Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-12-09
Meeting of Senators Making
Investigation of Charges By
Watson Breaks up in a RrlU

Watson Make Spirited At
tacks On Each Other;
Many Witnesses May Be
Called.
+ Washington, Dec. s.-The meeting
Of the senate committee investigating
charges by Senator Watson, Demo-
crat, Georgia, that soldiers had been
illegally hanged in France broke up
in a row today after Senator Watson
had threatened to slap the face of an
army officer sitting in the audience.
Chairman Brandegee of the COM
mittee, taking hold OF an awkward
situation, declared that no person In
the room should be insulted. The
statement was made just after Sena-
tor Watson walked up close to Major
George D. Cocheu and shaking his
finger IN his face. exclaimed: For
Two pennies would slap your face"
Watson Makes Threat
1T he looks at me again that way
Will slap his jaws" the Georgia SEN
ator declared, adding that he would
not remain with the committee to be
"bulldozed," this this '@bulljawed
brute"
Take your seat. Senator Watson"
Senator Brandegee demanded.
"I'll retire FIRST" he replied.
Take your seat or retire." the
chairman said.
Chairman Brandegee called for the
sergeant at arms and Senator Wat
kins sat down. Then turning to the
Georgia senator the chairman asked
II he wanted the army officers pres
ent, including Walter e. Btthel, Cen
eral Pershing's judge advocate gener-
al In France, to retire.
Yea," said Senator Watson.
Well, get out" said the chairman
and the officers retired.
Listened to Attack. f
Major Cocheu had not been called
as q witness and sat silent while SEN
ator Watson was launching a verbal
attack upon him. The senator told the
committee that he had been insulted
by the manner in which the officer
had looked at, him.
There WaSsa an exchange between Mr..
Rrandegee and Mr.. Watson regarding
certain conversati ions relating to pro-
cedure and the presence Of army ofi-
ce1s ;whilesth Georgia senator was
BE- Rssssntipk Is s. A hs t, tnssse. The .,s,s sx5
ates,a ate, Wst,SS = zsx:s sh0ated: 7 am not
,.'.Nor OF you" Chairman Brande-
gee replied. banging the table.
You ought to submit your evidence
and lee us decide said the chairman.
Then the senate can determine
whether our findings are proper
It was at this. point, that Senator
Watson turned suddenly upon Major
Cocheu, reminding him that he was
not in France and announcing his
threat that for two pennies he would
slap his jaws.
Wants 6s Witnesses =
When the excitement had subided
Senator Watson announced, that he
desired tho committee to call sixty
three witnesses whose names he pre-
sented, along with great volume Of
letters.
Hearings then were adjourned un-
til tomorrow and the committee held
an executive session. :
Senator Watson at the resumption
of the inquiry today protested against
the decision Of the committee to con-
fine the inquiry solely to the question
of hangngs.
my charges were broader. I pro-
test against these charges being mar
rowed. want it understood that am
going into the shooting Of men by
their officers"
The committee suggested that it
might be necessary to go before the
senate and ask that the resolution
directing the inquiry be enlarged.
Colonel Theodore Roosevelt Jr.,
corroborates my statement that q SOL
der was shot by an officer" Senator
Watson declared. 1T was testified at
the trial that the officer shot the SOL
dter without provocation whatsoever" +"
Would Not Can Him.
DO you want Colonel Roosevelt
called as witness" the senator was
asked.
mo, would not embarass him."
Mr.. Watson went on to say he pro-
posed to try the case on the floor of
the senate.
Senator Shields, Democrat, Tennes-
see. told the senator the committee
was not going into prevalent matters
but would attempt to give him fair
hearing
From the time I came into this
room, I felt the committee had pre-
judged this case in secret sessions, y
the senator shouted.
i That statement Is absolutely with
out foundation" Senator Shields shot
back.
Watson Cools on.
As the army officers retired from
the committee room Chairman Brand
egee asked Senator Watson II he
wanted the audience driven out.
No indeed" he said, these officers
sat there and eyed me with an inso-
lence that reused my blood. beg the
pardon Of this COMMITTEES"