New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-12-04
Defence Society
Asks Expulsion
Of La Toilette
Brief Charging Disloyalty
Filed With the Senate In
vestigating Committee

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3.-"Robert H.
La Toilette. for the time being a Sena-
tor Of the United States from IRE State
of Wisconsin. il accused by Us Of giving
aid and comfort to the public enemy
bv disloyal utterances. made and circu-
lated outside the Senate, notably those
made in his St. Paul speech IN sep
.omber. 1917" SO opens brief pre-
scented to-day by the American Defence
Society TO the Senate committee IL
vestigating the speech in question
I'VE therefore ask the expulsion OF
Robert II. La Toilette from he Sec
ate" concludes the brief.
The brief is signed BY Henry Wy
mans Jessup, Of counsel for the society,"
Sc Liberty Street, New YORK.; Richard
NJ. Hurd, chairman Of the American
Defence Society, and W. II. Gardiner,
chairman Of its anti-disloyalty COM
mittee
Charges of Disloyalty
Without quoting what senator IL
Toilette "avers TO be the text Of that
speech" the brief says:
THAT in the city of st. Paul, after
the country was az war and without
the excuse Of his Senatorial privilege,
he uttered. in a public address widely
rcported and published and circulated
and for a considerable time unrepuc'-
ated by him, words disloyal to the gov
eminent. calculated 10 incite opposition
70 It's measures Of conducting the war,
and disclosing his uniltress further 10
participate in the national councils LOT
the national safety and defence.
"And that. while the country Is At
war and while Senator of the United
States, he has abused his privilege a.
such Senator by gratuitously distrio-
uting. over his frank, utterances CAL
culated to incite opposition to he gov
eminent of the United States in the
prosecution of the war and TO prodVce
disaffection among the people.
"In short" il continues, that he Is
not loyal 10 the government OF the
limited States. but is, actually and re-
yardless of his intent, giving AID ana
comfort TO the public enemy
| is informed "that many of the speeches
uttered by Mr.. La Toilette on the floor
OF the Senate which have shocked and
aroused the conscience or revolted the
loyal sentiment of the country have
been circulated by him at the expense
/ Of the government, under his frank LOT
the express purpose Of defeating the
aims or rctarding and obstructihg the
purposes Of the government IN the con-
duet and prosecution OF the war
II then adds, in part: "Mr. La FOL.
lette attacked violently the issuance OF
bonds as a financial war measure under
the guise Of a protest against levying
burdens on future generations. Az a
time when the government needea
every penny it could command BY the
loyal. seN-denying subscriptions OF lts
/ citizens he was IN opposition. Al
| time when the government. IN respect
/ 10 the selective draft and TO the secur-
ing Of an army OF men pledged with
/ high courage and devotion to the prose
/ cution OF this great crusade against
wrong. was cropping its way 10 ne"
methods ne was still voicing his criti-
cism Of the righteousness OF the war
and claiming II was connlet foisteu
on this country lOI the pNi PNSN " ="
HANGING the fortunes Of prohteers ara
munition makers. and that the eNecu-
tive officials OF the country had been
Influenced by these munition makers
and were even allied with them for the
purpose Of preeipitating a struggle for
their pecunisry benefit.
Propaganda Ought Not BE Tolerated
"No such propaganda ought to be
tolerated for an instant. In fact, II
any such propaganda were INDUCED IN
I BY sospbox orators in the City Of New
York il could be promptly and efee-
lively disposed of By the courts OF the
state, and doubtless OF any state, or
suppressed by the Secret Service OF the
/ United States or BY the military exer-
cising an indispensable war function
/ Of the government"
As 20 La Follette's intent, the brief
SAYS: "He was speaking 10 American
people and il presumed 70 have in
tended the natural meaning Of his
words What was the natural mean
ing? Nothing short Of an attack on
the government and its financial and
international policy. All the press so