New Britain herald., 1918-12-14
DEMAND THAT PROCEEDINGS AGAINST LaFOLLETTE MUST
 BE CARRIED TO CONCLUSION
Minority Report Insists Wis., cOnsin Senator Be. Exon Orated, Expelled or Gen. sured, As Facts Warrant.

Washington, Dec. 14-Further proceedings in the case of Senator Robert Nj. I,aFollette of Wisconsin, looking to his exoneration, censure of expulsion from the senate as the facts may warrant, are recommended in a minority report from the senate privileges and elections committee presented in the senate today by Sen ator Pornerene of Ohio, dem ocrat, chairman of the committee.
 The report, signed by Chairman Pomerene. charges the Wisconsin senator with violation of the cspion- age act by alleged instantaneous in his address before the Non partisan League at St. Paul, September 20, 1917. The report opposes the pend ing resolution recommending that the proceedings be dropped.
 Demands Definite Action.
 The misstatements alleged to have been made by Senator LaFollette are declared by the report to be a ''slan- der' upon the government and suffi- oicnt cause for conviction in criminal proceedings.
 Specifically the report urges that a "full and complete" hearing be or dered by the senate to the end:
 First, that the senator from Wis consin can be completely exonerated if the testimony justifies it.
 "Sacond, that he may be expelled if the testimony justifies it.
 Third, that the senate may pass a vote of censure or administer such otlle" punishment as the testimony may justify.
 This is our duty the report de- clares "a duty which wc owe to the senator from Wisconsin to the United States senate itself and to the public. More we ought not do and less we cannot be expected to do."
 CriticiScs Present Action.
 we do not say in the present state of the record the minority report says "that Senator IaFol!ette should be expelled from the senate or that he should be convicted Of q criminal offense under the espionage act; but we do gay that applying tile princ.- pies of criminal law, a grand jury inquiring into tho case. with no other evidence tnan tho speech itself and the facts ass i1 this report rec!ted, would have been justified in return ing an indirtrl ena against him for violation ot the espionage act. And VIC further say that wit!, this evil deuce and none othc~, before q, petit jury. if would have been Justified in rcfurnfuly q. verdict Of guilty under this section Of tho statute and no court would have disturbed it.
 If tbere is any reasonable eXplan- atfon which can be made of these ut 4erancas which would tend to prove an innocent purpose, such explana- ton ought 10 be giver- to the end that no intaztice may be dcne and that It rpay not be charged that the United States senate passes lightly over wrongful spe ech, when others are e.rfxninally prosecuted for offense, Tn our Judgment, no lea@ severe.
 Free speech No Excuse.
 Senator IaFoI1ette in his St. Paul speech. the report declares, wholly Ignored the real cause which led to inc war and says that "thcse state rae?1ts could noI have been made by accident or slip of the tongue be- causs inc same thought if not tho very 1An1c language is reported hsV- era1 tir1e, within the space Of few n4inutcH."
 ''Tne constitutional right of free dora Of speech cannot be pleaded In defense" tno report cont!n' es. Free dor1 Of rpcech never juatifics the islander of the chastity of q woman. o3. the honor of d man or the cause of 4 country when in the throes or 4he most terrific war ever waged."