Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-09-28
MEN IN CONGRESS
| WHOM HE SUSPECTS
| NAMED BY HEFL|N
Mentions Five Members in
Connection With Slush
Fund Charge.
DEMANDS INFORMATION
ABOUT THEIR ACTIVITIES
Questions Loyalty of La Toilette,
Britten, Mason, Norton
and Baer.
SEARCHING PROBE CERTAIN
Startling Accusations Remove All
Doubt That There Will Be
Investigation.
DEMANDS INFORMATION
ABOUT THEIR ACTIVITIES
SEARCHING PROBE CERTAIN
Startling Accusations Remove All
Doubt That There Will Be
Investigation.

WASHINGTON. September 27.-Rep.
resentative Thomas Helm. Of Alabam>
broke the Bernstorr $4,000 slush
fund scandal wide open in the House
OF Representatives to-day. He named
nve legislators. and demanded infor-
nation OF what connection they had. II
any. with pro-German activities.
With his startling accusations he
Immediately removed all doubt tina,
there will be congressional investi.
cation. Nothing can prevent 1t now
whether the administration wishes 1,
or not.
Goaded to expose the men he &C.
cused. he named these:
Senator La Toilette of Wisconsin:
Representative Fred A Britten. of Chi.
cago: Representative william e. Mason
Chicago; Representative Patrick D.
Norton. of North Dakota: Representa-.
tive John 81. Baer. OF North Dakota.
BROUGHT OUT By HEFLIN
BEFORE RULES COMMITTEE
These names were brouEh, out by
Hehin when he appeared before the
House Rules Committee, which is con-
aiderinE resolutions offered by Norton
and Fordney. OF Michigan. to prove the
bernstorn fund and It's applica tion 10
Congress. When word came tina, he
nao mentioned these Ave. sentimen,
demanding an immediate and exhaus-
tive inquiry spread like wildfre
through the membership OF the House
Republicans and Democrats alike
joined in demanding that tho House
take up the matter and find out once
and for all whether Hefin had an,
grounds for mentioning names in con-
nection with his German propaganda
charges.
II the Rules Committee reports 2
resolution Tomorrow it will go through
In hurry If resolution lis not re.
ported soon. any one OF several mem
oers is likely to rise 10 point OF
highest privilege and force either Hef-
Inns proof or his expulsion from the
House.
OF the men named. four we're In
Warrington to-day. Senator La Fol-
iette declined to answer questions con-
earning the Helm charges.
Norton. Br!tten and Baer issued warm
retorts. Mason was in Chicago.
HELM MAKES DEMAND
IN IMPASSIoNED SPEECH
In an impassioned speech. Hefiin de-
nanded that the Rules Committee ask
for general investigation. so that he
might learn:
l. Where the money came from that
produced literature supporting the anti.
draft bill OF Representative Mason.
:. Where the money came from tina,
produced literature supporting the
Britten resolution TO exempt German
Americans from military service
abroad.
3. What Congressman are planning
TO line up with the Nonpartisan League
that elected Baer. and which was said
to oppose the war.
4. Who was In the organization La
Toilette is championing that will leave
the President without an army"
s. Why Norton insists on turning
the proposed slush fund Investigation
against him (Hefiin).
Nr. Norton was present at the COM
mittee meeting while Hefiin was maxi
ing his speech. Saying he understood
several congressman wanted him ex.
pelled because he mentioned suspicious
members. Heflin turned to Norton and
dared him 20 vote for his expulsion.
"I'll have something to say about
you before the investigation commit
tee. II II is created" Heflin declared,
facing Norton.
WANTS COMMITTEE
CHOSEN BY HOUSE
Heflin then went on to demand that
a committee be elected to thrash out
the whole Bernstorff slush fund story.
He said he would not go before a
committee appointed by Speaker Champ
Clark. but would insist on committee
elected by the members of the House.
He accused the Speaker Of unfairness
toward him at the House session las.
Monday. when he was hooted on fail
ing to substantiate his charges that
members received German money by
gambling.
when tho committee ended. and the
committee adjourned for ! further ses-
sion tomorrow, at which newspaper
men will testify on Hefiin's charges.
Representative Brltten went to the
committee room to investigate charges
against him. He was informed he
could not see the record until Mr..
Heflin had made corrections in IL.
IT shall insist on the Rules Com
mittee resolution calling for COM
plete investigation" said Britten.
with a view to severely censurins
Hefiin before the House, he declar-
ing that his slurring remarks are based
entirely on personal opinion, and are
without one scintilla Of proof"
Mr.. Britten declared his record on
war measures superior to that OF
Hefin.
Helm has done more than any one
man In Congress to destroy the eff
cheney Of the army and navy" he de-