The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-10-17
LA TOILETTE
. UPSETS PLANS
By Demanding That Inves-
tigating Committee Pre-
sent Charges
STOOD ON DIGNITY
AS A SENATOR
Made Dramatic Appearance
and Presented a
Paper

Washington, D. c., Oct. l7.--Senator
La Toilette upset the plans of the spe-
cal subcommittee of the privilege and
elections committee of the Senate yes
terday disappointed crowd of men and
women who had gathered in the commit
tee room to listen to his presentation
of his ease, and then strobe laughingly
away, leaving Chairman Pomerene and
his colleagues no alternative than to go
at once into executive session for want
of something else to do.
The stage had been set for really
La Follettian sensation AT l0;30 o'clock
the subcommittee had assembled. Chair
man Pomerene, covered with senatorial
dignity and wearing a "Prince Albert"
coat and statesmanlike black string tie,
sat at the end of the council table WON
en- spectators busily knitted mittens and
sweaters of olive drab yarn as the crowd
waited
Five, ten, fifteen minutes passed and
then, in marched Senator La Toilette.
His arrival electrified the room. Every
body sat bolt upright.
Senator La Toilette advanced to the
chairman and handed him letter.
II have prepared letter" said the
Wisconsin senator. (which | submit to
the committee, and that is all the state
ment that ] deem it proper or necessary
for me to make at this time. Good |
morning"
Bowling stiffly he marched out of the
room with IA sturdy stride. The com
mittee was nonplussed. 1t was "flab-
bergasted" Here was the senator who
had demanded hearings. Here was the
accused and here were his judges all
ready to proceed with his spectacular in
vestigation and at a single word the
scene ended. The stage setting, so care
fully prepared, was rendered useless.
Chairman Pomerene directed the com
mittee clerk TO read the letter which
Senator La Toilette presented. The com
mittee members listened listlessly and
then decided to proceed to executive con.
sderation of the matter in hand, where
upon the room was cleared and the doors
were closed.
At the conclusion of the executive SEES
sion Chairman Pomerene announced that
no more hearings would be held by the
which will obtain informa.
ion from other sources, including the
cites utterances, and will report to the
December session of Congress.
Senator La Toilette declared in his
etter that he still believed in the &C.
uraey of all the statements he made =
n the st. Paul speech, which resulted in
emands for his expulsion from the SEN
tie. He declared that when the commit
&c had evidence of the inaccurscy of n
hese statements he would bring docu U
ients to substantiate his assertions II
But he said, until the committee con. o.
ronted him with a specific indictment u
e did not deem it proper to make any 81
lrther statement to the committee
He declared that every senator is en- IN
tied to have any words he speaks re CT
arded as the truth until their falsity is -
roved. He said that for committee
question a senator's word without
limiting evidence to show its falsity
as an insult both to the senator him
If and to the body of which he was :.
member
II have done everything possible the
isconsin senator continued, ito aid in
aking this a complete and thorough in (
stigation. | am both anxious and de-
-ous that it shall do justice to all par
,ipants and shall constitute an honor sir
lie precedent whenever SO grave a mat tn
r shall come before the Senate"
La Toilette protested against any one IL
led investigation by the committee dis
1 affordinc him a right ito meet face WI
face and question any witnesses that sti
ny be called"