OCR Text |
Show DEMAND FOR FACTS. Senator Watson 's charges that the Chicago office of the federal trado commission com-mission is filled with socialists and bolshevists has provoked a counterblast counter-blast from the commission, which, in effect, accuses tho Indiana senator of being in league with the packers, producing pro-ducing certain correspondence to buttress but-tress the accusation. The sincerity of the Hoosier senator has been questioned by Senator Kcnyon of Iowa, while Harris Har-ris of Georgia gets into the controversy contro-versy with the charge that the Watson allegations aro part of a concerted effort ef-fort to discredit the trade commission in its attempt to bring about some constructive con-structive legislation which will protect the consuming public against rapacious monopolies. . , The Watson resolution asking for an investigation of the federal trade commission com-mission awaits the pleasure of the senate. sen-ate. Mr. Watson having accused this body in detailed charges, he should lose no time in calling for an immediate imme-diate vote on his resolution. If the men accused by the Indiana senator are guilty of the things Watson says they are they should be ousted from the commission as quickly as their removal can be brought about. The country wants to know, however, just what is prompting these charges. Tho federal commission is no less specific in its accusations against Mr. Watson than he was in accusing the commission. The entire controversy has an ugly aspect, but it has progressed to the stage where still further publicity is demanded. The Indiana senator made his charges "on his honor as a member mem-ber of the senate." The fact that he himself has been accused and his honor challenged should lead to immediate action to establish the truth of the allegations alle-gations which have been hurled across the senate chamber in the past few days. It is a nasty mess, but it will havo to be cleaned out. |