The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-04-10
INDICTMENT
OF WHEELER
TO BE AIRED
Senate Decides On Inn
mediate Sift OF
Charges
FRAMED rs FLING
OF QUIZ DIRECTOR
To Continue Fight On
Corruption, Says Gen.
Daugherty Prosecutor
COMMITTEE TO GO ON
WITH IT'S HEARINGS
Montana Action Can Be Traced
To Former Attorney Cen
eraI, Says Brookhart
FRAMED is FLING
OF QUIZ DIRECTOR
COMMITTEE TO GO ON
WITH IT'S HEARINGS

WASHINGTON, April Elm
mediate investigation of the charges
which led to the indictment OF Senator
Wheeler, democrat, Montana, BY fed
sraI grand jury in his own state yes
terday, was ordered today By the Sen
ate.
Action came after an imprisoned
address by the prosecutor Of the Dough
erty COMMITTEES delivered before a
crowded chamber and galleries and ex-
pressions of confidence. by his col
leagues.
2 Senator Wheeler denied the charges
brought against him as false and the
Indictment as a deliberate "frame-up."
He assured the senate there was no evil
denee to support them and defied his
enemies to produce such evidence. Then
striking back vigorously at his ac-
eusers, he declared he was not to be
fntimidated; that he had fought cor
ruption before in a stormy political
career in his own state and would con-
tinue to fight it in Washington regard
less of his own personal fortunes.
ra Seeks No Sympathy
Announcing that he sought no SYM
patty from his colleagues and was per-
fectly able to make his own fight, Sen
ator Wheeler pleaded with the senate
to put an end to what he characterized
as ''spy" system designed to intinii-
date United States senator's.
"They are not going to intimidare
me-, he reiterated. II am going to do
my duty as + see it. am not going
to be stopped by threats or by clamor.
n ~sx ta1s xtxar.
tell you this charge has no founda-
ton"
But they have not stopped with
their attack upon me-" he added in q
choking voice. They have tried ~ in
ailsfe my wifs and my babiess
AS the first of dozen senators Sp-
preached him TO congratulate him, Sem
ator Wheeler brushed tears from his
eyes.
Sees Daugherty's Hand
Chairman Brookhart of the Daugher-
ty Investigating committee, on his feet
before Senator Wheeler concluded, told
the senate he believed the indictment
was directly due to his colleagues ac-
tivity in the investigation. II believe
this indictment can be traced back to
Daugherty," he declared. "But the
proceeding has not intimidated the COM
mittee, We will continue to go for
ward until the people of the United
States can render. true verdict upon
this conspiracy to protect the criminal
" rich in their effort to rule the coun-
try"
Senator Brookhart then declared that
evidence adducedN before the committee
.k ,1f L. lnI
shown an organized conspiracy in the
household of the former attorney gen.
eral to collect money for the protection
Of crime"
''Those Participating he said, .in-
eIuded Jess Smith and Howard Man
nington. It is uncomfortable that
Harry Daugherty was not personally
aware of it."
4 Walsh Expresses Confidence
Senator Robertson, democrat, Ar
kansas. declared every aduitor of Sem
ator Wheeler could not be but con-
WINGED that he was free from any sense
of guilt, and Senator Walsh, democrat,
Montana, prosecutor of the oil COM
mittee, expressed confidence that the
charges against his colleague were en-
tirely without foundation"
There was momentary difference of
opinion between Senators Brookhart
and Robinson as to whether the inquiry
4 into the charges recited in the indict-
ment should be conducted by the
Daugherty committee or special COM
mittee. It ended when Senator Wheeler
asked that new, investigating body be
named in view of his membership on
& the Daugherty committee
i Senator Walsh ,then Introduced a
resolution calling for the appointment
+ by President Cummins of five members
I Of the Senate to make the investigation
and the Senate adopted it Immediately.
Later it adopted a supplemental resolu-.
ton, authorizing the committee to sub
spoena persons and papers.
The personnel probably viii be made
Tomorrow by President Cummins, Mem
bers said the selection of the COM
mittee would be left entirely with
president Gummins and without sug-
1gestion from them,