Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-10-16
Ia toilette DEMANDS
NAME OF HIS ACCUSER
Insists on Right to Cross Examine
Those Who Challenge
Statements.

Wn6n the senate committee lnVeSll-
eating Senator La Follette's much-dis-
cussed st. Paul speech began its first
hearing today Senator La Toilette pre-
sented a formal demand that the COM
mittee submit a formal copy OF the
charges against him and that he be
permitted to summon and cross-exam-
inc witnesses. This delayed the start
Of the proceedings, as the committee
went into executive session to consider
the demand.
| Senator La Toilette presented his de-
mand in letter which declared he be-
| l1eved every statement in his St. Paul
speech was correct. The committee has
said it does not question the accuracy
| of his speech and Senator La Toilette
/ demands to know who does
Demands Made in Letter.
II appear here to submit to you in
the form OF a letter all the statements
deem it necessary to make at this
time" said Senator La Toilette as he
presented the communication. and left
the room.
You say in your letter." wrote Sem
ator La Toilette, that the question,
and the only question you are now
considering. since 1 have furnished you
with a copy Of the speech. is the ac-
curacy OF the statements contained IN
The speech contains scores of state
ments relating to variety of subjects.
You say that the committee has chal-
ienged the accuracy of no assertion in
the speech. Then must be entitled to
be advised who has challenged the ac-
curacy Of any statement in the speech
before another step Is taken in this
proceeding.
10
commission of public safety upon
which you assert you are acting does
not challenge the accuracy of any
statement made in the speech. If any
statement has been so challenged by
any one. l now request you to advise
me by whom 1t has been challenged and
upon what evidence.
III there is any truth in the news
paper report that your committee ex-
poets to accept mere statements of in
dividuals as basis for any report Of
the committee or for any action by
you, l protest against such ex-parte
proceeding or any other ex-parte
proceeding in this investigation. If,
however, in spite of my protest you de-
termine to accept such statements, I
demand that those statements be sub
mitted to me or that 1 be given an OPP
portunity at suitable time and place
to examine them and have full op-
portunity to file statements in reply, if
desire so to do.
Would Meet Challengers.
But I assert that such a course on
the part Of the subcommittee is in yto-
lation of the welI-established right ac-
corded to every man whose words or
acts are the subject of investigation by
any body or tribunal, and I insist upon
my right to meet face to face and ques-
ton any witness that may be called to
challenge the correctness of any state
ments made by me. and thereafter and
not before to produce in my own defense
such witnesses and evidence as I deem
necessary or proper to controvert all
such adverse evidence as may have been
oqered
Il repeat what have already said in
this and previous letters addressed to
your committee. that I am most anxi-
Gus and DESTROYS that the investigation
be made thorough and complete to the
end that 1t shall do justice to all par
Elephants and shall constitute an hon
orable precedent whenever SO grave a
matter as the proposed expulsion Of one
Of Its members shall come before the