Evening star., 1917-09-25
ANXIOUS TOPROBE
THE KEFL|N| CHARGE
Element in House Resents
Statement That Members
Acted Suspicious|y.
HAS DONE HARM, THEY SAY

There is a considerable element of the
House of Representatives which will not
permit the rules committee to bury the
resolutions to inquire into the recent
statement by Representative Hefin of
Alabama that thirteen or fourteen mem
bers of Congress "had acted suspicious
ly"; that is, they will not permit the
resolutions to be pigeon holed without a
protest.
1t was current gossip in the House
of Representation today that admins
tration leaders had started to hush up
the demand for an inquiry, following
the turbulent scenes of yesterday.
They will never be able to hush this
thing up with my consent" said a
prominent northwestern member of the
House. THE Hef1in charges have done
an irreparable harm to the entire House
of Representatives Newspapers head
he thinks he can make these aspersions
on the governing body of the country
and not be brought to stand to prove
them he is mistaken.
Il can see that 1t would be to the
advantage of certain administration
politicians to let the charges stand: Sc
that there can be this much discredit
cast upon all members who have not
agreed with the President in every
small detail"
Denied Unanimous Consent.
Effort of Representative Dent yes
terday to obtain unanimous consent
for Mr.. Heflin to explain his position
in his own way was blocked by a
81 nhi ~,
made his explanation amid a flood of
Interruptions. ranging from groaps to
parliamentary objections. complaining
to the last that he was denied a full
hearing
In brief. Mr.. Hefiin's statement was
that he did not know a single member OF
the House who ever had received German
money in any way. and that he did not
charge that any of them had received 1t.
He merely suspected some, because of
their actions, he said If the House
should decide to investigate his charges,
he would be glad to name the suspects.
he added.
81 have in mind the names OF the men
named them you probably would strike
out my words.
Promises to Give Names.
Il haven't said that any member got
any money from the Won Bernstorff
fund. l haven't said that any place, on
this floor or elsewhere. What l did
say was that there were rumors that
there was a gambling house in Wash
ington. run by a German. where paci-
fsts and slackers and others in sym
pathy with the German cause won
easily
"If the House decides to name an in
vestigating committee and asks me TO
name the men that I think have not
been loyal and have not been and are
not now standing by the commander
in-chief, I'll name them.
IT can't prove anything The in
trigues of the German government can
not be found out easily. but tree is
known by it's fruit"
Demands that Mr.. Hefiin name the
men" and cries Of who are they?''
frequently interrupted him. When he
declared that he was seeking only to
do his patriotic duty and not seeking
publicity. shouts of mo Oh, no!r'
came from many parts of the chamber.
Once the House agreed. on the motion
of Representative Little of Kansas that
1t would permit Mr.. Heflin to proceed
in his own way for ten minutes II he
would name the men he suspected. as
requested by Mr.. Jacoway of Arkansas,
but Mr.. Hefiin declined the offer.
One member. a democrat, applauded
as Mr. Hefln. with strong denuncia-
tion Of members who had refused to
permit him to tell his story '9n his
own way" closed his remarks