The Washington herald., 1921-11-03
WATSON REFUSES
TOILET COMMITTEE
HEARHIS EVIDENCE
Declares He Will Back
Up His Charges on
Floor of Senate.

The Senate engaged in another
turbulent debate yesterday when
Senator Watson, of Georgia. refused
to recognize the authority of spe-
cial committee to summon him as
witness to substantiate his charges
that many American soldiers were
executed without trial in France
4 Senator Watson denounced the at
tude of Senator wadsworth. of
New York, chairman Of the Military
Affairs Committee, as "insolent. su-
perciliots. contemptuous and intol-
Grant" and declared that he would
present his case in due time upon
the floor of the Senate
I am not going to be bottled up
in any committee room and have
the evidence entombed in some re-
port that nobody will read" shouted
Senator Watson when get
through-and 1t will take some days
to, get Though my testimony-what
1 say in answer to the Senator from
New York will be read by millions
of people because the newspapers
VIII have to carry 1t for 1t will be
good reading matter. / will assure
that
Statements VARY. He Says
Senator Watson called attention
to. variations between the state
ments of Senator wadsworth and
Secretary of War Weeks.
The Senator said that all the
American soldiers executed In
A France could be counted on the
Fingers of one hand" he said. The
Secretary of War doubled this fig
ure- Who is right?"
\. Watson's outburst was precipi-
'tated by the introduction of a reso-
luton by Senator Brandegee, of
Connecticut, giving the special com
mittee authority to make a
, thorough investigation of Watson's
tee Monday the Senate had failed
to confer adequate powers upon it
and Senator Brandegee's resolution
was intended to correct this defect
Reed Defends Watson.
Senator Reed. of Missouri. Demo-
crat, FASTENED to Senator Watson's
defense He declared that the pro-
posed investigation would be &
very grave mistake" and predicted
that the Senate upon further con
sideration would abandon the plan
He objected to the proceeding be
cause IL suggested the setting up OF
committee to censor remark:
made by Senators on the floor OF
the Senate.
IF this is to be a precedent
every time a Senator makes some
remarks here that some other Sena-
tor does not like we'll have a spe-
cial committee to investigate him.
said Senator Reed.
Senator RrandRUaa rpfOrted that
there was no intention of. placing
Senator Watson ION trial" but he
Insisted it was the duty of the SEN
ate to establish the accuracy or in
accuracy of such grave charges as
those made by the Georgia Senator.
Watson Replies to Lodge.
IF il is not true, it is the most
Infamous scandal ever whispered
about the army" said Senator Bran
GcGee. IF it is not true, it is an
insult to the flag and to the honor
Il the country. If it is true, the
cI.,ers who ordered the hanging of
Taen without trial are murderers
and they should be hunted down
and themselves hung"
senator Lodge. Republican leader.
insisted that a Senate committed
could summon a Senator as a wit
uess with entire propriety.
Senator Watson rose and with
considerable heat demanded to be
heard on a question of personal
privilege.
The Senator from Massachusetts
has attempted to put me in the
same category with men taking
bribes." he said. Il am not going
to dodge the issue. but 1 am going
to fight il out here on the floor OF
The Senate. snuarelv and openly"