The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1917-09-28
INVESTIGATION
7 Of SLUSH FUND
NOW CERTAIN
Representative Helfin of Ala
bama Demands an Inquiry
COMMITTEE OBJECTS
Supporters of Resolution Declare
Fight Will Be Carried to Floor
of the House.

Washington. Sept 27.-Inquiry by
house committee into whether
German money has been used to in
fluence congress probably will be
proposed tomorrow in a resolution
sponsored by the rules committee
and supported by the Democratic
leaders.
Demands for an exhaustive inquiry
overwhelmed the house leaders from
both sides today while the rules
committee in executive session war
considering whether to report favor
ably one of the several resolutions
introduced since Secretary Lansing
made public Count Won Bernstorff's S
message to Berlin aksing authority
to spend $4,000 to influence congress
as had been done before.
In speech to the rules committee
Rep Heflin of Alabama, whose dec.
laration on the floor of the house
that he could name members who had
acted suspiciously is largely respon-
sible for the agitation, urged that
the question OF whether German
money had been used, be investigated
first and that his statement be looked
into incidentally. All efforts of com.
mitteemen to get Mr. Hehin to name
some of the men he had in mind
failed, but he reiterated his willing
ness to name them ii committee
were appointed by the Democratic
caucus.
Mr.. Hefin added zest to his re-
marks by bringing in the name Of
Senator LaFoliette an2a Reps. Brit
ton and Mason of Illinois and Rep.
Baer of North Dakota, in connection
with certain legislation and propa-
ganda which he declared he did not
consider loyal and by indicating to
Rep. Norton that he wanted to "ques-
tion" him later. He did not say that
any of these men were included in
his list Of "13 or IA"
DO not be sidetraked by the sug-
gestion of Mr. Norton about investi.
eating me-" he told the committee.
81 know some would like to see me
expelled. will give Mr., Norton op-
portunity if that motion is made, to
vote on a rollcall for my expulsion.
We must not lose sight of the won
Vernstorff 'slush' fund. | want an
opportunity to ask some gentlemen
about this Mason bill Ito repeal the
selective draft law and | want to
| ask some of them about their cor.
respondence. ! want to know how
| many of them are now in quiet
understanding to fight the selective
draft bill in the next campaign.
want to know how many OF them
have written letters that they favor
| the Britton bill, which would exempt
| Germans from fighting the battles OF
our country. thereby Gripping the
| United States government
while we are investigating let US
see who furnished all the postage
stamps for all the correspondence II
regard to exempting German boys
from the navy"
Mr. Hehin insisted an inquiry wa
advisable for the purpose of ascer
tanning how a man stood on the wa
at home as well as in Washington II
this connection he mentioned Req
Baer who soon after his election t
congress as representative of tn,
Non-Partisan league, introduced
resolution asking for statement o
the governments peace terms.
| 'Baer was elected by men who re
pudiated the war; The AlabamI
representative said "and II other
are pandering to that sentiment lie
us put the spotlight on them an
know where they are. If this ne,
move is to repnudiate the Republlca
and Democratic parties and desert tn
country in time of war, 1t deserve
to be looked into,
Something is at work to give In
petus TO this La Toilette campaign
We might as well call a spade
spade am going to PROFOUND som
questions to some members abot
this matter.
81 want to know and the countr
wants to know whether the goverl
, ment is being supported all over III
country by those in positions
trust"
II Rep. Doolittle of Kansas, whose I
|, quiry resolution, slightly amende
probably will be adopted. told Il
rules committee the state departmel
was not opposed to an investigate