The Washington herald., 1921-02-20
TEXANS CENSURE
BtANTON LETTER
ON SALARY BOOST
Entire State Representa-
tion in House But One
Signs Round Robin
By FLOYD MONTGOMERY.

The man without a country has
nothing on Representative Thomas
L. BIanton. Of Texas.
Jeered and ridiculed by the en-
tire membership of the House at a
stormy session last Thursday, the
Texan was. made the subject yester-
day of a statement signed by six
teen of his colleagues, declaring to
the people OF the Lone Star state
and the world in general that all
his statements could not be relied
upon.
Only sixteen members signed the
statement. The seventeenth, Repre-
sentative Joe H. Eagle. of Houston,
vas not in town. A.
The original draft of the state
Iaent, which sas sdrswn up two days
Ago, is lldersto tood~to have been
'e7ytrsEng hot" riysSling. II pos
sible, y sstter denJnsciatiOn of
Blanton hade on the ator Thurs
day by ReprSsotsiive Surnners.N.
Final Draft Foned 1esTn.
Two days Of cooling orr rsuIteo
in a calmer and more digHified nal
draft-so placid in fact that sonl
Of the members at first objected 10
signing it.
The effect Of the action will be.
it is predicted, that Blanton will be
barred from caucuses of the State
delegation and snubbed at all State
social events.
Since his chastisement. at the
hands of Summers last Thursday.
the Texan has been conspicuous by
his absence from debate on the
floor Occupying a seat in an in
conspicuous section of the chamber
he has sat silent, apparently con-
tent to remain a spectator where
he had been one of the most active
participants during the entire ses
sion.
The delegations statement was
addressed to all Texas newspapers
which published a signed article by
and held responsible for the entire
outburst. The Blanton letter, in
part, follows:
Hates His Side of Case.
'T need your prompt help to ere-
vent a wrong proposed against the
public. There is a determined eff
fort now, both in the House and
Senate, to pass before adjournment
a measure to increase the salary of
Representatives and Senators to
$4,000 and to $4,000, II possible.
Wont you help to prevent this
wrong? For three years have
been forced to remain on the floor
of the House to prevent this pro-
posal from being attached as a
rider to appropriation bills" etc.
"Ordinarily," the delegation state
ment read, I'VE would not feel called
upon to reply to statements sent to
Texas newspapers by Mr.. Blanton,
but in this particular instance it
seems plain to US that he means to
leave the impression with Texas edi-
tors and their readers that the other
members of Congress from. our State
are in favor Of this increase: that
We are part of the so-called deter
mined effort to pass the bill, and
that he alone is standing in the
breach and preventing it from being
done. If such is not his purpose,
then we mistake the meaning Of his
words. 1t seems clear that such is
the plain implication.
Also Oppose Increase.
Therefore. lest II be thought by
some who are not familiar with Mr..
Blsnton and his methods, that we
are in favor Of a salary increase;
we take this opportunity of saying
that we are and have been opposed
to any salary increase, and will op-
pose it If such a proposal should
come up for legislative considera-
tion."
The statement then intimated that
Blsnton had been making a straw
man" in order to knock 1t down and
reap any political rewards that
might accrue from the performance.
There has not been the slightest
probability of such a measure being
passed, either during the present
session or during the three years
OF Blanton's self-imposed vigil
against a non-existent bugaboo, the
statement declared.
mo such bill has been reported
favorably by any committee and
there is no prospect that any will
be-" the statement said.
The concluding part of Blanton's
letter to Texas editors said: Con
onNTrSrrrn o1 pAap por,p- .