New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-18
Senator Said to Have Let
ters from Commoner Urg-
ing Vote Against War
Hearing in November
Committee on Procedure Ad-
mits 1t Has Made Mis-
take in Tactics
fs,an Correspondence

WASHINGTON. Oct H. Senator La
Follettcs highly self-suilicient air
toward the committee considering his
expulsion from the Senate is said on
the best Of authority to be based on his
confidence as to what former Secretary
Of state Bryan will swear TO if he is
called
The former Secretary has been
counted on by the investigating COM
mittec as one of the chief witnesses TO
disprove Senator La Follette's state
mcnt that President Wilson was
warned by the State Department four
days before the Lusitania sailed that
She was munitions laden Recently he
gave an interview indicating he would
deny La Follette's contention.
However. La Toilette is said to have
obtained number Of letters which
Bryan wrote to Senators and Repre-
scntatives when he was urging them to
vote against war With these as cx-
hbits. La Toilette is confident that If
Bryan tostifcs against him he can give
the ex-Sccretary one of the most un-
comfortable half hours cross-cX-
amincd witness ever underwent.
Lusitania a Belligerent
Il is declared that not only do the
letters urge strongly that the United
States had merely "A technical reason
for going to war the chief charge
against La Toilette but that they go
to extremes in declaring the Lusitania
20 have been a belligcrent vessel not
entitled 90 clearance papers.
Committee hearings. halted yoster-
day by la Follette's abrupt refusal to
continue unless the committee revised
its procedure rules TO suit him. viii
open again November 26, the Monday
before Congress reassombles. Chair
man Pomcrcne made the announce
mcnt to-day He said members had
been compelled TO 90 into their states
60 aid the Liberty Loan and to oil
other engagements.
However. it is reported that the
committee feels 10 has made a mis-
take dealing In the technical man
ncr 10 has followed ever since the
case opened Admittedly, La Toilette
caught the committee On situation
yesterday where 10 had either 20 go
back on previous declarations of pur-
pose. grant him just the opportunity
he wanted 90 further anti-War propa-
ganda or adjourn. IL did the latter.
When the committee rcconyenes
members plan vigorous programme
Of discussing La Follette's general fit
ness for the Senate. They viii confine
themselves 20 no one specific charge.
In this connection members read with
interest The Tribune editorial Of to-
day pointing out the Serate's plenary
powers over its own members
La Toilette Very Busy
Senator La Toilette i undetermined
10 90 on a speaking tour dur
ing recess. Most members have gone
home TO aid the Liberty Loan cam
paign.
If Senator La Toilette makes trip
10 viii be for an entirely different pur-
pose. He Said to-day, however, he
would be so busy preparing the cTpul-
sion case which may be brought against
him that he would not be able 90 leave
the. city for several weeks. After that
De has invitations from all the larger
cities o. the country.
la Toilette is well pleased AT the
highly technical prosecution which so
far the committee has followed. lie
himself has been regarded for years
as the master parliamentarian and
technician Of the Senate, although
when the rules are against him he
roundly denounces them as undemo-
cratic.