Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 September 1917 — SOLONS ACCUSED BY REP. HEFLIN [ARTICLE]

SOLONS ACCUSED BY REP. HEFLIN

lAttacks Five During Bernstorff “Slush” Fund Hearing Before Body. < CONGRESSIONAL QUIZ NEAR Representatives Britten and Mason of Illinois and Baer and Senator La Follette Asked to Answer Serious Charges. Washington, Sept. 28. —Representative Thomas Heflin of Alabama broke the Bernstorff $50,000 slush fund scandal wide open in the house. He named five legislators and demanded information of what connection they had, If any, with pro-German activities. With his startling accusations he removed immediately all doubt of a congressional investigatioif occurring. Nothing can prevent it now, regardless of administration wishes. Goaded to expose the men he accused, he named these: Senator La Toilette of Wisconsin, Representative Fred A. Britten of Chicago, Representative William E. Mason of Chicago, Representative Patrick D. Norton of North Dakota, Representative John M. Baer of North Dakota. The names were brought out by Heflin when he appeared before the house rules committee, which is considering resolutions offered by Norton and Fordney of Michigan, to probe the Bernstorff fund and its application to congress. Immediate Inquiry Urged. When word came he had mentioned these five sentiment demanding immediate and exhaustive inquiry spread through the house membership. If the rules committee reports the resolution it will go through in a hurry. If the resolution is not reported soon any one. of several members is likely to rise to a point of highest privilege and force either Heflin’s proof or his expulsion from the house. Of the men named, four were in , Washington. Senator La Follette declined to answer questions concerning the Heflin charges. Norton, Britten and Baer issued warm retorts. Mason whs in Chicago. . Heflin’s Open Charges. In an impassioned speech, Heflin demanded that the rules committee ask for a general investigation so that he might learn: 1. Where the inaney came from that produced literature supporting the antidraft bill of Representative Mason. 2. Where the money came from that produced literature supporting the Britten resolution to exempt GermanAmericans from military service abroad. 3. What congressmen are planning to line up with the nonpartisan league that elected Baer and which is said to oppose the war. 4. Who are in the organization “La Follette is championing that will leave the president without an army.” 5. Why Norton insists on turning the proposed slush fund investigation against him, Heflin. Mr. Norton was present at the committee meeting while Heflin was making his speech. Saying he understood several congressmen wanted him expelled because he mentioned suspicious members, Heflin turned to Norton and dared him to vote for the expulsion. “I’ll have something to say about you before the investigation committee if it is created,” Heflin declared, facing Norton. rfeflin then demanded a committee to thrash out the whole Bernstorff slush fund story.