The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1921-12-09
CHAIRMAN
ORDERED WAT
SON TO HIS SEAT
After Consultation, Sena-
tor Brandegee Ordered
Army Officers Out of the
Room As w a t son
Claimed Their Bearing
Annoyed Him

w dciilti2 lbis ~ ~ DNNr y. he
meeting of the Senate committee in
5estigating charges by Senator Wat
son, Democrat, Georgia, that soldiers
had been illegally hanged in France
almost broke up in row to-day aft
Ner Senator Watson had threatened t.
slap the face of any army officer sit
ting in the audience.
Chairman Brandegee of the commit
tee, taking hold OF an awkward situa-
tion, declared that no person in the
room should be insulted.
This statement was made just aft
err Senator Watson walked up close
to Major George d Coclleu and, shak-
ing. his finger in his face, exclaimed: !:
'For two pennies ! would slap your
face
IF he looks at me again that way
I win slap his jaws the Georgia SEN
,ator declared, adding that he would
laot remain with the committee to be
= fbulldozed' by this Dull jawed brute
v"Take your seat, Senator Watson" :"
Sl.lator Brandegee demanded
81 will retire frst,. he replied
"Take your seat or retire. the chair
man said.
Chairman Brandegee called for the
sergeant alarms, and Senator Watson
sat down. Then, turning to the Gepr
gia senator. the chairman asked If he
wanted the army officers present, in
cluding Walter Il. Bethel, General
Pershing's Judge advocate general in
France, to retire.
'Yes." said Senator Watson.
well, get OUT said the chairman
and the officers retired.
Major Cocheu had not been called
as witness and sat silent while SEN
ator Watson was launching a verbal
attack upon him. The senator told the
committee that he had been insulted
by the manner in which the officer had
Sooked at him.
tSenator Shields Democrat, Tennessee,
objected to the attack, stating that the
committee had every desire to give
Senator Watson a fun hearing, that
it had not preiudiced the case and that
the senator's statement to that effect
was abso' .tely without foundation
Senator Watson began a discussion of
The case with respect to certain evil
dence he expected to produce after the
officers had retired. :.
Senator Shields presided at the open
ing Of the session, but retired later as
Mr.. Brandegee arrived and took the
chair. Soon after there was an ex-
change between Mr.. Brandegee apd
Mr.. Watson regarding certain conyer-
sations relating to procedure and the
presence Of army officers while the
Georgia senator was presenting his
witnesses. The exchange became very
heated and Senator Watson shouted,
Il am not afraid Of YOU
"Nor ] of YOU" Chairman Brandegee
replied, banging the table.
The chairman went on to say that
there had been no disposition in the |
minds OF the committee to be unfair |
to Mr.. Watson and that it was not |
right for him to impugn the commit
tees motives.
you ought to submit your evidence
and let us decide" said the chairman. |
'sThen the Senate can determine wheth- |
err our findings are proper"
IL was at this point that Senator |
Watson turned suddenly upon Major |
Cocheu. reminding him that he was
not in France and announcing his threat 1
that for two pennies he would slap his
jaws.
When the excitement had subsidized |
Senator Watson announced that he de-
sired the committee to call 03 wit
nesses whose names he presented. along
with a great volume Of letters. There
was some informal discussion. much |
milder IN tone than that which pre-
ceded the row. Hearings then we're
adjourned until ? O'Clock tomorrow
afternoon. and the committee held an
executive session.
senator Watson, at the resumption
Of the inquiry today, protested
against the decision Of the committee
to confne the inquiry solely to the
question of hangings
Il want 70 protest aCalfNt the sc
ton Of this committee In narrowing
the investigation 70 hangings 81 sol
iiers without trial. BY court martial
senator Watson declar-i 4
Nv charges were broader. I uro-
test against the charges heiur mar
ruwed. I want il understood that
sm going into the shooting Of men By
iheir officers-
The committee suggested that e
hight Be Necessary 70 90 before the