Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-10-06
ON
SENATE FLOOR TO
DEFEND HIMSELF
Nothing Will Ever Turn Him
From Course He Is TAX
ing, He Says
By Associated Press

By associated Press
Washington, Oct. 6.-Chief inter-
est in the closing hours of Congress
war session centered to-day in Sem
ate discussion of disloyalty charges
against Senator Robert NJ. LaFol-
lette. The Wisconsin senator deliv-
cred a lengthy speech in defense of
his public utterances and in reply to
critics.
The Senate, with it's legislative
decks cleared and the end of the
session liked for three o'clock this af-
ternoon met early to-day for what
was generally expected. to be a\dta-
matte finish. Senator I.aFollette was
given three hours beginning at 10
a. m. in which to address the Senate
with the two hours remaining be-
fore adjournment divided between
| senators who wished to reply.
While Senator LaFollette was de-
Tending himself, a Senate privileges
and elections subcommittee headed
by Senator Pomerene, of Ohio, was
preparing to investigate the Wis
consin Senator's recent speech before
| the Nonpartisan League at st. Paul,
Mimi. The inquiry will deal only
with the accuracy of the reported
| speech and to substantiation of the
|. Senator's statement of fact therein.
| Senator LaFollette has promised to
furnish the committee an authentic
copy of his speech.
Won't Swerve
| Characterizing the attacks upon
him as a general campaign of villi-
| fication and attempted intimida-
tion," LaFollette defiantly shouted in
the middle of his speech:
! Neither the clamor of the mob
nor the voice of power will over turn
me by the breadth of hair from
! the course / mark out for myself,
guided by such knowledge as I can
obtain, and controlled and directed
by a solemn conviction of right and
duty"
Senator King, of Utah, interrupted.
II want to ask" said he, whether
you think the President of the United
! States has contravened any of the
constitutional powers conferred on
him ?"
Senator LaFollette declined to
yield, merely replying that he was
discussing constitutional powers and
senators would have to make their
( own deductions.
Aids the Kaiser
When LaFollette concluded, after
speaking more than two hours, the
galleries vigorously applauded but
the chair admonished that any dem
onstration would not be permitted.
Senator Kellogg, of Minnesota. who
presented the first resolutions of Min
nesota organizations asking LaFol-
| lette's expulsion because of his St.
Faul speech, took the floor to reply.
'Tt is unfortunate for the country
and for the Senator from Wisconsin" !"
said Senator Robinson, of Arkansas,
replying to Senator LaFollette, that
he has lent himself and his services
to the promotion of ideas and desires
of the Kaiser"
MIsstated Facts
Senator Kellogg accused LaFollette
of misstating facts in the st. Paul
went to war to secure Americans the
right to travel on munition-laden
ships or to protect loans made by
Morgan and Company to foreign gov
ernments.
II am as jealous of the right of free
| speech as any member of this body
Senator Kellogg said, but this is a
question of erroneous statement OF
facts rather than of free speech"
IT have no right or wish" he con-
tinued, ito criticise any man who
voted against this nation going to
war, although 1 may disagree with
him; but we are at war and / believe
men of this body, men of influence
should not make statements tending
to aid and encourage the enemy and
to cast dishonor and discredit upor
this nation.
Imagine the circulation in the
German empire of these statement:
rejecting discredit upon our prosecu.
ton of the war and sustaining the
Justice of the cause of the German
empire. Could these people be blamed
for believing in a case, however lack
ing in justice and right, if these ar,
the reasons which led us into thi.
great conflict and sustain us through
its trying ordeal?
SIanderous Accusation
whatever may be said as to tht
original cause of the war between
Germany and the allies, this natioI
rests upon solid ground. backed by
international law. by the dictates o
humanity and the instincts of self
preservation"
The country. Senator kellogg de
clared, owes it to the allies and t,
history to place it's disapproval be
fore the world of the "slanderous &C
cusation" made by Senator LaFoliett
in his st. Paul speech. He denied th
statement attributed to LaFollett
that President Wilson had been warne,
by Secretary Bryan before the Lusi
tania sailed that six million round
of ammunition, besides explosives
. were on board and that the passen
gers were sailing in violation of tn