Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-09-24
congressman Demand of
Representative H e f l i n
That He Prove Charges
of Slush Fund.
Member Has Hard Time
Trying to Explain-Reso
luton Submitted Requir-
ing Proof-Admits He
Has No Evidence.

Washington, Sept. 24.-Roused by
veiled attacks upon the honesty of some
of its members, the house today plunged
into heated debate Of Representative
Heflin's charges that certain represen-
tatives might have been interested in
the Bernstorff ..'slush fund"
Declaring the honor of the house has
been 'slanderously attacked" Repre-
sentative Norton. North Dakota, de-
manded an explanation of Heflin.
"If l suspected dishonesty" he de-
elared, I'D be man enough to ipves-
tigate, and If it were true, to present
it properly to the house. / would not
sneakingly insinuate.
NO SPECIFIC CHARGES.
Whatever tends to break down con :
fidence in this house breaks down our
form of government. In the past two
years. there has been an attempt by
certain interests and certain newspa-
pers to undermine and destroy the faith
of the people in their representatives
but there never has been a specific
charge against any member-only gen
eral ISLANDERS.
But now comes from a member of
sentative Heflin says he can name Is OF
IA men who inferentially took this
German gold.
I'VE may talk of pacifists and traitors
but there is no greater national crime
than for member to charge corruption
in this body or to do aught in war time
to destroy a peoples faith in this gov
ernment."
| The house here burst into applause
APOLOGY NOT ENOUGH.
IF such charge be true, no pun
| ishment is too severe for the mem
ber of this house accused. II false
even an apology from the man who
made it would not suffice to correct
this crime. If he got down to this
house on his marrow bones he could
not clear from the minds of the peo-
pie the imputation he has cast on the
! integrity of this body.
If this charge cannot be sustained
this house can not mete out to him 'too
great a punishment"
The house burst into prolonged cheer
ing as Norton. finished. Speaker Clark
pounded vigorously for order.
ATTEMPT TO EXPLAIN.
Heflin sought to explain his remarks
But half dozen accusing members
rose to their feet with pointed queries
Did you or did you not make such q
statement to the PRESS" asked one.
The press said that said IL on the
| floor" evaded Heflin.
81 said 1t in the lobby"
! The house laughed.
| Il said it in the lobby" he repeated
where there were German spies about
There are spies all around here now"
| Representative Moore. Of Pennsyl-
vania, demanded that the clerk take
down Heflin's words that there "are
German spies here now"
Il didn't mean to say that said
! Heflin. Il didn't mean to say there
are spies on the floor-there are spies
! in the galleries"
/ REMARKS STRICKEN OUT
Representative Cooper, of Wiscon.
sin. interrupted to demand that tbs
1 speaker stay within his personal privi-
leges and explain to the house merely
! IL he made the statement and II he
could prove 1t were so.
Speaker Clark ruled that Helm,
remarks about spies in the CALLER,
were not properly part of a persona
privilege speech and should be stricken
| from the record.
Il haven't said" declared Heflin
| that any member got money from
! the Bernstorff fund. ] said there hat
| (Continued on Page Two.l