Omaha daily bee., 1917-10-07
AMERICANS ARE
INTI MlDATED,
LA TOILETTE SAYS

pose our entrance into it had beer
condemned as coward or worse, and
even the president had by no means
been immune from these attacks
Since the declaration of war, the
triumphant war party has pursued
those senators and representatives
who voted against war with malicious
falsehood and recklessly libelous at
tacks, going to the extreme limit OF
charging them with treason against
their country"
People Are Terrorized.
Senator La Toilette declared that if
he alone had been made the victim
of these attacks he would not take
the senate's valuabl. time for thei
consideration.
But, sir" he continued, ut is not
alone the members of congress that
the war party in this country has
sought to lntimidate. The mandate
has gone forth to the sovereign peo-
pie of this country that they mSdst be
silent while those things are being
done by their government which
most vitality concern their well-beinR,
their happiness and their lives. Today
and for weeks past honest and law
abiding citizens OF this country are
being terrorized and outraged in their
rights by those sworn to uphold the
laws and protect the rights OF the
people. have in my possession
numerous affidavits establishing the
fact that people are being unlawfully
arrested, thrown into jail, held incom-
municado for days, only to be event
ually discharged without ever having
been taken into court, because they
have committed no crime. Private
residences are being invaded, loyal
citizens of undoubtful integrity and
probity arrested, cross-examined and
the most sacred constitutional rights
guaranteed to every American citi-
zen are being continually violated"
War Only Against Invasion.
Senator La Follette said that no
conviction was stronger with the peo-
pie today than that there should be
on future wars except in case of >ac-
tual invasion, unless supported by
referendum.
And" he added, because there is
no clearness of understanding, no
unity OF opinion i'll this country, on
the part of the people as to the con-
ditions upon which we are prosecut-
ing this war or what the specific OBJ
jects are, upon the attainment OF
which the present administration
would be willing to conclude peace,
it becomes still more imperative each
day that congress should assert its
constitutional power to define and de-
clare the objects Of this war which
will afford the basis for a conference
and for the establishment of perma-
nent peace. The president has asked
the German people to speak for them
selves on this great world issue, why
should not the American people voice
their convictions through their chosen
representative in congress"
Report in December.
In executive session late yesterday
the senate adopted without debate a
formal resolution empowering priv
ileges and elections subcommittee to
proceed with investigation of the
LaFollette speech at St. Paul. The
inquiry is limited solely to the ac-
curacy of the reported speech and
to substantiation of Senator LaFol-
lette's statements of fact therein. The
report will be made when congress
convenes in December.
A report from the committee
against investigation of like disloyalty
reflections upon Senator Stone OF
Missouri, chairman of the senate for
eign relations committee, also was
similarly adopted. The report de-
clared that communications filed i'm
putting disloyalty to the Missouri sem
ator were not sufficient base for an
inquiry.
Upon receipt of an accurate tran
script today by Senator LaFollette OF
his St. Paul speech, the investigating
committee of FIVE members headed by
Senator Pomerene, plans TO begin its
work next week. The privileges and