Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-10-16
LA TOILETTE |NT|MATEs
He WILL STAND ON RIGHTS
Insists That He Be Allowed to Have
Counsel, Cross-Examinc Witnesses
and Inspect Documents.
SUBCOMMITTEE MEETS TO-DAY
Wants Full Authority Authorized in
Procedure So That He Can BE Held
to Strict Accountability il Guilty,
and Acquitted IL Not Guilty.

Procedure So That lie Can BE Held
to Strict Accountability IL Guilty,
and Acquitted IL Not Guilty.
WASHINGTON, October Ex-senator
Robert Marion La Toilette. of Wis
consin. Will stand upon his rights
when he appears tomorrow before the
subcommittee which will determine the
accuracy Of alleged seditious statements
liz his st. Paul speech. In letter
to-day to Senator Pomerene. chairman
OF the Committee on Privileges and
Electione, and head of the suhcnm-
m!ttee. Mr.. La Toilette insisted that he
be allowed to have counsel. CROSS
examine witnesses and inspect docu-
mcnts
THIS is taken TO mean that he may
demand the appearance Of former Sec
rotary OF state Bryan. Mr. Bryan -
said to have questioned the La Fol-
lette statement at st. Paul that the
Cabinet officer asked the President to
postpone the Lustanias sailing because
she carried munitions. Mr. La Fol-
lctte may also demand inspection OF
secret State Department documents
dealing with the Lusitania.
He asked the committee In letter
to-day exactly and specifically" what
statements in the st. Paul speech would
be investigated. Senator Pomerene re-
piled that while the subcommittee
itself did not challenge the accuracy
OF any statement each member would
feel at liberty to direct attention to
such portions OF the address may
seem TO him open to question"
GRAyEST CHARGE POSSIBLE
AGAINST PUBLIC SERVANT
The Wisconsin Senator said in his
long letter:
The public has been led 70 believe
that the action Of your committee is
the initial step In n proceeding in
volvinE the title TO my seat In the
United States Senate and that the
investigation you are making is 70,
the purpose Of determining the validity
OF the charge of disloyal.y made
against me-the gravest charge that
can be made against a public servant
IL this Is not the purpose Of your In
NcstiEation. then IL seems 10 me both
the public and myself are entitled TO
know"
Referring to Senator Pomerene's
statement in "A letter Of October II that
the subcommittee would afford Mr. La
Toilette an opportunity 10 be heard
various statements in the speech the
Wisconsin man says tina, is mos, ex-
traordinary and wholly unprecedented"
and amounts to nothing less than re-
uuesting me TO support tho accuracy
OF various statcmc nts-which ones are
not indicated by you--in advance D!
any Information from your committee
that they arc the ones challenged: II
SO. by whom they arc challenged. or in
what manner"
Mr.. La Toilette SAYS the subcomnit-
tee in refusing TO investigate his right
10 make the speech or the motive Of
those attacking him reversed the usual
rule OF Investigations He says gross
" false statements" were published.
III the charge against me is OF SUI
fcicnt Importance TO be investigated"
said ne. at Is Of sufficient Importance to
be Investigated thoroughly and accord
ing to procedure which experience has
shown is necessary to fairness and the
establishment OF the truth"
INSISTS OS RIGHT
TO CROSS-EXAMINE
SO far as cross-cxamination OF wit
ncsses is concerned. he asserts:
Il insist upon my right to meet face
10 face and cross-cvamine any person
who challenges the accuracy OF any
statement in the speech"
Further down he says that upon the
granting Of this right TO examine wit
nesses and documents II will there
upon present verified records and the
testimony OF witnesses under oath to
support such controvertcd statements.
The Senator makes 1t quite plain
that he Will not present any proof un-
less evidence has been brought t.
show the statements inaccurate
Then and not before" says he, will
he offered such evidence AS deem
necessary to meet the proof, il any is
produced" He also says he expects To
have the advice of counsel lin every
step OF proceeding" as well as the
compulsory process to secure the at
tendance OF witnesses and the produc-
ton OF records and documents"
He insists that full authority should
he secured by the committee in its pro-
cedure In order to ascertain the truth
ito the end that I be held to strict ac
countability IL be held guilty of any
wrong doing, and acquit me il am not
guilty"
Mr. Pomerene's letter to Mr. La Fol-
lette says the subcommittee members
have made no charge against YOU.
Their duty az they conceive it IS to
ascertain first. the accuracy of the
transcript OF the speech submitted to
the Senate, and secondly, the accuracy
OF the statements herein contained for
the purpose Of enabling the full COM
mfttee to determine whether or not
charges shall be later preferred"
the transcripts sent by the Mime
sofa commission and Mr.. La Toilette
have only minor and not material diff
ferences, says the letter. therefore. the
present course is to determine the ac-
curacy of the statements therein.
tlHnnnIlH