The times-news., 1936-01-17
.NYE'S ATTACK
UPON WILSON
IS RESENTED
Two Democratic Members
Quit Munitions Probe
Committee
CHARGE DELIBERATE
DIVERSION OF QUIZ
BY ARTHUR F. DEGRAVE
United Press Staff Correspondent

WASHINGTON, Jan. IT. (UP)
Two Democratic members with
drew from the senate munitions
committee last night after sharply
accusing the group of deliberately
diverting their inquiry to be-
smirch the momery of President
Woodrow Wilson.
AS Sen. James P. Pope, d.,
Ida, was reading to the commit
tee a statement signed also by
Sen. Walter George, D., Ga, an
nouncing their temporary with
drawal from the investigation, Sen
Tom Connally, D., Tex, rushed to
Wilson's defense in the senate.
The storm broke about a charge
by Chairman Gerald P. Nye, R.,
N. D., Wednesday that Wilson and
his secretary of state, Robert
Lansing, lied when they told the
senate foreign relations committee
that they knew nothing of secret
treaties dividing the spoils of the
World War before Americas en-
try.
At the conclusion of Popes'
statement, Nye calmly denied that
he bore "malice' toward the war
president and insisted that he had
never "tried so hard to be with
out prejudice"
"I have entertained and still en-
tertain a faith in Woodrow Will
sons determination to keep us out
of war, if possible" he said. Gas,
a newspaper editor supporter
him for rejection in 1916. No one
can say that | am displaying ami
mus because of a desire to get
even with a man | did not agree
with politically. The record shows
the opposite"
j. P. Morgan and his partners
in the international banking house
who had been called as witnesses
sat silently as the committee,
fighting to obtain legislation which
would keep this nation out of war,
engaged in a private battle of its
own.
The inquiry was recessed for a
week at the close of the day with
Morgan and his aides again asked
to appear to explain their part in
pre-war financial operations. Yes
terday the committee disclosed
that Wilson was ready to hurl this
nation into the World War long
before April 6, 1917 but feared
stubborn congress might not ap-
prove such a drastic step.
Connally, one of the sharpest-
tongued members of congress, was
the first to strike back at Nye'S
accusation against Wilson and a
other disclosures in which the
war president was mentioned.
81 can see the ferrets Of the
committee going into the secret
files of the state department. try
ing to get something with which to
spread slime over the memory OF
Woodrow Wilson," he said acidly:
Declaring that Nye had heaped
insults upon one Of "the greatest
figures in American history" the
Texan added: :,
"When the history of this period
is finally written, the figure OF
Woodrow Wilson will tower above
the puny pygmies now barking a.
him. ..
"Some international woman OF
the Streets" he scoffed, "entlced
Uncle Sam into an alley and got
him into war"
Sen. Bennett C. Clark, D., Mo-,
a memger of the committee, leap
ed to his feet and denounced Con-
nelly's speech as "madcap har-
angue."
Pope strobe into the committee
room shortly after it reconVencd
for the afternoon session. Nyee
Interrupted the questioning Oh
Morgan, to say:
81 believe Senator Pope has
statement to make" i
Pope, slightly flustered, read
slowly. He outlined the purposes
of the present inquiry and Salu
that up to now it's work had been
of untold value to the people. Inc
Idahoan said, however, that he
was unable to see any connec!loI
between Nye's accusation agalnSe
Wilson and the investigation OF
the munitions industry. wv,
"Such efforts to disparage WI
son and Lansing disclosed the oiaS
and prejudice with which the ~
vestigation is being carried on!
he began. 81 will take no part ~
such performance. | am emphaLi-
cally not interested in head num-
ing or using an instrumentallty ol
the United States senate to pro
mote the bias, prejudice or anililu'
of any member of the commltteeji
"There is the most urgent necu
for a true munitions investigator
and remedial legislation. WheH-
ever this committee realignS 10
investigation to conform with thIS
objection, it will have my lV'ii
support" ,;oo
Pope praised Wilson in glowing
terms and added: ESQ
Continued on page FOUR