The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1924-10-29


Il wasn't in favor of beginning the war. We had
No grievances"
This fake report appeared in more than 1,2OO
papers in the United States As a result Of IL,
luton introduced in the senate to expe La Toilette
dsoyal.
1t was not until May %, l9ls-eight months after
the delivery Of the speech that the Associated Press
took any action in the matter. Frederick Roy Martin,
assistant general manager Of the Associated Press,
that day wrote letter to the senate committee
apoogizng for the misquotation and specifically re-
tracing the erroneous report.
AFTER MANY MONTHS A. p. PUSHED
TO CORRECT IT'S VERY GRAVE ERROR
Martin wrote:
The error is regrettabe and the Associated Press
sezes the first opportunity to do justice to Senator
La Toilette"
Just why the Associated Press so tardy in 'sez-
ing the first opportunity has never been explained
On September %, 1917, resolution adopted by the
Minnesota public safety commission demanding the
expulsion Of La Toilette laid before the senate.
The resolution offered by Senator Frank B. Kellogg,
republican who was defeated for reelection in 1922 by
$4,000 plurality, and later appointed ambassador to
Great Britain by President Coolidge
The resolution based the st. Paul speech, and
urged proceedings looking TO the expulsion Of the said
Robert NJ La Toilette from the senate teacher Of
dsoyalty and sediton, giving aid and comfort to
enemies and hinderng the government in the conduct
Of the war"
Senator La Toilette was not present when Senator
Kellogg introduced his resolution in the senate. At the
time the senator was in attendance upon session Of
the finance committee which considering
enue legislation for the prosecution of the
In Senator La Folees absence, the senate referred
the resolution 10 the committee privileges and cleo
tons and ordered that committee to make nvestga
ton of the st. Paul speech. This committee in turn
referred the matter to the following subcommittee:
Senator Pomerene of Ohio (chairman), Walsh of Mon
tana, James of Kentucky, Dillingham; Of Vermont, and
Fall OF New Mexico.
SENATE COMMITTEE WAITED MONTHS
BEFORE CARRYING ON INVESTIGATION
The record shows that Senator La Foette's ST. Paul
speech remained under investigation for period of IA
months
On October H. 10 and 1e, 1917 Senator La Toilette
wrote Chairman Pomerene of the investigating
mtee demanding TO know upon what ground his right
TO his seat questioned asking specification of
the charges against him and of Objectionable statements
IN his speech and asking that he be given the right TO
summon witnesses and to employ counsel in public
hearings to sustain every statement included in his
speech
Upon the insistence of Senator La Toilette the COM
mtee held its only public hearing commencing May
81 1918, and permitted Mr. Gilbert E. Roe counsel for
Senator La Toilette to present brief and argument
showing that the charges baseess and there was
precedent for the expulsion of United States
tor the evidence before the committee.
No witnesses were examined and no other public
hearings held, but the expulsion resolution
kept hanging Senator La Folettes head and be-
couded his title to his seat until two months after the
end of the
Finally on December q 1918 the senate committee
on privileges and elections submitted to the senate
report completely generating Senator La Toilette.
ONLY ONE OF COMMITTEE, NOW
LAME DUCK, TOOK RAP AT HIM
The members of the committee which submitted the
report generating Senator La Toilette nine in
number. Only member Senator Pomerene of Ohio,
signed the minority report, filed December Ia, 1918,
recommending censure of Senator La Toilette by the
senate
Senator Pomerene was defeated for reelection to
the United States senate in 1922 and later APP
pointed special government counsel by President Cool
dge in the suits to oil lands rauduenty trans
ferred from the naval oil reserves by Albert B. Fall,
who had been appointed secretary of the interior by the
present administration,
On January 16 1919 nearly 16 months after the de-
livery of the St Paul speech, Senator Dillingham; repub
can called for vote the adoption of the majority
report
resolution dismissng the charges against Senator
La Toilette adopted by vote of 80 to 81. Senator
Kellogg, who presented the charges voted to dismiss
them.
The senate then voted $4,000 to La Toilette to pay
the expense he had incurred in defending himself
against the false charge.