Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-11-05
HANGING CHARGE
(Continued from Pace One)

Continued from Page One)
an amendment, declaring the inquiry
should be into Senator Watson's
charges. and not an investigation OF
the senator himself. From the reso-
luton giving the committee power
to act in the case, another amend
ment struck out statement rela-
tive to inviting Senator Watson to
appear before the committee. The
committees course in this respect.
members said. would be determined
later.
Senator Simmons at the conclusion
OF the debate said that Sen. Watson
was satisfied with the amended reso-
lutions and would no doubt submit
his evidence to the special commit
tee. Earlier, Mr.. Watson had chal-
lenged Republicans to expel him, de-
clared for debate in the open Senate
and asked why an effort should be
made to "entrap' and "silence" him
before committee. He denounced
white washing committee reports"
and said they were not read.
The war department is preparing to
give its fullest support to the senate
investigation, taking the position that
the accusations of the Georgia sena-
of the army until a full investigation
is held" Secretary Weeks has said
that he hopes the inquiry is carried
out until alr>fhe facts have been es-
tablished and is understood to have
offered to put at the disposal of tho
committee the facilities of the depart
ment in arriving at the truth
The fight over the senator's cha gcs
opened today when the senate met
at 10 O'Clock, an hour caclier han
usual, to take up the affairs. Senator
Edge, republican. New Jers ". began
the debate with a criticism of Sen.
ator Watson for presenting photo
graphs yesterday of a gallows where
Il soldier had been executed after a
court martial. the New Jersey senator
said. for brutal" attack upon a
seven year girl. Senator Edge
declared the incident could not be
"camou1aged" and that the issue was
as to the truth of the charges of
illegal hangings.
In q spirited reply. Senator Watson
said his information REGARDING q al
legged hangings of soldiers without
trial came from a former soldier who
said he ha 1 seen the gallows and had
been told by gallows guard that
, this number was hanged. His infor-
mant. Senator Watson said, would
face the senate and answer all ques-
tions.
The French government and Gen.
Lafayette We're criticized by the
| Georgia senator in commenting on a
statement by Newton d. Balier, for
mer secretary of war that the ren-
ator's charges We're "preposterous ard
; incredible" Referring to Mr.. Bakers
statement. that France was a "civil-
lied country" and that word of any
| Illegal executions would have spread
quickly, Senator Watson said that
Frapcc had charged America for
| trenches and Fairgrounds usel. by
American troops.
"Oh, yes. France is not a bowling
wilderness but a civilized country
tiiC 'tol Sid StlIGtOl continued, IEOIIl
which Lafayette came upon a written
contract made with SiIas Dean, pledg
, ing this country to make him a ma =
Jor general before he would leave
France and come to America: and he
did not have sense enough to dllI a
company of soldiers. beside which he
SMILED. Some of these days. when
somebody gets up here and blows off
about Lafayette, / mean to take him
down peg or two. l know Lafay-
cite and Washington knew him. an 7
it was not Washington who had him
released from that Austrian prison
into which he was put when the
French armWchased him with the in
tent to Kill. 1t was Napoleon Bona
parte. in the treaty of Campo Formio.
Yes. / know Lafayette. He betrayed
every French government that trusted
him and the only independent COM
mand he ever had in America, came
very near getting bagSed by Bcne-
dict Arnold and it was only the James
river that saved Lafayette and his
command from being captured
Senators differed widely during the
three tense hours of debate over the
scope of the inquiry but the senate
made no change in the resolution
mentioning Senator Watsons charges
generally. Committee members said
privately they intended to limit the
inquiry generally to the principal
charges made by Mr.. Watson without
going into a general investigation Of
conduct Of army officers.