Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-12-10
WATSON WRATHY
Continued from Page One)

member of the committee as untrue
and wholly without foundation.
The senator's attack on Major
Cocheu hit the committee like
crash Of lightning. There had been
no intimation that anything of the
kind was impending. Major Cocheu,
sitting next to COL Walter Bethel,
General Pershing's judge advocate
General in France, had not testified,
and his friends said later was pres
ent in his official capacity as chief
of the legislative branch of the gen.
eral staff.
Suddenly swinging on his feet and
shaking his right hand within two
feet of the majors face, the senator,
his voice pitched high. exclaimed
that for two pennies I'd slap your
laws" The officer did not bat an
eye.
Instantly, Chairman Brandegee
was on his feet. calling for ser
geant at arms to protect the officer
from IAN insult" Then. declaring
that he himself had been insulted,
Senator Watson announced that nc
would retire from the meeting.
Taking hold of the situation, Sena-
tor Shields declared the committee de-
sired to proceed in order and suggest
cd TO Senator Watson that he mad not
been insultcd. I'VE expect you to con-
duct yourself here in the same manner
YOU would want others to conduct
themselves toward you" said Senator
Shields.
AN insult can be given by looks"
Senator Watson shot back, wheeling
quickly again to face the officer. Ii
he looks at me again that way. III slap
his face. 1 won't sit here and be bull
dozed by these officers-by this bull
jawed brute"
Major Cocheu looked straight ahead
at the senator as Chairman Brandegee
endeavorcd to get the proceedings
within orderly Senate bounds. After
repeating his command that the scna-
tor sit down or leave, Chairman Bran
degee and Senator Watson had a fiery
exchange as to just what had been
promised in keeping officers out of the
room while any of the latters witness
es were testifying.
Finally the chairman shouted to the
Georgia senator, asking if he wanted
the officers sent away, and on being in
formed that he did, they were told to
get out.
After that things settled down a bit
Smiles came back to Senator Watson s
face as he explained that he wanted
to beg the pardon of the committee If
tnI ~, ~,
He added, however, that the officers
sitting there had gazed at him "in an
|insolent manner" that aroused his
southern blood"
The committee later decided to hear
some army officers tomorrow and then
adjourn the open sessions for a week.
so as to examine the mass of docu-
ments presented by Senator Watson
inc senator announced he had no wit
ncsses on hand today, but the commit
zee agreed to summon anybody he felt
could give violence as to the illegal
hangings.
Ihe first furry followed a prot st
by Senator Watson over the action of
the committee in combining the in
curry to illegal hangings." The SEN
ator insisted his charges covered
broader ground and that the COM
nittee was attempting to marrow
the scope of the inquiry" Members
told the senator however. that they
were acting in entire accord with the
senate resolution and that if he
wanted to go into other fields, it
would be necessary to go back to the
senate for authority to investigate
beyond the line fixed by the senate
itself.
Senator Watson asserted at today's
session that Col. Theodore Roosevelt,
Jr., corrorborates my statement that
as lodier was shot by an officer" but
this statement was formally denied
by Assistant Secretary Roosevelt in
a letter to Chairman Brandegee in
which he offered to appear as a wit
ness before the committee.
"At no time, did I make, either YER
bally or otherwise" Mr.. Roosevelt
said, these statements as reported
in the press account Of what Sen.
Watson said. 1 have held no COM
rnuuication with Sauafor Watson eY.