The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-01-08
Representative Kahn Begins
Fight For Congressional
Probe of Border Conditions
ASSERTS EVEN DUMDUM
BULLETS ARE SENT m
Californian, Ranking Member
OF Military Affairs Commits
tee. Makes Sensational
Charges and Promises Proof

Washington, Jan. Charges that
American officials on the border are
involved in the smuggling of arms
and ammunition into Mexico were
made tonight by Representative Ju-
fus Kahn, of California, ranking Rc--
publican member of the House MILL
tary Affairs Committee, as the Begin
ming of fight for a congressional in-
vestigation of border conditions
In a sensational statement, Repre-
sentative Kahn declared that Amerf-
can manufacturers are making am
munition-even dumdum bullets--for
Mexican use. and that American
agents are assisting in getting it into
Mexico, despite the embargo imposed
by President Wilson. AS result Of
the refusal of the Department OF
Justice to furnish information as to
border conditions, asked for in a reso-
luton OF Representative Kahn, infor-
mally transmitted to the department
by the House Judiciary COMMITTEES.
the California Representative tonight
declared that he would wage an open
war in the House to secure an inves-
tigation by a congressional commits
tee.
Representative Kahn suAtie tour
OF the border recently. and he AS
serted that his statement tonight was
pdscu On PROOF corrected on tina
ground. Representative Kahn said:
Death in horrir form from Ameri-
can made bullets may be the reward
of patriotism for thousands OF young
Americans who enter the military
service of the United States unless
some effort 10 made to stop the ahip-
ment into Mexico OF dumdum bull.
lets manufactured by American con-
Germs. These concerns include a0me
Of tho leading munitions manu4hn
.turers Of the United S&atess-
in my possession samples OF the ana
munition now in use by CarranxiatA4
Villistas. Legalistas and all the other
istas' who have been making our ms
ternational boundary line a shambla
and Northern Mexico hot-bed Of an
archy for the past six years. Thes.s
cartridges bear the imprints Of such
firms as the Remington Arms Com
pany. the Union Metallic Cartridges
Company, the Winchester Repeating
Arms Company and the United States
Cartridge Company, all American con-
Germs. Who sent these cartridges into
Mexico 1 do not say, but know that
they were there. and that they were
manufactured In this country. Many
OF them are dumdum bullets, with the
steel jacket of the bullet extending
only half way to the soft. lead noses.
They are prohibited in all civilized
warfare. But | secured them directly
from the ammunition supplies Of Mex
leo south of the border. 1t is abs0.
lutely true, to my mind, that the con.
duct OF the Federal agents along the
border. agents of the Department Of
Justice and Of the Treasury Departs
ment, is supinely Indifferent to the
need for the restoration of peace cOn~
d!tions That is putting it -mildly-lt
is perfectly evident to me that there
is connivance between some agents of
this government and the gun-runnera 81
Repeatedly national guard officers
have brought to the attention of civil
authorities on the border instances OF
the most fragrant character of trans
portation of arms and ammunition
to the active bellgerents in Mexicos
Sleepy-eyed official indifference has
greeted these reports.
The charges against Juan r. Burns,
arrested In New York in connection
with munitions shipments. are an In
stance Of the sort Of thing that has
been going on for years on the bors
equally guilty have escaped. We ara,
sowing the wind that will bring
whirlwind harvest, and Congrean
should step in and ascertain what II
going on.
Il propose to press my resolution
now before the Rules Committee pros
viding for the appointment Of . spec
cial investigation committee to pro6G
border conditions. The reluctance ot
the executive departments to furnlsh
Congress with necessary information
as to border affairs, 1t seems to me.
demonstrates clearly the need for =