Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1917-10-05

FIGHT IN HOUSE
Scion Who Charged Bernstorff
Plot Pushed Down.
NO ACTION TAKEN FOR QUIZ
House Adjourns Without Acting on
Rules Committee Decision Not to
Push Resolution Urging
Investigation.

Washington, Sept. 29.-The house
adjourned without acting on the rules
committee decision not to propose any
resolution looking to investigating
charges that German money has been
used to influence members of congress.
The row in the house over Repre-
sentative Hefiin's charges eliminated
in fight between Hef1in and Repre-
sentative Norton, his chief critic.
Friends separated them.
The climax came at the end of a
gusty session of the house, which did
not approve the action Of the rules
committee in refusing to begin inves-
tigation of Hefiin's charges that GER
tain congressman acted suspiciously
about the time Count Won Bernstorff
was asking his government to author
ize the expenditure of $4,000 to in
f1uence congress.
Denies Norton Is DisIoyaI.
| Norton, who had led the attack on
Hefiin for his charges, had gone over
to the Democratic side to talk to Hef-
lin. The row broke out at once, the
two men clinched and fell over on a
row of seats, while friends from both
sides of the hall piled around and sep
arated them before blows were struck.
did you ever say that 1 was dis
loyal?" Norton says he asked Hef1in.
NO" Heflin replied.
Norton then made some remark
about his being as loyal as anyone
in the house, and Hef1in told him to go
away.
'fYou get out of here" Hefiin is re-
ported to have said, starting to rise in
his seat.
Norton stood still, while Hefin
sprang up and grasped Norton by the
coat lapels.
Norton Falls on Top of HefIin.
The two men grappled for moment
and then fell over with Norton on top
Immediately the house was in an up
roar. Speaker Clark banged for or
der, while members leaped over seats
and down aisles to reach the strug
Cling men. The sergeant at arms hur
riedly grasping the mace, his badge o.
authority, ran toward the combatants
Disorder reigned in the galleries
where people rose from their seat
and rushed to the rail to see into tn,
pit of the house.
Members Demand Probe.
Friends separated the men withou
difficulty and led them to the cloak
room. The only marks of comba
oh
Hefin's usually immaculate white shir
front.
Order was restored as quickly as i
had been disturbed.
Members favoring investigation
planned to wage a fight ON the foo
against the action of the committee
Chairman Pou issued this statement:
''In view Of information which tn
committee on rules has received of
nationwide investigation of the use Q
money furnished by the German go1
ernment, now being conducted by tn
department of justice, the committe
on rules has decided to take no actio
on the several resolutions before it,
Two members, Wood of Indiana, an
Kelly of Pennsylvania, voted agains
the committee action. Representativ
Foster of Illinois also indicated ths
, he favored an inquiry, but voted wit
the majority.
House Should Not Interfere.
, The house had another noisy tim
:. when Chairman Pou reported the con
mittee's action. He argued that, Will
an inquiry was being made by the d
partment of justice, the house shoul
. not interfere, thereby possibly grantir
? immunity to some suspected persons.
! did the committee give any consi
a Grafton to resolution asking for IL
!. ! immediate expulsion of Mr.. Hef
, from congress?" asked Representati7
+ Britten.
! NO." Mr.. Pou replied.
p 'SThat," Mr.. Britten declared, SIS Il
v one thing that should be considere
r here and now"
r Mr. Pou replied that the committt
4 was ready to report on resolutiC
for an inO1irv if the house desired