New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-06
Wisconsin Member Will
Answer Disloyalty Charges
\ in War Session Finale
Inquiry Hinges
On St. Paul Speech
Investigating Committee
VIII Report in December;
Stone Is Cleared

WASHINGTON, Oct. 6.-Fivs hours
discussion iu the Senate tomorrow Of
dit.oys,ty charges against Senator La
Toilette will furnish q dramatic finale
fcr the war session Of Congress. The
arrangements were made to-day after
s Senate COMMITTEES had been directed
70 investigate the Wisconsin members
recent speech before the Non-Partissn
Lssgrs O.. 81. Paul.
With sdjournment sine die set for s
r r.. the last day Of the session prom
isss 70 be devoted almost exclusively to
this sra'e. The last Of the important
pieces @ legislation we're sent TO the
White House to-day.
At10 o'clock tomorrow, under an In
formal agreement, Senator La Toilette
VIII begin a three-hour speech in de
fence Of bis public uttsrances and in
answer 20 his critics. The two hours
remaining before adjournment will be
taken for replies by Senator Kellogg.
o. Minnesota. and possibly others.
No Inquiry for Stone
Until the agreement was reached sd-
josrnment pl-ns we're suspended, but
leaders tonight believed there would
be- no hitch iu to-morrow's programme.
In executive session late to-day the
Senate adopted without debate reso-
luton empowering privileges and
elections subcommittee TO investigate
the Ia Toilette speech az St. Paul. The
-quiry is limited solely 10 the accu-
-scy Of the reported speech and 10
sutstantiation Of Senator la Follette's
tstements Of fact therein. The report
Ei.. be made when Congress cOnvenes
% December.
A report from the committee against
1vestigation Of like disloyslty rehec-
.ous upon Senator Stone, OF Missouri,
chairman of the Senate Foreign Re
ations Committee. also was similarly
adopted. The report declared that com
munications fled imputing disloyalty
10 the Missouri Senator were not suf-
ac.ent basis for an inquiry.
Upon receipt Of an accurate copy
promised to-day by Senator La Toilette
of his ST. Paul speech. the investigat-
ing committee Of five members, headed
by Senator POmerene, plans TO begin
-s work next week.
Inquiry Opposed by King
The privileges and elections commit
tee. considering various petitions re-
Gently fled with the Senate, decided TO
order investigation and submitted It's
deeicion 20 the Senate. The commit
tees action is said 70 have been unani-
nous. although Senator King opposed
en- inquiry as superfuous on the ground
that there was nothing seditious or TO
warrant expulsion in the speech, which
he deplored The inquiry into the
speech promises 10 be brief and prob
ably without necessity for the sub
committees going 10 st. Paul.
Arrangements were made o'day for
beginning the first phase Of the inquiry
into the accuracy Of the copy Of 'he ST..
Paul speech. Senator POmerene wrote
Senator La Toilette as follows:
BY direction Of the Committee on
Privileges and Elections, / hand you
herewith q copy Of a speech purporting
10 have been made by you IN st. Paul
under the auspices of the Non-Partisan
League on September 20, 1911
"l am also requested to ask you
whether this is q correct copy, and II
II is not a correct copy will you kindly
state wherein IL is not correct and give
US q correct statement thereof? II you
feel free 70 comply with this request
az your earliest convenience, II Will be
greatly appreciated by the committee"
Reply From La Toilette
Two hours later Senator La Toilette
replied:
"l have the honor to acknowledge re
CENT Of vour communication as chair
man Of the Committee on Privileges
and Elections, transmitting purported
COPY Of speech delivered by me at st.
Paul on September 20 upon the invita-
ton o. the Non-Partisan League.
The matter which you inclose is not
a correct report Of the speech, but /
win not az this time undertake 10 state
wherein it IS not correct. ] will, how
ever. do 30 Just as soon as ! can secure
transcript Of the speech which is ac-
curate
AT least two copies addressed 20 me
have been transmitted from St. Paul
" tAiIt kilt lahL MCths htlNiltA VI "+'-N.'
has been received. ! am wiring for
copies again to-day.
Assuring you and through you the
committee that | will comply with your
request at the earliest possible date, /
am sincerely yours"
Inquiry NeIt Tuesday
Senator Pomerene said tonight he
expected the speech would be received
by Tuesday, when the Subcommittee
would be ready 10 proceed with the sec
ond phase Of the inquiry-the accuracy
Of Mr. la Follette's statements.
The committee is said 10 have taken
the position that some sort Of official
action as TO the 81. Paul speech was es-
sential In view OF the widespread criti-
elsm 10 aroused.
Senator Fall made the motion in com
mittee for its investigation. Senator
keed, OF Missouri, who believes that
neither the speech nor other statements
nor actions OF Senator La Toilette war
rant drastic action, proposed the for
nal resolution empowering the sub
committee TO proceed take sworn tes-
umony and incur any necessary ex-
penseg.