Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-09-07
LIAR" IS USED IN
SENATE DEBATE
Ashurst Angered by Copper
Lobby" Remark Names
PenroSe

Washington, Sept. Z. - Charges and
counter charges flew across the main
aisle of the Senate like shrapnel yes
terday when each side sought to show
that the other had been guilty OF law
ish expenditure of money in pohtlcal
campaigns. The Republican Kettle
called the Democratic pot black
whereupon the latter retorted that tne
a. isation went double. with reverse
kSglish," or words to that effect.
20 accidentally the proceedings were
SSSened by the rush of Senator Ash
ennt Democrat, of Arizona, with up
&fted finger at Senator Curtis, Repup-
can. of Kansas. who had been TOO
ersonal in one of his charges. Ihe
adex of the Arizonian got very close
the nose of the Kansas MEMBER out
did not finch.
Senator Smoot, Republican, OF utah'
Fho occupied a chair between the TWO
hen, went through mock Mysteries,
ayins, Don't, don't" as though he
cared a tragedy was about to be en-
cted. Nothing happened, however
Or the Arizona senator was not bel
gerent, but merely serious.
Later he was quite as serious, al
hough rigidly polite. when he said
hat IF" Senator Penrose asserted a
ertain thing to be true he was a
liar." Great emphasis was placed on
be little word 'if' and finally the
Inguage was withdrawn.
The more or less playful senatorial
ranks occurred during a debate on
he owen Corrupt Practice bill. which
eeks to limit campaign expenditures.
10000 Letters Franlled
The bill would restrict campaign eX-
enditures of candidates for the SEN
te, the House and for the Presidency
nd Vice Presidency to a greater eX-
ent than existing law. Senator Cur
is argued that such a measure passed
Fhen a campaign is half over might
Eork unfairly against men who have
lready spent the stipulated amount
He advocated a more stringent law
han that proposed. and one that
you'd particularly restrict the use of
he Congressional frank to prevent
senators or representatives from send
ng out campaign appeals at govern
bent expense. He read letter from
Ashurst to a constituent, reciting his
ecord as basis for support and said
e understood that 10000 of these had
cen franked out in violation of the
privilege.
"Sweetbreads for Brains"
IF the Senator charges that this is
violation of the law" said Ashurst,
Ehen he got the floor, "he has sweet
reads for brains"
He explained that his letter had
Eeen submitted and approved by the
Postmaster General and one of his as
;istants as being matter which could
oe franked and told how former Presi
dent Taft, when in the Philippines,
i nd the then Secretary of War Root,
Exchanged cablegrams at SO cents a
Eord paid by the government, to dis
PISS Mr.. Taft's health ond horseback
de.
Passes the "Lie Indirect"
A little later Ashurst turned on Pen
Sc, who said he had noticed cop
r lobby around the Capitol whose
embers had been talking with the
izona senator.
F'If," said Ashurst, "the Senator
cans to say that my vote has been
1uenced by copper lobby or any
her lobby he lies"
Several senators objected to this
hguage, and Ashurst, after explain
he had said If" agreed to with
'aw his remarks.
1 Several senators told of large con-
Fibutions to campaigns in various
hates. Senator Owen said former
representative A. Mitchell Palmer, of
pennsylvania, had said that S750,00O
as spent in one Pennsylvania cleo
on.
Senator Penrose in reply said Pal
ler's statement had never been sup
orted by evidence and declared he
ould give better proof that several
undred thousand dollars had been
pent in Oklahoma in the recent pri-
larry campaign which resulted in the
nomination of Senator Owen. Sena-
pr Pomerene said Myron T. Herrick
nd the Myron 7. Herrick's Voters
eague in Ohio spent more than s51,-
200 in the recent primaries which
hose Herrick as the Republican SEN
torial candidate.