Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-10-08
CONGRESS ENDS
In Midst of Days De.
bate Over La Toilette
Vehement Criticism Of Wiscon,i,
Senator for Alleged DisIoyalty N.
His Defense Occupied Practo,Ih
Entire Day-Seore Of Minor ain.
Pass-Pershins and Bliss Confirms.
as Full Generals

Washington, Oct. I'm the midst q.
days thrilling debate on alleged dlslov,l
ty of Senator La Toilette Of Wlscons,
the extraordinary session of Congrs,,
which began April and is generally r.
garded as the most momentous in Amer.
can history, was adjourned sine die AZ
P. NJ. Saturday.
Vehement criticism of the Visions,
senator and his own defense, occupyins
virtually the entire day, marked the clos.
of the war session, and saturday nisb
most of the members who had rems,rs
for the final days work were en- rou,
home 20 await the call of the next sec
sion, December 3.
The galleries crowded 10 their capact,v
the Senate chamber was the scene Of Az.
hours stirring discussion OF Senator IA
Follette's attitude. but in the House thar.
was little to mark the occasion excep,
submission of a committee report mildv
censuring Representative Hefin of Ala.
bama for criticising fellow members IN
connection with Count Won BernstorMs
request for Berlin to furnish funds TO IN.
fiuence Congress.
The day began with three-hou1
speech by Senator La Toilette in defens.
of his criticisms of war questions With.
out mentioning his recent address before
the Non-Partsan League OF st. Paul. for
investigation of which arrangements wer.
completed Saturday by a Senate sub-cor.
mittee, or naming any of his critics. Mr.
La Toilette read a carefully prepared De.
NJ nd Il
tention to follow 1t in the future He
was interrupted only once and was ap.
plauded by the galleries when he closed
Senators Kellogg Of Minnesota and Fall
of New Mexico. Republicans, and Robin.
son OF Arkansas, Democrat, replied WITH
criticism OF Mr.. La Folette's public Vi.
terances. They denounced what they
termed his unpatriotic stand, Senator
Robinson asserting that II he had such
opinions he would seek a place in ths
German bundesrat. Statements accred,
ed TO the Wisconsin member in his ST.
Paul speech were fatty contradicted, es
pecially that regarding former Secreta-
of State Bryan's knowledge Of amn1un.
ton being on the Lusitania before she
sailed on her fatal voyage.
Apparently stuug by the criticism, Sen
ator La Toilette made an unsuccessfa
effort to get time for a response He
succe aded, however in stating that HI
wished to make known the authority tr
his statements regarding the Lustanis
On Monday the Senate privileges and
elections subcommittee will meet to IL.
vestigate his st. Paul speech, includln,
the Lusitania incident.
During interruptions Of the days de-
bate Congress found time to dispose o.
a few last moment matters, with Prcs
dent Wilson in attendance during the lar
hour in his room near the Senate cham
Der signing bills. Secretaries LansIrs
and Redfeld and Postmaster Genea
Burleson accompanied the President into
whose room foated murmurs OF the G
Toilette criticism from the Senate floor
Among the last acts of Congress vera
confirmation in open session OF mani
nominations hastily sent in by the Pres'
dent. including those Of Major Generals
Pershipg and Bliss to he generals
A score of minor bills also were passsi
by both houses, rushed through engros''
ing and to the Presidents pen, while n.
House virtually marked time waiting .''I
the La Toilette discussion 70 end. Thl
usual adjournment scenes were re-enacte!
with addresses by Vice President Mar
shall and Speaker Clark and resoluti9i'I
of courtesy to the presiding officers, ThI
both urged the members to speak at hor'I
for the new Liberty Loan.