New-York tribune., 1918-05-23
Blalnes Hecklers
For La Follette's
Lusitania Remark
Roe Ends His Plea for Dis
missal of Charges
Against Senator

WASHINGTON, May 22.-Counsel
for Senator La Toilette closed to-day
the argument begun yesterday before
the Senate Privileges and Elections
Committe in support of a motion to
dismiss charges that statements by
the Wisconsin Senator in a speech at
ST. Paul last September were disloyal
and seditious.
Senator's attorney, concluded with
the declaration that Senator La Fol-
lette is not disloyal and that to say
that in his heart he desires to see
the German cause succeed is unthink-
able.
Two weeks were given the attorney
to file supplementary brief. There
was no indication as to whether the
committee will take any further steps
in its consideration of the matter in
the meantime
Mr.. Roe praised Senator La Toilette s
record and asserted that even those
who disagree with him on public ques-
tions agree that he is honest. The St
Paul speech, he SAID "bordered on the
commonplace containing only facts
which were of common knowledge and
would not have attracted any attention
at all "if it had not been for the flood
of newspaper Misrepresentation that
went out"
The attorney read from the text of
the speech as submitted by him to the
committee, to show Senator La Toilette
had said that in entering the war this
country had "cause for complaint and
serious grievances against Germany
He declared if there were any in ac-
curate statements, they were made in
good faith by the Senator and with
no intention "to put the Administration
in the hole
Senator La Toilette, he argued, is en-
titled to the presumption that he is
honest and that he stated the truth
He said heckling by persons in the
audience diverted the Senator and that
he had no intention of mentioning the
Lusitana until some one in the audi
ence asked about it.
Walsh Questions Attorney
When Senator Walsh, of Montana,
questioned Mr.. Roe regarding Senator
La Follette's reference to war prof
iteers, Senator Vardaman, of Missjs
sippi, interrupted to say if the commit
tee would read the evidence in the Hog
Island investigation by a Senate com
mittee "they would find fraud that
stinks to heaven"
Senator Reed, of Missouri, urged the
committee to confine its investigation
to the text of the speech. He added
that if anyobdy could show that Senator
La Toilette was trying to defeat this
country in war instead of merely criti=
cising some member of the Administra-
pei him from the Senate.
Mr.. Roe denied Senator La Toilette
said the carrying of American citizens
on a munitions-loaded ship twas the
only thing that carried us into war;"
"He said nothing of the kind" the
attorney asserted.
Mr.. Roe said "The Chicago Tribune"
on September 21 last quoted Senator
La Toilette as saying: ~ was not in
favor of beginning this war. We had
no grievance Similar statements
also appeared in "The New York
Times" and "The Washington Post"
he SdlQ.
Every Associated Press dispatch
adding that all Associated Press news
papers got that story and printed it
that way"
Reading from the copy of La Fol-
lette's speech, as submitted by him to
the committee, Roe quoted La Toilette
actually as saying:
81 say this, that the comparatively
small privilege of the right of an
American citizen to ride on muni-
tions-loaded ship flying a foreign flag
is too small to involve this government
IN the loss of millions and millions of
lives"
La Follette's declaration that Secre-
tary Bryan warned President Wilson
that the Lusitania had on board 6,000,-
600 rounds of ammunition besides ex-
plosives resulted in spirited discus
sion of the Senator's motives in max
ing that statement. Roe said he be-
lieved La Toilette only desired to di-
rect attention to the differences be-
tween Secretary Bryan and the Presi
dent, which at the time were we'll
known.
Senator Kellogg, of Minnesota. called
attention to the fact that the State
Department denied the Lusitania car
ried explosives. Senator Walsh said
the Lusitanla did carry packages of
small arms ammunition, which she had
q right to do.
as it your claim that it violates
the statutes to have small arms am
munition On board" asked Chairman
Pomerene. referring to the Lusitania.
yes" replied Mr.. Roe Cartridges
are still gun powder and are clearly
within the prohibition of this stat
ute"
"You don't mean to say it is vio
lation to- carry gun POWDER" asked
Senator Fall
"Ycs," replied Mr.. Roe. who de-
clared the clearance papers showed the