Great Falls daily tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1895-1921, 1919-08-01
CUMMINGS J|bES
PROBE Of TAUNT
INTO NEW SPASN|
Democratic Chairman
Tells War Quiz He's
Got Worse to Say.
TOOK UMBRACE At FLING
TRIP WEST WAS JUNKET

Washington, July 31-Homer s. Cum
mings. chairman of the democratic
national committee, called before the
house subcommittee investigating air
craft expenditures to testify under oath,
tonight, why he had permitted the
publicity bureau of his organization to
brand a proposed committee trip to the
Pacific coast as a ''junket" took full
responsibility for the statement and
declared It was not circumstance to
what will come later.
From the moment he entered the
committee room and introduced himself
To the members demanding the explana-
tions, until he went away, Mr.. Cum
mings was continually smiling. while
Chairman Frear pounded the table with
great heat and stopped the proceedings
to have certain replies stricken from the
record. With mock courtesy. Mr.. Cum
mings. turning to the chairman and ad-
dressing him as MY good fellow said
he knew before he arrived that he
would he unable to satisfy the republi-
cans There were one or two sharp re-
torts from Chairman Frear, to one of
which the witness. lighting a cigar from
another and still smiling. declared:
My. wasn't that 4 delicate thrust.
Cummings tid he Hado.~to IL, com
mittee contemplated n western trip To
look into spruce conditions relating 10
aviation, when all of this had been gone
over by Charles +. Hughes.
Foolish to Spend Money on Bias.
There have been other inquiries
the witness continued, "and this whole
thing has been canyassed until It is
threadbare Moreover the taking up Of
a subject of this character by the COM
mittee which | submit is not friendly to
the administration and not in n position
to give an unbiased report, is a waste
Of time and public money and in ordinary
political parlance. n junket.'
"Is it fair to this committee when it
is ordered TO make the trip to call it n
junket:" Chairman Frear asked.
II think So" Mr. Cummings said 1T
is perfectly foolish to spend money on
trip of this character when you ought
really to send public accountants and
when there are SO many other problems,
including the high cost of living, de-
manding consideration.
Invites House Summons.
"Thc republican organization. the
witness went on. has INDUCED in plenty
of slander directed at the president Of
the United States and you should he
sportsmen enough to stand mild criti-
cism. This isn't a marker to whats $
coming.
IF you do there will be nm investiga-
ton by the house" the chairman in
terrupted
Fine" the witness replied, II have
quite enjoyed myself this evening"
Cites Wilson Selecting Hughes.
In commencing the public service Of
Mr. Hughes, who conducted the air
craft inquiry. Mr.. Cummings said the
difference between republican leaders in
congress and the president was that the
president had selected for the inquiry a
man of known impartialty. while the
other was a purely political investiga-
tion.
Representative Magee. republican New
York. asked Mr.. Cummings for a yes or
no answer bearing on the war investiga-
ton and the resultant sale of army food.
why, that's a trick question:" the
witness replied. It's like asking n man
if he has quit beating his wife"
Strike that out" Mr. Magee shouted.
and it was stricken out.