The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-10-17
LA TOILETTE ASKS
BILL OF PARTICULARS
Wants Statement OF Matters Accur-
acy of Which Senate Committee
Desires to Inquire Into.

~ShtS ~ AAHuhC lhto-
Washington, Oct. 16.--Senator La
Toilette demanded today OF the sub
whom and upon what ground his
statements have been challenged. This
leads to the supposition tonight that
he wishes to cross examine William
j. Bryan and perhaps even higher
officials of the present aAninistra-
ton.
Mr.. Bryan, so Mr.. La Toilette
claims, told President Wilson the
Lusitania must not sail because she
carried munitions. This is one of the
statements the accuracy of which the
subcommittee wishes to test.
Senator la Toilette took the COM
mittee completely by surprise today.
After ten minutes delay. he appeared
to the delight and interest of large
crowd. chiefly women. He was smil-
ing and bowling and apparently in
high fettle, Dropping letter upon
the table, he said, with great suavity
to the committee:
81 submit here letter which con-
tains all that ! deem 1t proper or
necessary to present at this time. 1
present 1t. and I say good morning
to the committee"
with that he walked out of the
room, leaving the thunderstruck
Senator Pemerene. Walsh and Dillins-
ham seated at the table. They order
ed the letter read, and the clerk be-
gan. But he had not proceeded far
when a woman in a blue velvet hat
with pink flowers and wearing an
amber necklace said in a vexed fash
ion:
Louder please, so we can hear"
After the letter was read, the COM
mittee went into executive session.
An hour and half later the COM
mittee adjourned. Senator Pomerene
said:
"S,nce Senator La Toilette has not
furnished the Information we will
have to seek 1t elsewhere. There are
no arrangements now for any furth-
err meeting"
1t is understood that the subcom-
mittee will ask Mr.. Bryan and posi-
bly, the President about the Lusitania
remark.
Ia Toilette Asks Details.
In his communication. Mr.. La Fol-
lette wrote:
Common courtesy and a recogni-
ton OF the rules universally applied
In this country, in the interest OF fair
ness. to all Investigations. OF this
ness and candor, require that should
be furnished with statement of those
matters the accuracy OF which the
committee desires to inquire into.
You say that the committee has
challenged the accuracy of no asser-
ton In the speech. Then I must be
entitled to be advised who has chal-
lenged the accuracy OF any statement
In the speech before another step Is
taken in this proceeding. The reso-
luton of the Minnesota commission
on public safety upon which you as
sert you are acting. does not chai-
lenge the accuracy of any statement
made In the speech. II any statement
has been so challenged by any one.
1 now request you to advise me by
whom It has been challenged and
upon what evidence,
Senator La Toilette asked that the
reply TO the question from the audi
ence concerning the Lusitania should
be Thoroughly investigated and the
accuracy of the statement tested by
the records and by unimpeachzcSe
testimony both of which j ank to ,prd-
auce before your committee.
He said he had done all possible
70 aid the inquiry and was ready TO
back UP his statement II they were
pointed out. He said:
Every senator and every man Ia
entitled to have the statements made
nv him accepted an accurate at least
until some one appears and questions
their accuracy. To deny that right
TO any man IL an insult To deny 1t
to a senator is an insult to the indivt-
dual and to the high offas he oc-
cupies."