New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1917-10-06

QUOTES P0LK'S POLICY
Says People of This Country Must Be
Silent While Government Are Doing
Things Affecting Lives and Happi
ness of Sovereigns.
Washington, Oct. 6.-Senator La
Toilette, whose expulsion from the
senate for dis1oyalty has been urged
In various petitions, replied to critics
of his course in the war today in
long and carefully prepared speech.
He asserted that the war party" be-
sides carrying on a campaign of "libel
and character assassination" against
members of congress who voted ga1nst
the war, was attempting to suppress
discussion Of war issues and intimi-
date the people themselves by invad-
ing their homes and unlawfully throw
ing them Unto jail.
''Six members of the senate, and as
I recall, about 50 members of the
of war" he said. "Immeditely there
was let loose upon those senator's and
representatives flood of invective
and abuse from newspapers and indi-
viduals who had been clamoring for
war. unequalled, believe, in the his
tory of civilized society.
Prior to the declaration for war,
every man who had ventured to OPP
pose our entrance into 1t had been
condemned as a coward or worse, and
even the president had by no means
been immune from these attacks.
Since the declaration Of war the tri-
umphant war party has pursued those
senators and representatives, who
voted against war. with malicious
9falsehoods and recklessly Hbelous at
tacks, going to the extreme limit of
charging them with treason against
their country.
ss"It Is not claimed that the senator's
who opposed the declaration of war
since that time acted with any con-
,certed purpose either regarding war
measures or any others. They have
voted according to their individual
opinions, have often been opposed to
each other on bills. and according to
my recollection, have never all voted
together since that time on any single
proposition upon which the senate
had been divided"
Senator LaFollette declared that 1t
he alone had been made the victim
of these attacks he would not take tn .
senate's valuable time for their con-
sideration.
but, SIR he continued. ut Is not
alone the members of congress that
TO- g. Nt~1r - q
sought to intimidate. The mandate
has gone forth to the sovereign people
of this country that they must be
silent while those things are being
done by their government which most
vitality concern their well-being, their
happiness and their lives. Today and
for weeks past honest and law abid-
ing citizens OF this country are being
! terrorized and outraged in their
rights by those sworn to uphold the
laws and protect the rights of the
!. people. I have in my possession nu-
merous affidavits establishing the fact
that people are being unlawfully ar
rested, thrown into Jail, held in
communicate for days. only to be
eventually discharged without ever
having been taken into court, because
they have committed no crime. Prt-
vate residences are being invaded
loyal citizens of undoubted integrity
= and probably arrested, cross-examined
and the most sacred constitutional,
rights guaranteed to every American
citizen are being continually violated
TT appears to be the purpose OF
those conducting this campaign tt
throw the country into a state of ter
ror to coerce public opinion, to stife
criticism, and suppress discussion o.
y the great issues involved in this war.
Besides quoting at length from thu
American statesmen who opposed bit
terly President Folks policy in tn,
Mexican war, the Wisconsin senator
gave extracts from speeches by Burke
Fox, Lord, Chatham and others in thu
b British parliament attacking Grea
Britain's war upon the American col
3 onies. He said he did 1t to show tina
the principle of free speech was nj
new doctrir born Of the constitution
of the Uni States.
.'It wol be bad enough if tn
constitution clothed the president witt
any such power" he said, "but t.
exercise such power without consti
\ tutional authority cannot long be tol
Grated If even the forms of free gov
Vi eminent are to remain. We know tina
! the people would resist, and if neces
sary, resist with arms in their hands
any scheme to clothe the presiden
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