(3 of 6)
Next followed querulous roaring about how Roman Catholics kept Heflin speeches from the mails; about how Heflin lectured on Mexico; about Roman Catholic conspiracies discovered by Heflin from Buffalo to Dubuque. . . .
The Hearst-Mexican scandal seemed almost forgotten, until Senator Robinson of Arkansas, Democratic leader in the Senate, interposed. Senator Robinson, as a member of the committee that investigated the Hearst-Mexican documents, reminded the Senate that Senator Heflin had been fully exonerated. Senator Robinson also said: "... I think it unworthy of the Senator from Alabama to declare that the fact, if it be a fact,* that Mrs. Hearst is a Catholic, is in any way responsible for the publication of these documents.
"I hold no brief for Mr. Hearst. . . . But there is, Sir, in my judgment, not one word of testimony . . . that justifies the inference asserted by the Senator from Alabama that the Catholic Church or Catholic agencies inspired or prompted the forgeries for the purpose of humiliating or disgracing him or for any other purpose.
"It may be that in the future . . . the committee will be able to ascertain or to identify the guilty parties. . . ."
Heflin: "Mr. President, will the gentleman yield right there? ... So far as I am concerned, I am going to object to the Senator from Arkansas remaining on that committee any longer. He feels called on to try to answer my speech today. ... I do not think he is fair to me and as a Representative of the Democratic Party I repudiate his speech!"
Democratic-leader Robinson took this insubordination calmly. Other members of the Hearst-investigating committee got up to confirm his opinion of the alleged Roman Catholic "conspiracy." But Senator Heflin continued insubordinate. This time the fight waxed hot.
Heflin: ". . . The Senator from Arkansas cannot remain leader of the Democrats and fight the Roman Catholics' battle† every time the issue is raised in this body without some expression from a constitutional Democrat!
Robinson: "Mr. President, whenever the Senator from Alabama can determine who shall be the leader of the Democratic Party in the Senate of the United States, that party can get somebody else than myself to lead it here."
Heflin: "Well, you have my consent to do that now. . . ."
Robinson: "Mr. President, I think the Senator from Alabama had better not interrupt me."
Heflin: "Well, I will say—"
Vice President Dawes: "The Senator from Arkansas has the floor."
Robinson: "... I have heard the Senator from Alabama a dozen times during the last year make what he calls his anti-Catholic speech. I have heard him denounce the Catholic Church and the Pope of Rome and the cardinal and the bishop and the priest and the nun until I am sick and tired of it, as a Democrat."
Heflin: "I would like to have the Senator make that speech in Arkansas."
Robinson: "I will make that speech in Arkansas, and I will make it in Alabama, too."
Heflin: "If you do, they will tar and feather you."
Robinson: "Oh, yes. That shows the prescriptive spirit which dwells in the bosom of my friend from Alabama."
Heflin: "No —"