The Washington times., 1919-07-15
McFADOEN CHALLENGED.
BY WILLIAMS TO APPEAR
BEFORE SENATE PROBERS

John Shelton williams. Comptrol-
Ter of the Currency. last night issued
an open letter to Congressman Louis
T. McFadden, OF Pennsylvania, chal-
longing him to appear before the
Banking and Currency Committee OF
the Senate and present the charges
he has made.
Mr.. McFadden yesterday introduced
in the House a resolution providing
for an investigation of Mr., Williams
fitness for office. The Senate COM
mittee is now conducting an investi-
cation and hearing those opposed to
confirmation of Mr.. Williams.
ION your responsibility as a Con-
gresham and an individual you pub
licly uttered false but serious accusa-
tions against the official and personal
character of an officer of the Gov
eminent, holding place of some i'm
portance," wrote Mr.. Williams. THE
person you assailed has publicly de-
nounced your accusations as vicious
ly false, and has defied you to pres
ent any evidence which you may
have on which you base them and
added that you had tried to do in
jury to character and then skulke ed
from the consequences Of your at
tempt"
Rests Under Charges.
$50 far as may judge by your
acts. you are content to rest from
March 1 to July IA under the charges
Of falsehood and malicious attempt
to do injury, while avoiding RESPONSE
bility, and OF neglect Of your duty,
making no attempt to reply to my
letter to you of March 1. 1t included
matter which, it seems to me. would
require the attention of any man at
all heedful of his own reputation or
his regard for personal honor.
You did, however. go into court in
the interim between the sessions and
sought to enjoin me from an investi-
CATION Of your operations and your
management of the bank OF which
you are president"
In this connection Mr.. williams
makes some rather serious charges
in connection with Mr.. McFadden's
alleged banking practices.
You impress me, therefore, as be-
ing far more anxious over your job
and your pocket than over your char
acter as a man or official" Mr.. Will
liams continues.
Again 1 invite and defy you to 60
before the Senate committee and
present to il your accusations against
me, with whatever you have or can
find to support them. This need
not obstruct or delay investigation Of
my administration and myself by the
House. I will welcome that also.
will be ready for it, repeat. at any
moment, and the more quickly it is
ordered. and begun the better pleased
l will be.
COmmittee Is Ready.
Meanwhile, however, the Senate
committee is sitting and ready to
hear, as it's duty is. any charges
against the appointee to an important
and responsible office that anybody
desires to put before it"
Mr.. Williams concludes:
Il submit as an unavoidable alter
native that failure by you to present
your charges and evidence to the
Senate committee will prove that
your own case. 1 might submit, fur
.ther, that if you shirk the show down
to which you are called, you will be
in the shameful position Of having
used your position to attempt to in
jure another man with widely and
carefully spread attacks on his char
actr which you are ashamed or afraid
to support, and for confirmation OF
which you have no evidence you dare
offer; but / do not know whether
you are interested in that aspect Of