The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-09-28
Investigation of Charges in
Connection With Won Bern
storf Fund Assured
LA TOILETTE REMAINS
SILENT UNDER ATTACK
Norton. Britten, Baer and Ma.
son Are Others Mentioned.
Alabama Man Threatens
Other Disclosures

Washington September 27.-Repre-
sentative Thomas Hefin. OF Alabama,
broke the Bernstorfr s5o,oD0 slush fund
scandal wide open in tho house OF rep
resentatives today. Ao-named FIVE leg
isiators and demanded information Of
what connection they had, II any, with
pro German activities
with his startling accusations he i'm
mediately removed all doubt that there
will be a congressional investigation.
Nothing can prevent II now.
Goaded to expose the men he accused.
he named these:
Senator La Toilette, Of wisconsfn:
Representative Fred A. Britten. of Chit
cago: Representative William F.. MAG
son. Chicago: Representative Patrick
\. Norton. Of North Dakota; Repre-
sentative John NJ Baer, of North Da-
kota-
These names were brought out by
Helm when he appeared before the
house rules conmitte, which - con-
sidrrtnx resolutions offered by Norton
and Fordney. OF Michigan. to probe the
Bernstorr fund and it's application 10
congress When word came that he
had mentioned these Eve. sentiment
tive inquiry spread like wiLdhre
throu rft the membership OF the house.
Republicans and Democrats alike Joined
In demanding that the house take up
the matter and and out once and for
all whether Helm had any grounds for
mentioning names in conn @ctfon with
his German propaganda charges.
II the rules committee reports a res
olution tomorrow II viii 60 through In
4n. Ia -nt p
ed soon. any one OF several N members Is
likely to rise TO point of highest
privilege. and force either Hetiin' a
proof or his expulsion from the house.
la Toilette In silent
OF the men named. four were IN
Washington today. Senator La Fol-
iette declined TO answer questions CON-
corning the Hetiin charges. Norton,
Brttr~u and Raer issued warm retorts-
Mason WAS IN Chicago
In an impasgioned speecn- Hsffin de-
rrsan tie3f "tffat thfs Rules COMMITTEES ask
for general investigation. 50 that he
might learnt
l. where the money came from that
produced literature supporting the
anti draft 1iii OF Representative Mason
e. Where the money came from that
produced literature supporting the
Rrttten resolution TO exempt German
abroad
g. What onEressrnen are planning to
line up with the Nun-Partisan league.
that elected Baer and was said to OPP
pose che war.
4. who was in the organization La
Toilette 10 champfontnr that VIII leave
the president without an army and
S. Why Norton insists on turrtng
the proposed slush fund irveshg alton
against him, Henin-
Mr. Norton was present at the com
utttee meeting while Hefin was max
ing hts speech. Saying he understood
several congressman wanted him ex-
PEELED because he rnentiond suspicious
members, Hefin turned to Norton and
dared him to vote for HIS expulsion.
"I'fl have something to say about you
before the Investigation committees II
II is created" Helm declared. facfn 6
Norton.
Wants Committee Elected.
Heffin then went on to demand that
committee be elected to thrash out
the whole Rernstorff slush fund story.
He said he would not go before COM
mittee appointed by Speaker Clark. bat
would insist on a committee elected
by the members OF the houses He
accused the speaker Of unfairness to-
ward him at the house session last
Monday, when he was hooted ON faflfn 9
to suhstanttate his charges that mem
bers received Germany money by
gambling.
When the meeting ended and the
committee adjourned for further RES
zion tomorrow at which Newspaper
men will testify on HeftrAs charges,
Representative Britten went to the
committee room TO investigate charges
against him. He was informed he could
not see the record until Mr.. Heffn had
made corrections in II.
"T shall insist on the rules commit
tee resolution calling for n complete
investigation" said Britten. with a
view to severely censuring Hefiin be-
fore the house. He declared that his
slurring remarks are based entirely on
personal opinion and are without one
scintiIla of proof.
Mr.. Britten declared his record on
war measures superior to that of Hef-
lin.
"Hefiin has done more than any one
man in congress to destroy the eff
cheney OF the army and navy he de-
clared During his long service in
the house he had been confirmed paci-
fist of the lowest order"
Representative Baer resented the IN
situation of Mr.. Helm and pointed to
the resolutions adopted by the Nom
Partisan league In the conference last
week.
Here is our policy he said. quot
ing the resolutions. 1--WE Join our al
lies In this struggle and. to the end
that Justice. liberty, equality and
democracy, political and Industrial
shall be the heritage of all mankind
we pledge our lives. our fortunes and
our sacred honor to our country and
our flag, in this. our war
That does not look ss IL Germany
were behind the Non-Partisan league,
does It ~ baer asked
Representative Norton denounced
Hefin. repeating his declaration that
Hefiin should either make his charges
or be expelled from the house.
Members were thoroughly aroused by