The New York herald., 1921-10-28
Texas Representative is Saved
From Expulsion by Margin
of Eight in Vote.
REPRIMAND CRUsHES HIM
Mondell Leads Fight Against
Vile Matter Printed in
Speech i'm Record

WASHINGTON, Oct. 27.-Saved from
being thrown out of the House of
Representatives by a bare margin of
eight votes, Thomas l.. Blanton, Texas
Democrat. was reprimanded publicly
late to-day by Speaker Gillett, in ac-
cordance with n resolution Of censure
against which not single vote was
cast.
Then a moment later. as he walked
out of the chamber with all eyes
upon him, he toppled over in a heap.
Some OF his colleagues who had voted
TO expel him picked him up and
placed him OH lounge. But he did
not stay there long. Rousing himself
he stumbled out. the tears streaming
down his Cheeks. AS he went away
he was heard to express the hope
that he might never see the House
again.
Fights for seventy Minutes.
There was no doubt Of the fact, as
members expressed IT, that the Texan
was utterly crushed and worn by his
experience of the dav, an experience
that seldom comes during The life OF a
man in Congress. For an hour and ten
minutes. with hostile eyes on HIM, he
fought to defend himself from the
charge that he had transgressed the
law by putting into the Congressional
Record a document described as "un-
speakably vile.'
Before he go: up to speak In his own
behalf II was the view of Republicans
and Democrats alike that action on the
resolution to expel him would depend
on his own attitude. He sat with folded
hands as Representative Mondell
(Wyo). Republican leader. pleaded
earnestly to have him cast out And
then, pale and smiling, he stepped
briskly to the front as the leader sat
down.
His voice hoarsc and broken, he
touched RAPIDLY on the charges. ana
then his old time fighting fire returned.
Right at the beginning he said he knew
the House was prepared to expel him
When a rap of the gavel Sounded the
end OF the hour allotted him under the
rules he stopped suddenly in the midst
Of n sentence. and. turning sharply on
quest was made from the Democratic
side that he have thirty additional min
utes. This was opposed by Mr.. Mon
dell. who then instantly withdrew his
objection and the Texan was recalled.
Questioned by Longworth.
Refusing Mt first to yield for ques-
tons he permitted Representative Long
worth (Ohio) to ask him something. and
Republicans asserted tonight that the
reply had turned the tide against him
The Ohio member wanted TO know if
the report was true that Mr.. Blanton
had declared an intention TO mail 23o.-
600 copies Of the undelivered speech.
with It's offending affidavlt. after the
House had ordered Il stricken from
the Record. Only lack OF money said
Mr. Longworth. prevented its mailing to
every voting man In the United States.
Instantly half dozen Representatives
were on their feet. trying to break IN.
Representative Blanton had reiterated
that the publication had been sent out.
'in a Just cause" that no law had been
violated. Dramatically he pleaded with
the House. for the sake OF his wife and
children. 10 put back into the Record
hts own undelivered speech. in which he
declared there was not one word calcu-
lated TO give offence. But Republicans
objected.
AS the fire OF questions started Mr..
Blanton abruptly closed his speech, with
twenty minutes still due him. and shot
out OF the House.
The vote TO oust him. 203 TO 1f9. with
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