Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-09-28
CONGRESS WILL Be SEARCHED FOR
TRACES OF BERNST0RFF INFLUENCE
La Toilette, Britton, Baer,
Mason, Norton, Singled
Out by Heflin.
ALBANIAN AFTER SHOWDOWN
Willing to Stand Trial for
Expulsion if Investigation
Proves Him Wrong.

WASHINGTON. Sept. 27.-Inquiry
by a house committee into whether
German money has been used to in
fluence congress probably will be ap-
proved in 4 resolution sponsored by
the rules committee and supported by
the Democratic leaders.
Demand for an exhaustive inquiry
overwhelmed the house leaders from
both sides today, while the rules COM
mittee in executive session was con-
sidering whether to report favorably
one OF the several resolutions intro
duced since Secretary Lansing made
public Count con Bernstorffs message
to Berlin asking authority to spend
$4,000 influencing congress las it has
before"
IcfIin Urges Investigation.
In speech to the rules committee.
Representative Heflin of Alabama,
whose declaration on the floor OF the
house that he could name members
who acted suspiciously, is largely re-
sponsibl efor the agitation, urged that
the question of whether German
money had been used be investigated
first, and that his statement be looked
into incidentally. All efforts of COM
mitteemen to get Mr.. Hefin to name
some of the men he had in mind
failed, but he reiterated his willing
ness TO name them If a committee
were appointed by the Democratic
caucus.
Mr.. He film added zest to his remarks
by bringing in the names of Senator
Ia Toilette and Representatives Brit
ton and Mason of Illinois and Rep
resentative Raer of North Dakota, in
nnnnapfinn with Cartain laUtglat inn
and propaganda which he declared he
did not consider loyal and by indica-
ting to Representative Norton that he
wanted to question" him later. He
did not say that any of these men
were included In his list OF thirteen
or fourteen"
Docs Not Fear Expulsion.
do not be sidetracked by the sug-
gestion of Mr.. Norton about investiSa-
ting" he told the committee. 81 know
some would like to see me expelled.
| Will give Mr.. Norton opportunity II
that motion Is made to vote on "A roll
call for my expulsion. We must not
lose sight of the Won Bernstorff 'slush
, fund. / want an opportunity TO ask
some gentlemen about this Mason
bill Go repeal the selectivc draft law>.
and | want to ask some of them about
how many of them are now in n quiet
understanding to fight the selectvc
draft bill in the next campaign.
want TO know how many of them have
written letters that they favor the
Britton bill, which would exempt Ger
mans from fighting the battles of our
country, thereby crippling the United
States government
while we are investigating let us
see who furnished all the postage
stamps for all the correspondence
about excmpting German boys from
tie navy
Mr.. Heflin insisted that inquiry was
advisable for the purpose of ascertain
| ing how man stood on the war al
home as we'll as in Washington. In
this connection he mentioned Rep
resertative Baer, who soon after his
election TO congress as representa-
tive of a nonpartisan league. intro
duced n resolution asking for the gov
ernment's peace terms
Demands Showdown.
Something is NJ work 10 give i'm
petus to this La Toilette campaign
that has started. We might as well
| call n spade a spade. / am going TO
propound some questions to some
members about this matter. | want
| to know and the country wants to
know whether the government is be-
ing supported all over the country by
those in positions of trust, Mr.. Heflin
said.
Representative Doolittle of Kansas,
whose inquiry resolution slightly
amended probably will he adopted,
told the rules committee the state de-
partment was not opposed to an In
vestigat!on,