The producers news., 1924-05-30
Senate Adopts Report
Exonerating Sen. Wheeler
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was announced all of them woU

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was announced all Of them would
have supported the resolution.
Sterling Proposal Loses Heavily
The proposals under which the SEN
ate would not have expressed itself as
to the guilt or innocence were put for
ward by Senators Sterling cf South
Dakota, a member of the investigat-
ing committee, and Spencer of Mis-
souri, That by Senator Sterling,
which specified that no question
should be raised as to Senator Whee-
ler's qualifications to sit in the SEN
ate was rejected, So to 5.
Twenty-Five republicans, 81 demo-
Gratis and two farmer-labOr members
voted against the Sterling resolution,
while five republicans supported it.
Senator Spencer's resolution would
have limited the senate to a state
ment that no facts had been devel-
oped in the inquiry which would dis
qualify Senator Wheeler from re-
tanning his seat. 1t was rejected, Sc
to 8, all of those supporting it being
republicans.
Voting against the resolution were
Is republicans, 36 democrats and the
two farmer-labor senators. Those
supporting it were Moses, Phipps,
Reed Of Pennsylvania, Spencer, Stan
| field, Wadsworth, Warren and Willis.
Senators Curtiss and Sterling joined
in opposing it.
Stormy Debate
The ballOting came after nearly
three hours of debate in which Sena-
tor Sterling, author of a minority re-
port holding that with the facts be-
fore it, the grand jury was justified
in voting an Indictment, became the
storm center of attack from both
sides of the chamber
Senator Robinson of Arkansas, the
democratic leader, declared that every
honest citizen acquainted with the
facts knew that Senator Wheeler had
been Framed" because of his activi-
ties in pressing the investigation of
the department of justice and assert
ed that senators would be "cravens
and towards" if they took refuge be-
hind Senator Sterling's resolution.
Declaring that upon the testimony
addueed before the committee, "no
reasonable man on earth can say Sen
ator Wheeler is guilty or that the in
dictment is justified" Senator John
son, republican, California, declared
that it would be "cOwardly" for the
senate not to &c on record in vindi-
cation of the Montana senator.
"There are circumstances surround
ing this case," Senator Johnson said
(which arouse indignation in the
breasts Of the people of the United
States"
Senator Sterling told the senate he
did not think he ever would have to
defend his courage in the senate, that
he had ever voted the courage of his
convictions and that he did not be
lieve that the senate by its vote
should prejudice the trial of Senator
Wheeler in Montana.
The South Dakota senator Joined
with Senator Spencer in expressing
the hope that when ne came to trial,
Senator Wheeler would be able to re-
! fute everyone of the charges made
against him.
"But it's not fair" he added, "for
us to sit here as a trial jury to deter
mine guilt or innOcense."
In opening the days debate Senator
! Swanson, democrat Virginia, a mem
! Der of the investigating committee,
declared there could be no more re
prehensible thing than for a senator
to be besmirched CIR blackmailed when
he performed his duty and dared to
see that the party in power is cOnduc-
ting the public business fairly and
honestly"
Referring to Senator Sterling's ar
gument that the senate should not
prejudice the court trial, Senator
Swanson charged that the South Da-
kota senator's minority report had
been semitic Montana under govern
ment stamp for circulation there "tO
prejudice public opinion"
is that the way justice is to be adj
ministered ?" he demanded. as that
the way public opinion is to be con-
trolled?"
Disagreeing with both the majority
and the minority reports, Senator
! Spencer said he thought the sole ques-
tiontion before the senate was to de
termine and express the determina-
tion that it does not think there is a
question from the facts as to Senator
Wheeler's right to a seat.