The Washington herald., 1921-10-29
BLANTON SENDS
APOLOGY AFTER
SAVING HONOR
Issue Removed, He Ex-
presses Regret for Hay-
ing Given Offense.
LETTER ADDRESSED
TO HOUSE SPEAKER
Much Qualification Felt
At His Disclaimer of
Wrong Intent.

Having Thursday escaped expui-
sion by the skin OF his teeth and
then forced to submit to public re-
buke by the Speaker. Representative
Thomas L. Blanron. Democrat, Of
Texas made a valiant effort ysster-
day afternoon to come back" in the
House.
+ Satisfied in his own mind that he
upheld the honor of the trad tionaI
West Texas gentleman by refusing
to "squawk" under Are, Representa-
tive Blanton formally apologized to
the House for inserting obscene
matter in the Congressional Record.
The bid fer re-establrsnnent in
the estimation OF his colleagues was
made in a letter addressed TO
Speaker Gillett and read to the
House. AS the clerk concluded the
reading. Republicans as well as
Democrats Joined in a demonstration
which revealed a remarkable reac-
tion from the hostile sentiment of
twenty-tour hours previous. Fol-
lowing is the :ext of the letter:
Sends Apology to Speaker.
My Dear Mr.. speaker:
Il am involved In no issue now
before the House. hence, what E-w
say is not a sacrifice of any prin-
'ciple.
"WheB expressed a wish Of be-
bing able to place before the coun-
frNr tn DaanrI
understood by my colleagues, who
believed that 1 would circulate the
Objectionable language. My inten-
ton was not TO 40 this. but to cir
culate the expunged Record with all
the Objectionable words and abbre-
viations contained in the employees
affidavit eliminated. and circulated
only to show to the country the
honest. bonafide purpose of my re-
marks.
Il realize that the Judgment of
no human is infaliible. I bow to
the collective Judgment of my col
Ieagues, against none of whom i
harbor n1aliee, and offer this, ny
apology,-tto the House for what my
colleagues in their decision determ-
ined was an error.
Very sincerely.
(Signed)
THOMAS L. BLkNToN.
House Pleased by Action.
The qualification of the House. as
expressed in the applause, was due
particularly to Representative Blan-
tons disclaimer of any intention to
circulate the uDscene language
which had been expunged from the
Record and for (ne insertion of
which he had been censured and rep
rimanded
His statement, made in response
to a question by Representative
Longworth, Republican, of Ohio,
Thursday, that only a lack of funds
prevented him from placing the
speech, Just as IL is" in the hands
of every male citizen in the United
States, it was generally conceded
yesterday swung at least fifty
votes for expulsion.
Mr.. Blanton first went to Repre-
sentative Burton. Republican, of
Ohio, who vigorously demanded his
expulsion, and explained he did not
mean what his words indicated.
Representative Burton admonished
him to make this plain Immediately
in a letter OF apology to the House.
The Texan then discussed the mat
ter with leaders on his own side,
and they came to his support.
Sought to Strike Out Words.
Representative Garret, of Tennes-
see, acting Democrat leader, asked
in view of the offending members
disavowal that the words Just as
it is" be stricken from the perma
nent Record. Republican Leader
Mondell, who championed the ex-
pulsion resolution, objected. Repre-
sentative London, Socialist of New
York, then sought to make a mo-
tion to strike out the words, but
Speaker Protein Walsh, in the chair,
declined to entertain the motion.
Representative Blanton was one
of the first members on the floor
when the House convened'at noon
yesterday. He sat apart from his
colleagues, and for more than an
hour worked on a manuscript, and
then read the Congressional Record
account of his narrow escape Thurs
day.
"Pepo Seemed Missing.
Looking fresh after a long nights
sleep, but his old pep" entirely
missing, he made no, effort to en-
gage in conversation with anybody.
Before taking up the question of an
explanation and apology with Rep
resentative Burton, he sat long in
intent reflection, looking straight
ahead. smiling at times and twirl-
ing a pair Of big, shell-rimmed
spectacles.
During the applause which fol-
lowed the reading of his letter Of
apology, he was visibly affected.
His face flushed, and 1t was obvious
that he was fighting to hold back
his emotion. =