Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1913-02-13
SENATOR CHILTON'S STATEMENT.
Places Before the Senate Facts That
indicate Him and Senator
Watson.


From the Congressional Record OF We'd
nesday, February 9Th. we take the follow
ing report of the proceedings in so far as
they relate to the Senators from West
Virginia:
Mr.. Chilton-Mr. President, rise to
question of personal privilege.
The President pro tempore-~ "A
quorum of the Senate is present. Inc
Senator from West Virginia will proceed
Mr.. Chilton-Mr. President, at Inc last
session OF Congress and on the last DAY
of that session certain memorial, signed
by five citizens of West Virginia, one OF
whom is the Governor OF the State, was
presented TO the Senate. II had been I'M
derstood that that session OF Congress
would adjourn on Saturday, the oath OF
August, 1912 With that understanding,
on account of illness, obtained leave OF
the Senate for an absence for the rest OF
the session. For some reason the Senate
did not adjourn on Saturday, but remain
ed in session until Monday following, the
10Th, and on that day OF the session that
memorial was filed. deeply regret that
two OF the gentlemen who signed that
memorial have since died.
Had been present, Mr.. President, or
had my colleague (Mr. Watson, who was
away with similar understanding as my
self, been present, we would have asked
then and there that the Senate take some
kind of action which would do justice TO
that situation and relieve us OF the suS-
picion which such memorial brings upon
any man against whom it may be lodged.
But we were not present, and | can
never forget the kindly words then spoken
and the digniiied consideration with which
the Senate received that paper. SO Tar as
we personally may be concerned, that
sense of justice and propriety, always to
be relied upon in the Senate, took care OF
the situation presented on August 70
1912, probably much better than the Sen
ators from West Virginia could have done
if then present; and yet shall always
regret that we were not present and shall
always feel that fate then tempted our
enemies with rare opportunity to strike
under the belt. The men who signed II
were all members OF parties other than
the one to which the two Senators from
West Virginia belong. That TACT may
have influenced them or it may not; but
if has little or no effect in this body, and
| shall treat the subject as if their motives
were lofty and as if the campaign then
pressing did not guide the pen which
wrote their names to the paper.
Afterwards, however, we went through
a campaign IN West Virginia in which
those charges were more or less adverted
to. While do not want to 60 into the
details, wish to say TO the Senate that 1t
had no effect, so far as Senator w tSon
was concerned, upon that result. HIS
home county gave him record breaking
majority, his congressional district gave
his party majority, and his senatorial
district, for the first time IN many years.
went Democratic.
On account OF illness in my family, and
on account of the necessary and unavold
able absence OF Senator Watson during
great part OF the present session. it has
been impossible for me TO give consider
alton 10 this matter. and indeed lsuppos-
ed that the committee of the Senate having
it in charge, which believe to be fair,
whose judgments believe are never die
tated from political consideration, would
do whatever might be just and proper.
and having had no opportunity to meet
the thrust when il was delivered, have
allowed the days to pass in the knowl
edge that we were innocent and that no
investigation could harm us. Having no
fears. and the campaign being over, we
felt no need OF a grand-stand play and
aboed the result OF the committees work.
But recently had information that the
man who had made a statement against
Senator Watson and myself, or was said
to have made statement against us, had
ietracted that statement publicly, and pri-
vateIy as well. But | had no definite
knowledge thereof, nor did Senator Wat
son, till within the last few days.
wish the Senate to know that not a
human being who ever lived ever queS-
toned upon his own responsibility my
right or the right of my colleague to a
seat in this body. No one ever did itin the
Senate or in the House of West Virginia;
no one has ever done il in the public press;
no one has ever done 1t in any paper filed
here; and no one has ever done il upon
the floor of this Senate. Beyond what
Shock may have said, this memorial is
rumor and newspaper gossip, to which
any public official may at any time become
the victim.
This man Shock, about whose supposed
statement all of this trouble has arisen,
never voted Tor Senator Watson and he
never voted for me. He never made a
statement to the West Virginia Legisla-
ture; he never signed statement TO the
West Virginia Legislature. A statement
alleged TO have been written or rather TO
have been dictated by him was read, and,
as is explained in paper which | am
going to ask TO have read in a moment,
all the circumstances surrounding that
were known to the Legislature of West
Virginia, which elected US 10 the Senate
My colleague within the last four or
five days received aletter from Mr.. Shock,
which now present TO the Senate, say
ing that the statement referred to in the
memorial was b sed upon no fact that in
volved the Senators from West Virginia
or their friends; that nobody ever tried
| IN influence his vote for them: that he