Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-10-27
TO
.EXPEL BLANTON
STARTS FIGHT
Texas Representative Main.
tains That His Remarks
Were Not Obscene.

Washington, Oct. p. The
house defeated today q resolution
to cxpel Representative Rlanton,
Democrat, Texas. This action
forecasts favorable vote on n
resolution to censure and to di-
rect public reprimand OF the Tex
as member.
The vote ON the resolution was
2OS for expulsion and 113 against
and one voting present. This
lacked eight votes of tho neccs-
sary two-thirds to cxpel the Tex
an. ..i
Washington, Oct. 27--substitution
OF a vote to censure instead of expul-
sion of Representative Blanton of
Texas, was proposed in the house to-
day by Representative Garret, Ten
nessee, the acting democratic leader
after the Texas representative had
made g. dramatic defense of his ac-
ton in inserting in the Congressional
Record matter characterized as OBJ
5ecttonal@ by house leaders.
Adoption Of the resolution was ask
ed by the republican leader who de-
clared that while it was proper to in
form the public of the reasons for
what the house was called upon to do,
the publication of which Is the basis
,of the charge" is of such a character
that TIA It, i, cannot be presented on the
4 y NJ. Aondeu characterized the OBJ
Jectionable worSs I'M the. affidavit in
serted in the Congressional Record by
Blanton as unspeakably vile, foul
filthy, profane, blasphemous and OBJ
scene. > IL H-al . -,..r
know. m embers of the house will
agree It was the vilest thing they ever
saw in print" he added. IF I were to
recite here even portion of these
words I, myself, would be subject to
expulsion"
Blanton Enters.
Mr.. Blanton entered the chamber
a moment before the chaplain's pray
er and took his accustomed seat on
the second row and during Mr.. Mon
delFs speech sat with his hand to his
lips looking in the opposite direction
He was pale, but smiling, whe1,
Speaker Gillett gave him the privilege
of the floor.
IT corridor reports are true" Mr.
Blanton said, this will be my las,
speech in the house.
With God as my witness L had nc
intent other than protecting citizens
in their rights. There is not an i'm.
proper word used by me in the print
ed speech, and the sole and only doc
ument therein that has improper
language in it is the sworn affidavit
of a government employe that was
filed with the public printer"
! There was request from the dem
ocratic side for Mr.. Blanton to raise
his voice, but he declared he was
physically unable to do so. Mr.. Blan-
ton said he caused all improper
words in the affidavit to be abbreviat,
ed"
At this point Mr.. Blanton asked that
in justice to his family his remarks
other than the affidavit, be put back
in the record. Mr. Mondell objected
and a few members applauded.
Continuing Mr.. Blanton declared g
New York lawyer had informed him
that the record was not unavailable
because of the including of alleged
obscene matter. After reading while
from a prepared address Mr.. Blantor
began to speak extemporaneously. He
spent several minutes telling his col.
leagues what newspapers were say
ing about him.
Striking a dramatic pose he shout.
ed: Ea
mo man who ever went to the
scaffold suffered more than l have
Reading newspaper clipping, Mr.
Blanton declared there had been ar
effort to inject politics into the af.
fair, with suggestion that the Texas
senatorship was at stake.
And yet the newspapers say I an
the enemy of labor" he shouted
Why delivered groceries at the
back door of every home in the capi.
tai of Texas"
Frequent attempts were made by
members to interrupt Mr.. Blanton
but he refused to yield the floor. Ht
declared II he could be convinced
that he had done wrong he would ge,
on his knees and apologize to each
member Of the house.
But have not" he added.
~# Then with catch in his throat he
told how he went to his wife and
said to her that he could not carry or
his fight against the attempt te
.'sovietize the country" without funds
"She stood with me and I sold oul
home, spending every dollar we haG
to keep up. the fight. You have the
right to kick me out II you want an6
I'll take my medicine"
Resign never" E
when my adversaries' cold stee
pierces my vitals never squawk," The
! Texan then added.
The Garrett resolution declared
, that In offending the house and peo
!; pie by publication Of offensive matter
in the record, Mr.: Blanton deserved
.'the severe rebuke and drastic cen
sure OF the house. 1t also directed
representative publicly at the bar O.
the house.
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