The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1917-09-25
HELM CHARGES
STIR IRE Of HOUSE
Wild Scenes as ACCuSer De-
tends Himself.
GREETED WITH CATCALLS
Demand is Made on Albanian to
Name the Persons He Suspects of
Getting German Gold.

Washington. Sept. 25.-Scenes OF
wild excitement broke out i'll the
house when, i'll response to a demand
from Representative Norton, of North
Dakota. Representative Hetlin. OF Ala
bama, arose to explain an interview
he had given to a newspaper charging
that members of the house were in
the employ OF the German govern
ment
Representative Hefin was hooted
and boocd and frequently interrupted
by hostile questions as he spoke.
There are spies every day in the
galleries." declared Hetlin amid cat
calls.
Il have in mind members of this
house who have not been loyal" shout
ed Hef1in. amid boots from the Repuh
lican side of the chamber.
who are they? Name them" mem
bers on both sides were now demand
ing.
81 don't have to name them. will
not yield" Tetorted Hef1in.
"There was rumor of a gambling
place in this city" persisted Hefin
run by a German where paGf fists and
slackers and members of this house
loafed around and -"
Il protest. the gentleman is out OF
order" shouted Representative Cor
don of Ohio. Democrat.
eff an investigation is ordered y
said Hefin. III name these member:
who are disloyal."
Yea" screamed members in de
rision.
81 can't prove what I said"
"Oh. no." yelled the floor.
81 don't court publicity" said Hef
lin.
ooh. my no. Oh. no. no, no, no,
screamed his hearers. while Speaker
Clark SOUGHT vainIy to restore order
Explaining his published interviews
Hefin said he had been talking OF
woman spies and male spies, when he
was interrupted by Representative
Cooper, Of Wisconsin. one of the lead
ing pacif1st members. on a point of
order
Cooper read from Jefferson's Man.
ual to support his statement that the
Alabama congressman had no right
to impugn the motives Of members
without naming them.
81 did say" said Hefin. that there
was rumOr that there was a gamb,
ing place here where slackers and
pacifists and members played and
where those who were proGerman
could win easily"
Name them" yelled scores of
members.
81 dedicate myself on the altar OIL
nv country screamed Helm. M NJ!
members hooted. 'T'll stand any test |
l have no proofs. But you can't re.
move my impressions"
Representative Fordney, of Mich. !
gan and others charged that Helms
words as given on the floor and as
they appeared in the record We're not |!
the same
"They are changed only In phrase.
o1ogv." cried Hefin amid storm of
jeers.
"The stenographers had not includ. I
ed the applause in the galleries. OF !
which there was much" added Hef1in !
while his hearers rocked with laugh. |
ter.
IF $4,000 can buy congress-" said
Representative Fordney, God help |
this nation. Let us have an investiga. |
ton and let us have the names OF !
those member suspects
At this point Representative Ford. /
ney introduced resolution calling !
for an investigation.
Representative Schley Howard, OF I
Georgia. who had been confronted by
Mr.. Norton in similar fashion, for an |
interview attributed to him along the
lines of the Hefin interview, denied
ever having said such thing.
He was loudly applauded at the con !
c,usion of his remarks. The Ford.
ney resolution called for a special
committee Of seven members to con
duct the investigation, Fordney, Re
publican demanded the previous
question.
The Fordney resolution was finally
referred by. Speaker Clark to the
rules committee. with the hope eX
pressed by him that it would bring out
a resolution which would call for ar
investigation of all the circumstances
Of the Heflin statements and the
statement by BernstOrff to his govern
ment that he needed $50, 900 to use
"as on former occasions" in infuenc
ing congress.