New-York tribune., 1921-11-03
w atson Won't
Press Charges
Before Inquiry
Georgia Senator Asserts He
Will Eight IL Out ON
Floor; Says He Has Evi-
dence of Army Hangings
Committee Asks Funds
Southerner Declares That
Allegations Similar to
His Were Made i'm 1918

From The Tribanes Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON. Nov. 2. - Senator
Watson, of Georgia, who charged in
the Senate yesterday that United
States soldiers were hanged and shot
in France without court martial, de-
c'ared to-day he would not go before
committee to substantiate his charges,
but would fight it out" on the floor
of the Senate. He insisted he could
sustain his charges by evidence and
that he had already received kilograms
from Tampa, Philadelphia, and New
York backing up what he said. He also
said that as long ago as December,
1918, Senator Chamberlain, of Oregon,
then chairman of the Military Commit
tee, had made substantially the same
charges that he had made.
Mr.. Watson asserted photographs of
ga(lows on which soldiers were hanged
were being sent to him and that he
had received one showing two negro
soldiers hanging.
The possibility is that out of the
charges of Senator Watson may
grow sweeping investigation. On
the other hand, there is discussion Of
dropping the whole matter, which many
Senators regard as unfortunate.
special committee appointed yesterday
to investigate, offered resolution
which was referred to the Committee
on Audit and Control of Expenses, to
give the committee the usual authority
to call for persons and papers and also
to grant the usual expenses. Senator
Watson had previously pointed out to
newspaper men that the committee in
the original motion had been given no
inquisitcrial powers or funds.
Reed Against Any Inquiry
In the course of debate over the mat
ter this afternoon Senator Reed, of
Missouri, warned the Senate again st
the step it was taking, declared it was
interference with the privilege of de-
bate to have one Senator challenge an
others statements and then force an
Investigation. and further admonished
the Senate to think it over as to
whether it wanted to drnw aside the
veil from some of the things that had
occurred in France and tarnish many
regulations.
When Senator Brandegee offered his
resolution, Senator Watson said he had
not been given due notice concerning
it. Reverting to the remarks yester-
day by Senator Wadsworth, he said
that that Senator ain the most inso-
lent manner" demanded that he appear
before the Committee on Military AT
fairs.
~ replied" he said, chat his bear
ing was supercilious and overbearing
and contemptuous. l told him I'd fight
1t out with him on the floor of the
Senate face to face and that's what Pm
going to do. The whole country shall
know it,"
Attacks the General Staff
He added that he had said he would
so before any impartial committee.
provided service men were guaranteed
against that persecution "the General
Staff knows how to apply" He said
members of the staff had been in con-
sultation with Senator Wadsworth this
morning.
Senator Brandegee disavowed any
purpose to put the Senator from Geor-
gia on trial and said the committee
would investigate into the truth of the
charges. 'If true, the army officers who
are guilty are murderers and ought to
be hanged" he said. "If the charges
are not true, it is an insult to the
flag"
Senator Lodge cited instances when
Senators had been summoned before
kommittees, as in the sugar scandal
and the lobby investigation.
:, Senator Calder, as chairman of the
Committee on Audit, attempted to re-
port back the Brandegee resolution
and have it considered, but the Senate
insisted on going on with the tax bill.
Senator Watson said later than one
OF his kilograms confirming what he
charged was from q former major in
New York, whose name he would not at
this time make public.
I'll have the afidavits and the evil
dence," said Senator Watson.
He said he was disposed not to ap-
pear before the special committee of
the Senate, which was directed to make
an investigation, and that he did not
care to appear before committee
which was either "stacked" agains. Ii i'm
or which would smother the matter in
the committee room.
Preposterous, Says Baker
CLEVELAND, Nov. 2.-Charges Of
Senator Watson that American soldiers