The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-10-07
Wisconsin Senator Gives
Precedent in Justifica-
tion Of Position.
INTENDS TO ISSUE
PUBLIC STATEMENT
Congress Adjourns After
Six Months History
Making Legislation.

Washington, Oct. 6.ln the midst OF
a days thrilling debate on alleged dis
loyalty of Senator La Toilette OF Wis
consin. the extraordinary session of
congress. which began on April and
Is generally regarded as the most mo-
! mentous In American history, was ad-
iourned sine die today,
Vehement criticism Of the Wiscon-
sin senator an dhis own defense. oc-
cupying virtually the entire day,
marked the close Of the war session.
With galleries crowded to their ca
pacity, the senate chamber was the
scene Of five hours stirring discussion
| OF Senator La Follettc's attitude. but
In the house there was little to mark
the OCCASION except submission OF a
| committee report mildly ccnsuring
Representative Hcflin or Alabama for
criticsing fellow members in connec-
| ton with Count Won Bcrnstorffs re-
quest for Berlin to furnish funds to in
| flucnce congress.
| la Toilette IN Own Defense.
The day began with a three hours
speech by Senator LII folictte In de-
| fense Of his criticisms Of war questions.
| Without mentioning his address at St.
Paul, for investigation of which ar
rangements were completed today by Il
| senate sub committee, or naming any
| OF his critics, Mr.. La Toilette read a
carefully prepared defense of his
course and declared his intention to
follow 1t IN the future.
1T Is the citizens duty to obey the
law until IL is repealed or declared
unconstitutional" declared the sen
| ator. But he has the constitutional
right to fight what he deems an OBJ
noMous law or wrongful policy in
the courts and at the ballot box
Quotes Clay and Lincoln.
The senator quoted at length from
Mexican war speeches of LINCOLN,
Clay. Webster and Sumner. In support
of his defense of the right of {. mem
ber OF congress To assail the policy of
the government and dwelt at length
upon the constitutional duty of con
gress rather than the president. to
proclaim the nations purpose In TAX
Ing mp arms.
Says Abuse Unequalted.
six members of the senate and, az
recall. about 90 members of the
house. voted against the declaration
OF war; he said ''lmnediately there
WAS let loose upon those senators and
representatives IA flood OF in,irle and
abuse from newspapers and indisidi-
ais who had been clamoring for war.
/ uneunalled, | believe, in the history OF
!, civilized society.
, Prior to the declaration of war.
. every man who had ventured to OPP
pose our entrance Into 1t has been con-
l Il f,,rI
:, even the president has by no means
;. been immune from these attacks.
o Pursued, Hc Asserts.
Since the declaration of war the
triumphant war party has pursued
those senator's and representatives
u who voted against war with malicious
falsehood and recklessly libelous at
u tacks, going 10 the extreme limit OF
$ charging them with treason against
l, their country
Senator LA Toilette declared that II
he alone had been made the victim OF
H. these attacks he would not take tho
senates valuable time for their con
sideration.
y 1T appears to be the purpose oil
m those conducting this campaign to
10 throw the country into Il state of ter
Ie fof To coerce pubic opinion, to stifle
- criticism and suppress discussion of
20 the great issues involved in this war.
,f Besides quoting ut length from the
American statesman who opposed bit
terly President Polks policy in the
,e Mexican war, the Wisconsin senate,
. gave extracts from speeches by Burke
:, FoN. Lord Chatham anu others In ths
British parliament attacking Great
= Britains war upon the American
- colonies. lie said he did it to show
- that the principle OF FREQ speech was
no new doctrine born OF the constitu
- tion of the United States.
IN He Cites PRESIDENTS.
ly In support of his assertion that con
A. gress should speak for the country IN
or declaring the purposes of war, the
senator cited precedelfts at great
length.
Senator La Toilette said that NJ
re- conviction was stronger with people
1t today than that there should be mt
ky futpre -ssarr except In case Of actua.
he sntasion anlea-. supported by refer
mJ And" he added. because there i,
(Continued ON Page Seven.)