The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1917-09-27
NORTON CALLS
SHOOT MOUTH
NORTH DAKOTA CONGRESSMAN
DEMANDS showdown FROM
RIBALD COLLEAGUE. Il

| washington, sept. Z6.-ArOuSed BY
,veiled attacks upon the honesty Of
some Of it's members, the house plum
ged into heated debate on Representa-
tive Heflin's charges that certain
members might have been interested
in the Won Bernstorf slush fund.
Declaring the honor of the house
had been "slanderously attacked" "
Representative Norton Of North Da-
kota, demanded an explanation from
Heflin. Whatever tends to break
down our form of government" Rep
resentative Norton said. "In the past
> two years there has been an attempt
by certain interests and certain men
to destroy the faith Of the people in
their representatives. Now comes
from one of the members of this house
specific assusation. Hefin said he
could name thirteen or fourteen mem
bers of the house who inferentially
took the German gold. We may talk
of pacifists as traitors but there is no
greater national crime than for one
; of the members to charge corruption
in this body or to attempt in war time
to destroy the peoples faith in this
government.
The house broke into applause.
IF such a charge can be true, no
punishment is too severe for the nem-
bers of the house accused. If it is
false, even an apology from the man
who made it will not suffice to amend
this crime. If this charge is not sus-
tained this house cannot give out to
him too great punishment"
Speaker Clark pounded for order.
Representative Heflin sought to ex-.
plain his remarks, but was interrupts
ed by half a dozen members with
pointed inquiries: "Did you, or do you
not, make such statement to the
press"
"The press said I made it on the
floor" he evaded. 81 said it in the
lobby" The house laughed II said it
in the lobby" he said again, where
there were German spies about. There
are German spies all around now"
Representative Moore, Of Pennsyl-
vania, demanded that the clerk take
down Hefin's words that "there were
German spies here now.'. e
| II did not mean to say that" said
Heflin, "I did not mean to say there
were spies on the floor. There are
spies in the gallery"
Representative Cooper of Wiscon-
sin, demanded that the speaker stay
within his personal privilege to ex-
plain to the house merely if he had
made the statement and if he could
prove it so."
~ have not said," replied Hef1in,
''that any member actually got money
from Bernstorff. II said there had
been a rumor about a German gamb7
ling house where pacifsts and slack
ers could win money easily"
Representative Gordon, of Ohio, de-
manded that Hef1in stick to the ques-
ton and not repeat false charges.
(! Taking another tack Heflin said he
has the right to say that certain men,
bers acted suspiciously. There was "a
chorus all over the house Of "Name
them"
| Heflin mopped his face with hand
kerchief and appealed to the chair
that the house was not treating him
fairly. Speaker Clark asked the men,
bers not to interrupt him.
Il can't prove anything, however,"
he said. The house hooted.
"I don't want publicity" The cham
| ber burst into boos.
eff I could speak to the American
people in the manner I wish to speak,
II would make disclosures" "Do it, )"
shouted several members. mo, I've
dedicated myself" he said, Ito my
country and the boys who have gone
to the trenches" There was another
chorus of boos and groans." Fellow
members let US stand together" urged
Heflin, amid laughter.
/ PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
| Regular services will be held every