The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1920-02-02
Charges Congressman from Texas With
Hiding Behind His Prerogative in
:. Making Slanderous Statements
Gompers Denies That He Threatened to Cause
Revolution if the Work or Fight Order Con-
corning the Draft Had Been Put Through by
:. Congress.

Washington. Feb. 1.--~one OF the
hstrest axcoriadons of member Of
congress ever uttered by an Anlerf-
can citizen. is inflicted upon Repre-
aAnta tive Thomas L. Blanton. Demo
e<at. OF Texas. in letter from Pres
ident Samuel Gompers of the Anorf-
car Federation TO Labor. TO Chair r.
man mpsell OF the bouse ra.ea
committee. made public today
'S Mr.. Gomperg letter was written in
reply 70 a vftr.olic attack upon him
by Mr.. Bianton In the course % the
lstter's testimony befcre the rules
com m ttee during the recent hearings
on the Graham antt~sediron bill l ne
In Dor chiefs comm unfca ION has been
rnade a part of the record OF the ar =
Ing.
The Texas Congressman charged
thai Mr.. Com pers had threatened 10
cause a revolution II the 'wert or
fight order was put into effect IN con-
nection with the selectivc draft He
also charged that the federation exc
eGtiVe rot only was the dictator OF
labor but Of congress as well, ana vas
Ordering congress 10 approve ard
permit the advocacy az the ever
throw of the government Of the
United States BY force and violence
by preventing the enactment Of me
Graham bill
Asserting thai Representative E1an-
ron Knows rot the truth and would
not tell Ii If no I'D Mr.. Gcmpers
declared his testimony was "Uausfac-
tured and replete with "slauderous.
false and rraliious charges and in
sinua tions and that he hid behind
his preroga tivss as a congressman in
order 10 protect himself.
INQUTREUDO DE LUSATTCO
Suggesting that comm iz.s!on
raight be nanacd To inquire into the
congressman sanity, the labor hea d
adds:
-. "In the meantime l corsign the
gentleman from Texas to'the tender
nercies OF the members OF the house
O. represents lives and 20 hts misrep-
resented constituents. May the Good
Lord have mercy on his soul"
In asking that MS lester BE- made a
cart OF the record. Nj Gompers says;
~ member 81 the house OF repre-
gsntatives has appeared before tss
eeumittes or rules and INDUCED I'm
seif In such extravarant rntz-er~e~
sAntatiors ard fslsehoods thai ! am
Enrelied to ask the orportuntty for
an. answer To slanderous. false and
r,siIcious charges and irs.nuatlons
which Mr.. Elantor. OF Texas, has Ut
.errd before zyour committee
"A member OF congress. utte-anrss
Il the house are privileged. but II he
voIunt arily appears before = CON nit
teN Of the house he is no more priv
tiAged than any other civilian to utter
saiseh Gods and insfnrations against
the honor and character Of citizen of
the United States.
''Sh snefui to say. he hid behind his
ersrogatives as a congressman ir oraer
to protect himself He refused 10
p~ymit any one to examine him eNrept
members OF congress and assumed The
high and mighty stand that To onA
epuid question either what he said or
his motives"
Mr., Campers then cites correspond
ance between himself and Preztden mt
Wilson. Secretary Baker. Provost Mar
shall General Crowder and other oTi
esais 10 disprove the assertion that he
threatened 70 cause a revolution" and
sdds:
- LIMITED KNOWLEDGE.
TT seams surprising that a an
Who is a member If congress should
HdNo sUCn alHiltrn kuo~tSuSc VI " h1 l
was going on during the war that ne
would permit himself TO make such a
false statement
Every statement made by this mar
haht"n nefor" the rules COMMITTEES
va. was composed OF nure misrepres@nta :
tion-~not single idea, not ~7Ele
statement that he uttered has even !
semoiance OF truth II was nA7uu-
Iac,uren testimony. which ho Gave
under MS assumed rrerogative AS a
~ Nile have been singled ont nv