Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-03-07

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against the advice OF some of my
best friends in speaking now in ad-
vance of the report, but l cannot
longer remain silent. i have served
this government in an official capac-
ity for more than thirty years. ana
nearly eighteen years of the time mas
been as Il member of this great body.
My life has been an open book.
have gone In and out among my
people and among the membership OF
this House during these years. This
Is the first time any dispersion has
ever been cast upon my personal or
official integrity. Coming as j do
from a Kentucky mountain district.
where people value honor higher
even than human life. ii is natural
that ] should feel shocked at such
an accusation.
Would Face Accuser..
while no report has yet been re-
ceived, the newspaper stories are
carrying such Il report. and when il
comes to this House l am going to ask
OF my collie agues that a forum be
Immediately created wherein l can
at least exercise the right established
at Runnymede OF standing face to
face with ny accusers, and that all of
the truth be speedily disclosed. With
out any specific information, i can
not enter into IA specific denial, but L
have this TO say here and now In the
presence If Almighty God and these
witnesses. that I.have committed no
crime: l have done no wrong; j con-
! fdentiy rely upon a speedy vindi-
cation at the hands Of my colleagues
in the House.
II not only am anxious for such
a report to come in. but l demand
an immediate investigation of any
charges that may be made. Conscious
as l am of upriShteousness IN my
personal and official conduct, l shall
ask, yea, l shall demand as member
of this House, appointment by the
; speaker of Il committee which shall
Ice given the power to summon and
swear witnesses and take such action
as will bring the truth to light. God
helping me, l want the truth. nothing
but the truth and the whole truth.
Il want at least meanwhile, to
have in the minds of my friends and
my constituents and in the minds of
my countrymen as much right as d
criminal or crook has to be presumed
J innocent until proven guilty"
/ BIames Department Of Justice.
The Department of Justice should
have withheld all publicity bearing
on the case. MIR. Langley said. until
: it was ready TO deliver the goods
; in backing up charges. AS the speak
err made his waI to the well Of
, was loudly appiauded by his col
! leagues. who several times interrupt
ed him TO express approval of his
| statements.
! Maryland. who earlier in the day
: had admitted he had heard reports
; that he was one Of the men referred
+, to in the Chicago grand jury's re-
! port. was not on the floor when Mr.
p, Langley spoke.
| Il har ta6
! concluded Representative Upshaw
e, democrat. Georgia. took the floor to
! declare that he was opposed to the
reckless and half-baked way il
| bers had been attacked. AS hi
! walked back to his seat the entire
! House membership arose and ap-
| plauded him.
! Department of Justice officials have
! before them a demand from the
! House that they disclose the names
! of the two Representatives charged
! by the Chicago grand jury with hav-
! ing accepted brides.
! The House acted unanimously late
| yesterday, after leaders had learned
| that the grandsjury to be assembled
! here to investigate these and other
! charges in the Chicago report could
| not be expected to reach a conclusion
! within month.
{ LOnBWOrtn wants. DbciOsurS.
| Official disclosure of the names, il
was pointed out by Representative
Longworth. the republican leader, will
| serve not only to remove the suspi-
| cion cast upon the entire membership
! of the House by publication of the
! report, but would give the accused ar
! immediate opportunity to offer de-
/ Tense.
| IF they don't" he added, I'VE
! either can try this case ourselves OIL
leave it to the Department of Jus.
| tice."
The demand was embodied in a res.
! olution introduced several days age
/ by Representative Garrett of Tennes.
see, the democratic leader, which wa.
] adopted after elimination of re.
| quest for information as to the basis
| of the charges against the two men
| and also the phrase, "if not incom.
: patible with public interest"