
make the public believe that with them
rests the solution of the Republic. II
seems that there are many estimable
gentlemen that are in such a dazed
hysterical condition that they have lost
all sense of proportion. l hope this
period of suspicion, hysteria and un.
friendly denunciation will pass away
and that we will have less Of the can,
ians of the people in their seif'
righteousness so loudly and fervently
thanking God that they are not as Other
men are"