New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-16
Formal Charges Must Be
Made, Else He Won't
Attend Hearing
Right to Question
Witnesses Demanded
II. S. Documents AS to Sub
jects of St. Paul Speech
Called For
fsfaT Correspondence

fsar CORES pondsnc-l
WASHINGTON. Oct. -. Senator La
Toilette may fatty ignore the special
Senate committee which is investigat-
ing his right TO remain IN the nations
councils.
An interchange Of letters between
Senators La Toilette and Pomerene.
chairman OF the investigating commit
tee. made Il doubtful tonight II the
defiant Wisconsin pacifst would attend
the committees opening hearings to
morrow.
In a belligerent letter Senator La
Toilette demanded that the committee
draw IN the so-called charges against
him in formal indictment. instead OF
inGuiring into his general attitude. lie
wrote:
81 shall then ard not before desire
TO offer such evidence in reply az !
deem necessary TO meet the proof II
any is produced. tending 10 show IN
accuracies in the St. Paul. speech.
Pomerene Shifts Tone
Senator Pomerene replied the com
mittee was meeting. on the petition OF
the public safety committee OF MIN
nesota. 10 decide If there were GROUNDS
for prefsrring charges against Senator
La Toilette. He said that the commit
tee WAS anxious to get at all the iacts
in the controversy. and requested Sen
ator La Toilette, "in spirit OF help-
fitness" 10 assist the Investigators.
He expressed the hope that II La
Toilette were able 10 substantiate the
principal charges in all his anti-war
statement he would do SO, and. II ne
had found them not well rounded
would be eager 10 correct them
Senator La Toilette was silent FOL
lowing the receipt of tins letter. MS
frienqs said he was amused at the de-
cided come down in Senator Pomerenes
previously aggressive tone, and that II
he attended the hearing tomorrow. II
would be but technical appearance TO
protect him in possible later develop
ments.
Wants Right to Cross-Examine
Ia Palette demanded OF the com
,nittee what statements IN his st. Paul
sneech were questioned az TO accuracy;
and what evidence had been presented
"a tho committee rejecting on their
accuracy. He continued
81 insist upon my right 10 meet lace
n face and to croSs-examine any per
son who challenges the accuracy OF any
statement III ny speech This could
onIv mean Secretary, Lansing or eX-
Secretary Bryan. They have denied
the Lusitania was known 10 the gov
eminent to be illegally munitions
laden. II
vice and assistance OF counsel IN every
stem Of the proceedings. IS well as com
pulsory process 20 secure the attend
ance OF witnesses and the productlon
OF records and documents senator i"
Toilette concluded.
The latter statement is avowed oy
la Toilette to be n demand 20 make
nublic hitherto confidential papers IN
The State Department. committee
members were convinced his whole plan
was 10 develop a situation where more
material for his anti-war propaganda
might be obtained.
chairman Pomerene replied that La
Toilette would be allowed all usual
rights Of defence. and might inspect all
documents submitted 10 the commit
tee" which confidential state papers
assuredly will not be.
No Formal Charges
"The committee" wrote Senator
pcmerene. "have no charges against
YOU. Their duty is to ascertain, first,
The accuracy of the statements in your
81 Paul speech for the purpose of en-
ablinc the full committee to determine
whether or not charges shall later be
our only desire is to arrive at the
accuracy Of statements contained IN
the speech before making report to
the full committee. The sub-commit-
tee assumes that if the statements II,
the speech are well founded you VIII
he glad 10 so testify and to give your
authority for them. II they are not
The committee believes you will be
eager TO correct them and thereby aid