The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1917-10-12
ASSOCIATED Press Dispatch.]

Washington, October 6.-SenatO1
Toilette, whose expulsion from the
senate for disloyalty is urged by
various petitions, replied to critics OF
his war course today in long, care
fully prepared speech. He asserted
that the "war party" besides carry
| ing on campaign of libel and
character assassination" against
members of congress voting against
war, attempting to suppress discus
sion of war issues, and intimidate peo-
! pie themselves by invading homes and
unlawfully throwing them into Jail.
Senator La Toilette quoted from the
| Mexican war speeches of Lincoln
Clay, Webster and Summer in sup
port of the defense of the right of
congressman to assail the government
policies. He dWelt on the constitu-
tional duty of congress rather than
the president to proclaim nations
purposes in taking up arms. He
made no reference to the inquiry in
to his st. Paul Non-Partisan speech
"Six members of the senate and
about fifty house members voted
against the declaration of war;" de-
declared the senator. Immediately
there let loose a fifiood of invective
and abuse from newspapers and in
dividuals who were clamoring for
war, unequalled, I believe in the his
tory of civilized society" He as
serted that prior to war men oppos-
ing the American entrance were
branded as towards. Even the presi-
dent was by no means immune from
these attacks. Since the declaration
of war, the triumphant war party had
pursued those congressman who
voted against war with malicious
falsehood and recklessly Gbelous at
tacks, going to the extreme OF
charging them with treason against
the country"
Charges False Arrest.
To-day" declared Senator La Fol-
lette, "honest law abiding citizens
are being outraged, thrown into jail
held incommunicado, but eventually
discharged because they committed
no crime. 1t appears to be the pur-
pose of those conducting the cam
paign to throw the country into a
state of terror for the suppression OF
the discussion of the great issues In
volved."
Senator La Toilette demanded a state
ment of the war aims OF congress ano
of the administration He declared tnat
in his course he was guided by knowl-
edge that he had been able to obtain
and by his own sense of duty, and that
neither the clamor of the mob nor the
voice of power would turn him aside 2
hairs breadth from the path he had
chosen. He dwelt at some length on
1t was the first time a senator was
known to make so sensational speech
in his own defense since the time Sen
ator Lorimer of Illinois defended him
seat in the senate Senator La Fol
lette's speech lasted for three hours,
Starting at ten o'clock. The closest at
tention was given. The crowd became
so dense in the galleries that the people
stood in the aisles and along the walls.
noticed taking notes. planning reply.
49, Kellogg Took the Floor.
Senator Kellogg of Minnesota, who had
presented the resolution of the Mime
sofa Public Safety commission, demand
to Senator La Toilette He cited La
Follette's speech made in ST. Paul on
September 20. Senator Kellogg explain
ed that it was because of statements
attributed to Senator La Toilette in that
speech that the Minnesota commission
ton to some of the points made by Sen
ator La Toilette in his speech to the
senate He spoke particularly of Sena-
tor La Follette's demand for free speech.
IT am as jealous of the right of free
speech as any member of this house or
any citizen of the land" he declared
'but this is case of erroneous state
ment of fact, not one of free speech