Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-10-07
JAMES WATSON
PUT ON GRILL IN
ELKHART TALK
Hoosier Senator Asked to Elk.
plain Notorious Packers
Speech.
COLvER FACES NOMINEE
Bv a stan Correspondent.

William B. Colver, former chairman of
the Federal Trade Commission. in an ad-
dress here last night, to give the people
of Indiana intimate details of his at
tack on the commission at just the time
the big meat packers were under in
vest,gation
Watson was asked II the speech he
made in the Senate was not prepared and
handed to him to be delivered, where
and how and when he got the material
for the speech, who framed the charges
he made against the commission and
many particulars as to the activities Of
Clarence Martin, indianapolis attorney,
who was engaged by the special Senate
committee which Watson had ordered to
investigate the Federal Trade Commits
sion.
CoIver made his attack on Watson at
the conclusion of an address to the
State League Of Women Voters on the
high cost of living. He said he had en-
deavored to force Watson to prove
charges he made against the commits
sion, that Watson had in fact charged
him (Colver) with being a traitor, and
that when watson lodged every effort,
he (Colver) came to Indiana on his own
expense account and without cOnsulta-
ton with any one or any political or
State and to drive him to complete the
attack he started.
C0LvER WAS
CHAIRMAN THEN.
Colver was chairman of the commits
sion at the time the Senate ordered an
Investigation of the five big meat pack
ers.
The investigation was made and is
revealed such startling information that
r-o1vr 4nfn
agreements TO dissolve their various
holdings.
The Senate prepared legislation and
was considering 1t when suddenly Wat
son arose in the Senate and made long
attack on supposed Bolshevism existing
in governmental departments.
He charged particularly that the COM
mission was honeycombed with Bolshe-
visits at the time the packer investiga-
ton was made.
Senator Kenyon, Republican. who was
praised highly tonight by Colver, de-
manded that Watson prove his charges
and forced, with Watsons aid, the ap-
pointment of a committee to investi-
gate.
The investigation seems to have been
started and then abandoned, as nothing
has been heard of it.
The watson speech was a sensation.
as to have its relation with the packer
knvestigation and having been made at
Re time a special agent of the packers
Z has in the gallery. an agent who was q
Eparticular friend Of Watson's, and then
being followed by an expose Of packer
inquiries Of Watson, the entire matter
caused the utmost attention.
ATTACKS EXCESS
PROFITS TAX.
Colver in his speech attacked the ex-
cess profits tax as causing In part the
high cost os living and denounced the
last Republican Congress for its failure
10 repeal this tax, warned the women
that it is war which is the cause Of
the high cost OF living and that sue
cess for the Republicans win mean n
war with Mexico, and added that those
who profit through wars are those who
are fighting the League OF Nations.
Aside from taxation, he said monopo-
1istic control Of foodstuffs and con-
spiracies in restraint OF trade assist IN
adding to the high cost Of living.
This statement caused him to reveal
for the first time many intimate de-
tails Of the big meat packer Watson
commission story.
He charged that resctionaries In the
Senate of which Watson was one or
ganized the Senate and Immediately ap-
pointed George A Sanderson, Iegisla tive
agent for the packers, as secretary to
the Senate. highly important Office
"He is there now. He viii stay as
long as the Oligarchy stays-and packer
legislation sleeps" he said.
lie recalled how a Republican admins
tration had attacked meat packer con-
trol and how Senator Lodge had de-
bounced the packers.
TELLS OF
HATSON'S ACTIVITY.
lie then told how Watson, on Oct.
81. 1919, first gave a speech to the
newspapers and then delivered it In the
Senate" in which &c said he had been
investigating sociaIismm. Bolshevism and
anarchy in various Government depart
ment. and especially in the Federal
Trade Commission.
Watson demanded an investigation by
special committee. Watson added that
sin no wise is this a defense of the
3 packers"
THE Senate referred the matter to a
committee to whose members Senator
Watson talked and finally, early in jan
uary. money was provided and the com
mittee was appointed said Colver.
senator Watson was made member
of that committee. Long before this
however. a lawyer. Clarence Martin of
indianapolis, was employed on the Wat
son charges. Martin was travelling
about. He was under expense He was
interviewing witnesses. He was claim
ing to act for and by the authority of a
Senate committee weeks and weeks be-
fore any such had been authorized and
appointed"
sCoIver then went on to tell how Mar
; tin eventually was hired by the Sen
ate committee but how no trial or in
vestigation followed. He then added
Il ask Senator Watson to tell the peo-
pie of Indiana whether or not the speech
in substantially the form in which he
delivered it, did not come into his hands
typewriter? If so, who gave it to him
Il ask Senator Watson whether or not
in fact, he had, to quote his own words.
for several weeks been investigating p
If so, when, where, how?
IF not, who did frame the charges ?
Who gave them to Watson?
"Who employed Martin before the Sen
ate subcommittee did and who paid his
railroad fare, his hotel bills and his sal
airy for the weeks and weeks before he
was employed by the Senate committee p
Colver viii make other speeches in the
State in his endeavor to force Watson
hand and to reveal fully the complete
story of Watsons activities in connection
with the celebrated speech.
Hartford City Man