Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1914-12-19
STORMY SCENES
MARK CLOSE Of
NAVAL HEARING
Representative Gardner Clash
eS Vigorously With Mem
bers Of Committee Who
Question His Statements.
., .erm~a sours.l .,se.l ls.sso YVES


Washington, Dec. lS.---Stormy scenes
marked the conclusion today OF public
hearings before the house naval com.
mlttee. After being on the witness
stand all day Representative Gardner
or Massachusetts. demanded that
members OF the committee say
whether they questioned data he ba |
submitted to prove the nations MILL
tary unpreparedness and his insis.-
cnce so angercd Representative With
erspoon, of Mississippi, that he
abruptly quit the committee room.
Then series OF questions by Rep
rescntauve Gray. OF Indiana, caused
Mr, Gardner 10 resent vigorously what
ne said was an imputatlon that his re-
cent campaign for an investigation OF
the military situation was In the in-
terest or manufacturers OF war mate
rlals.
Tho Massachusetts representative
called upon Mr.. Gray TO get up and
prove his facts" but the latter mad
nothing further TO say and the meet
Ing ended.
The committee Will meet on Mon
day to complete the appropriation BILL
the plan being to report II to con-
gress before the holidays II possible
Representative Gardner's testimony
was based largely on memoranda he
had prepared, citing important points
In the Investigation Of national off
GERS and officials before the commit
tee and In the report OF the general
board Of the navy.
The war OF words which aroused
Representative Witherspoon's indig-
nation occurred after Mr. Gardner
had finished his statement and sub
mlttcd to. a long cross examination. lie
said he did not want his facts cha-
lnnRed later In congress- and vainly
sought an immediate EXPRESSION from
the committee. Ar
Campaign of Gardner.
did YOU WRITE any letter to any
mercantile Organization over the coun-
tryy' Representative Gray asked when
quiet had been restored.
II hired a man TO send out print
ed letter to every chamber of com
merce in the land, telling them to
bring II before the meeting and en-
closing copy Of my speech. In the
south, particularly North Carolina.
several OF them did not approve OF
It."
How many of these letters did you
writer
II do not know. | gave II TO one
OF these publicity fellows"
What organizations did you en- |
ploy for that purpose 2"
DO you mean 10 say ] am In al |
lance with the manufacturers OF ma
teral?' am paying every cent my
self" .l.li...
Didn't you send resolutions already
absolutely" s.
Mr.. Gardner read a newspaper ar
tilcle which said II was minated at !
the White House that the appropriated I
ness agitation came from persons al |
lied with the producers Of warlIlse
'iNow." he said. ~ am tired Of this
kind of talk. In the first plaoe II any
admiral or general tells the country
what you need and ought to get. you
say DID rascal, You are trying to
raise your standing by advocating
this thing. You are an unpatrlotic |
rascal, that u what you are Then il |
any private citizen gets up they say,
You are bought by tile man who. has
for sale. If any congress
man gets. up you say that is pol-
ties Now. I'm tired Of this thing.
Get up, Mr.. Gray. and prove your
Iacts"
Il have nothing further to say"
replied Mr.. Gray.
Have you any facts, anything to
say?"
Nothing further"
Then" said Mr.. Gardner Il am