Evening star., 1921-10-27
HOUSE RESOLUTION
T0EXPEL b[ANTON
UP FOR VOTE TODAY
MondelI Scores Texas Men,
ber for Obscene Remarks
Printed in Record.
DRAMATIC DEFENSE MADE;
HOLDING ACTION PROPER
Declares No Intent Was Shown.
: Galleries Crowded to Capacity
Long Before Noon Hour.

SuDBt1tut1On OF vOte 10 CensuHS
instead Of expulsion Of Represent.
ative Blanton of Texas was pro-
posed In the House by Represents
tive Garrett, Tennessee. the acting
democratic leader, after the Texas
representative had made n dra-
matte defense of his action In In.
sepffng in the Congregational Record
natter characterized rs objection
able by House leaders.
The resolution for expulsion from
the House of Thomas L. Blanton,
democrat, Texas, was called up today
by Representative Mondell, the re-
publican leader.
The House galleries were crowded
long before IL O'Clock. the hour at
which proceedings in the House
larted. Practically every member
was in his seat. without a roll-call
or any special effort made tc secure
a large presence.
Two Points in Defense.
Mr.. Blanton entered the chamber a
moment before the chaplain's prayer
and took his accustomed seat on the
second row and during House Leader
Mondelrs speech sat with his hand 10
his lips looking in the opposite direc-
tion.
Representative Blanton took the
floor after House Leader Mondell mao
given forceful denunciation of
"blasphemous and obscene" language
inserted In the record.
Two ypoints were emphasized by Mr..
Blanton in his defense. First, that
the intent was not shown. Second
that in law-making bodies such docu-
ments are considered proper and much
worse matter is often presented In
court verbally in the presence OF q
mixed audience.
House Leader Mondell started the
proceedings by having the resolution
Tor. expulsion read, He then said he
supposed that Representative Blan-
ton. in his own time and without be-
ing afiowed~to- permit of Interruption.
would want to discuss the case Tor
an hour. He intimated that other
members had asked for time. but said
he hoped that the expulsion proceed
ings would be disposed of within two
hours. Then. addressing the House,
Mr. Mondell spoke as follows:
Declared Unspeakable.
The preamble of the resolution be.
fore us sufficiently sets out and
frames the indictment against the
member from the seventeenth district
ef Texas to enable the members, con
.ersant as they are with the rules
and practices of the House. and ia
miliar as they have been compelled
10 become under their oath with the
matter complained of, to judge that in
formation or argument covering this
matter for members need not be spoken.
What we do today must be not only
in accordance with our oath, but per-
formed so that we may, so far as
possible in case like this. lay be-
fore the public the facts on which
we render our decision.
forming the basis of the charge
against the member from the seven
teenth district of Texas is of such
character that it cannot be present
ed on the floor. Were 1 to present
here even a very small portion of it
| should myself be subject to expul-
sion. Any one mailing copy of the
Congressional Record containing that
statement is subject to a fine and i'm
prisonment under the laws of the
land.
I'VE can say no more of the words
printed than that they are unspeak-
able. vile, foul. filthy, profane, bias
phemous and obscene. l think that
there is not a member here who has
read the letter complained of, and
under oath so to do, but will say
that it is the vilest thing he ever saw
in print.
Does Not Know Similar Case.
1.-THE right to extend ones remarks
in the Record is one long enjoyed
greatly cherished and seldom abused
In all the history of the Congress
recall no case where, under such a
leave to print, profane or obscene Ian
guage has been put in the Record OF
offered to the public printer for print
ing. The member from the seven
teenth district of Texas on the 14tt
day of October asked unanimous con-
sent to extend his remarks in the Con-
gressional Record on improvements ir
the government printing office, but nc
manuscript was presented to the pub
, lie printer until Saturday, October %
eighteen days later.
Between the hours of and z on thai
day the messenger of the House anG
printing office received from Mr.
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