The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-03-07
NATION STIRRED;
CHARGE TREASON
IN u. S. SENATE
Bitter Fight to Gust Stone as
Chairman.
Editorial Comment VitriOlic;
ASSaiIs "KaiSer'S Dozen"
BROADSIDE OF TELEGRAMS
Resolutions Attacking Filibus-
ters Come From All Sides.
Demand for Impeachment Is
Generally Voiced.
BROADSIDE OF TELEGRAMS
Resolutions Attacking Filibus.
terS Come From All Sides.
Demand for Impeachment Is
Generally Voiced.

Washington, March IA bitter
fighting against re-electing William ].
Stone to craftsmanship of the foreign
relations committee will be made by
members of his own party despite the
heretofore inviolable seniority rule
that has always prevailed in such mat
ters.
One of the most prominent Demo-
cratic senators who was one of the
leaders in the fight to pass the armed
neutrality measure, is authority for
this statement. However, he admits
the fight has as yet taken no definite
shape.
1ukewarm supporters of Senator
Stone defend him, saying that he did
his duty as chairman of the commit
tee in reporting the armed neutrality
bill in getting it out of committee
and before the senate. They say that
not until the bill was before the senate
did Stone express his personal opin-
ion and leave the bill to the mercy of
the filibustering few"
Stone Double Crossed Committees
This defense, Stones opponents said,
however. is weak and illogical" They
declare the unwritten rules of the sem
ate say the chairman of a commit
tee must do what the committee votes
him to do; that he violated the I'M
written rules when he threw up his
hands-and the bill-by asking SEN
ator Hitchcock to lead the battle for
the armed neutrality measure. Thew
say that, whatever his personal con-
vIctions. he should have gone thru
with the fight.
Some Stone opponents today ex-
pressed the theory that perhaps the
foreign relations chairman may have
been Influenced by the fact that the
president had not told him about the
zimmerman MeXico-Japan plot letter.
or taken him into the presidential
state department confidence where
other secrets were concerned
Senator Shuts Self in
Stone himself denied himself to
everyone today. Even notes sent to
him, in the seclusion of his office
saying the country would like to hear
his side of the case, failed to draw
him out. He refused absolutely to see
any. one.
Newspapers After Stones Scalp.
cleveland. Ohio, March 7.-Cleve-
land newspapers have begun a fight
to Gust Senator William J. Stone as
chairman of the foreign relations com
mittee as a preparedness measure"
The Cleveland Plaindealer today,
referring to Stone as one of the
kaiser's Dozen" says:
AS long as this senator from Mis-
souri, TeldiHS the committee chd1rTndn-
ship, Americas armOr of defense
against the aggressions of Germany
will be materially weakened. In times
like these it is highly impor-
tant that the man at the head of this
committee should be a senator single
| in devotion to his own country, of
staunch loyalty and unquestioned in
tegrity.
stone has failed. He can no longer
be trusted or respected. To leave him
at the head of this committee would
be like leaving the gate of the outer
wall open to the enemy"
Run Pictures With Benedict ArnoId's.
The Cleveland Press started the
bombardment against Stone with a
singing editorial in which Stone was
referred to as the ''kaiser's friend
In this national crisis" said the
Press, this craftsmanship is second in
| Importance to the presidency. 1t is a
terrible thing it should be occupied by
a man of the character of -Gumshoe
| Bill Stone-the kaiser's friend
Pictures of the twelve willful men
were run alongside that of Benedict
| Arnold.
Cities Treason Law.
Washington, March THE Wash
ington Times today ran a half tone of
Senator Stone in the body of an edi-
toriaI headed, IAN editorial that needs
no reading"
Just above Stones picture was the
| following:
Treason against the United States
shall consist only in levying war
against them or in adhering to their
enemies or in giving them AID and
comfort" Article III, section 3. con-
stitution of the United States.
Just below stones picture was
printed: Expert officials of the navy
! department have devised a scheme OF
program for placing on board the mer-
chant ships when they go out from
our ports. and as part of their equip
ment, two or more small boats, sub
! marine chasers, having unusual speed
capacity. The plan is to have these
boats. which shall be power boats
lowered to the surface on reaching 4
zone of danger. They are then to
hover about the merchant ships, scout
for hostile craft and attack wher
seen.''-Senator Stone in his speech
in the senate on Saturday.
Demand stones Removal.
New York. March demand 70,
the removal of Senator Stone from the
relations committee was made today
by the National Defense society in the
following telegram to Senator Martir
of Virginia, new floor leader of th'
senate:
1.-The honor of our nation as wei
as our material salvation demand thu
removal from the Craftsmanship o
the foreign relations committee OF
Senator Stone and substitution in hi
place of man who stands withou
question for the most aggressive kin,
of American patriotism.
(Signed) JOSEPH H. COLT.
chairman executive committee.
Condemn ''Wilful Men,
f Oklahoma City, Okla, March l.
Copies of resolutions adopted by bot
houses of the Oklahoma legislator
1 condeminng the filibuster by twelv
= United States senators who defeate
. the armed neutrality bill and com
!. mending Senator Owen for his pro