Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-09-24
PROBE: NOT LIKELY
| UNLESS DEFINITE
TRAIL is FOUND
Leaders on Both Sides, in
Congress, Regard III
quiry Unnecessary
lST0RM OF RESENTMENT
OVER GERMAN INTRIGUE
Spirited Discussion Promised,
With Probable Further Disclo-
sures of Teuton Activities.
KING WOULD SHOOT TRAITORS
Overman, Chairman Of Lobby Conn
mittcc, Will Visit State Depart
ment To-Day for Conference.

+ WA S HI TON, September "a
Stirred into storm Of resentment over
disclosure OF German attempts to in
5huence Congress. members of both SEN
ate and House are considering whether
an investigation shall be ordered SEN
timent for an inquiry is stronger in
the House than the Senate. but leaders
on both sides generally regard one as
unnecessary. Spirited discussion is
promised In general debate. with prob
ably further disclosures of German ac-
tivities.
Shoot the traitors In this country"
{ Is the advice of Senator King. of
Utah.
s. Tho Western Senator. whose revela-
tions OF the machinations OF the Aus
tro-Hungarian embassy SO stirred
Congress yesterday. said to-day;
: Tho only thing TO do is to go
ahead and expose this crowd Of paci-
fists. towards. spinelcss dcgenerates
and trcacherous individuals that have
thronged the country
They should be execrated and
thrown into public contempt.
And II it is found that they have
been absolute traitors. they should be
put against the wall and a firing
squad brought into action without
delay"
While greatly deplorinE the tendency
OF some men in Congress TO delay leg
lslation that would aid the war, SEN
ator King does not believe that any
members OF the body have been
actually influenced by German money.
lie said he could not credit this
There 10 still much talk OF an in
vestiSation of the charges implied In
Count Won Bernstorf-s- request for
S5o,o0o that members Of Congress- re-
ccivGd part OF slush fund. 40 that
they would throw their weight against
a declaration Of war
SECRET SERVICE MEN
At WORK On CASE
Overman. OF North Carolina. chair
man Of the lobby committee, is walt
Ing for some definite charges to be
brought. The fact that the State De-
partment is not serious that Congress
should now take the matter into It's
own hands will undoubtedly have in
fuence with Democratic Senator's. II
is said that Secret Service operatives
are already at work trying to trace
connections between certain Senators
and Congrcssmcn and the corruption
fund.
Until some trails have been uncov-
credit they do e::ist--it Is not prob
able that the Senate committee will
act.
Senator Overman will visit the State
Department tomorrow and have a
conference. He, with Senator SInoot,
the acting Republican leader: Senator
Curtis, the Republican whip. and two
or three influential Democrats. held an
informal conference just after tho
disclosures were made. Senator Curtis
said to-day the matter had been left
TO the Lobby Committee.
As he has been very active in fight
ing the German propaganda in this
country, the fact that Senator king
does not think that members of Con-
/, gress have actually been corrupted Is
important. The Utah man is In close
touch with the State and Justice De-
partments. II WAS he who revealed
the fact yesterday that the Austro-
Hungarian embassy has been trying to
subsidize forcign-languagc newspapers
in the United States even while this
country was still preserving strict neu-
traIity.
KING NOT VERY STRONG
FOR PROBE ny CONGRESS
When asked to-day whether he
/ thought Il congressional investigation
of the implied charges necessary. Sen.
atcr King said:
II do not think 1t would add very
much TO the successful prosecution Of
the war or the elaboration of the pol
icics upon which we have already re-
solved. The people generally under
stand that in building their network
Of intrigue and conspiracy. Austria and
|. Germany were trying 10 influence and
dehauch any one and ever" one they
I could.
II would be glad - see a multitude
OF papers published exposing the per-
idy and treachery OF these nations.
even when we were extending friend
/ ~ hospitality to their representatives
within our borders.
$50 far as the charge is made that
,ncmbera of Congress have actually
been Influenced, 1 would be very sorry
TO believe that. do not think / can
believe it."
Senator King paid tribute to the
loyal press for its work in fgh ing the
/ systematic propaganda.
"Jn the exposes, said he. "th- press
Is one of the chief mediums. The
newspapers all through the war. with
few exceptions. have shown fine by
atty and a splendid. forward vision.
They have seen. all along. the coming
peril. They have. in most instances.
in their editorials. shown a broader
/ vision than most Senator's and Repre-.
( sentatives. Some of the editorials have
! BEEN 40 worthy ~ state papers."