New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-07-03
TIE CHARGES AGAINST MIR. LITrAUER


Representative Littauers high reputation for
probity should serve to protect him from any
hasty judgments on the serious charges that
have been made against him. Many ctrcum-
stances discount the apparent gravity Of those
charges, and suggest that Mr.. Littauer will in
his own time be able completely to dispose Of
them. In the first place, Mr. Littauer himself
was q plaintiff in the case which resulted in
the publication of the documents suggesting his
partnership in government contracts. If he
had been conscious of any wrongdoing which
these documents would reveal he would hardly
have courted their publication by forcing to
trial his suit to prevent a debtor in a compare
lively small amount from being discharged in
bankruptcy. The relation to the case Of the
documents themselves is also somewhat pecul-
far They do not seem to have any proper re-
lation to the point at issue before the referee,
but to be- as Mr.. Littauers counsel character
lied them, absolutely irrelevant" Perhaps
they were put in evidence by Mr.. Littauers
enemies merely to make safe their publication
as court records. Mr.. Littauer's position in
politics is such that it is easy to understand
why he might be struck at for the purpose Of
injuring others Therefore the charges are
naturally looked upon with suspicion,
Mr.. Littauer has promptly made a denial,
which is good as far as it goes, and his estab-
lished reputation warrants the belief that the
circumstances which he has not yet explained
will square with it. His statement, however,
while it is absolutely inclusive in its denial,
does not definitely dispose of the charge. lie
says that he had no interest in the Lyon con-
tracts, and merely sold the goods he manufact-
ured in the ordinary course OF business to
Lyon as he would to any jobber, and Lyon
sold to the government or anybody else at his
Yn1oo hat r-NrvIH 70 ha
mate transaction, although the law which for
bids a Congressman deriving any benefit from"
a contract might perhaps be construed to con-
denim 1t. Such a construction would almost
forbid manufacturer to go to Congress, for he
could hardly follow up every screw or nail he
made TO see that nobody ever sold 1t to the gov
eminent Some additional explanation is
needed, however, to make this statement Of the
transaction entirely consistent with the docu-
ments, or at least with possible Interpretation
of them which Mr.. Littauers enemies have
made. The phrase in one Of his letters Shall
l see LudingtonY-the quartermaSter general
suggests that he was active in securing for
Lyon the contracts to meet which Lyon bought
his goods. His letters also suggest that instead
of selling his goods at a fixed profit to Lyon,
he sent them forward at cost and then divided
with Lyon the difference between the cost and
the governments payment whatever it was.
He, moreover, seems to have suggested the
figures at which Lyon should bid for the gov
eminent contracts.
We look TO see Mr. Littauer remove all sus-
picions aroused on these points by his letters,
and show beyond doubt that his denial of inter
est in the contracts was none too sweeping.
He should realize, however, the necessity of
dealing specifically with those points and not
being content with general denial. He is en-
fIaI e. harvo
he has opportunity to set forth an answer In
detail dealing with the various circumstances
which on their face may be made by his ene-
mics to look suspicious. He should for his own
credit proceed as soon as possible to make that
detailed answer justify the confidence of his
friends and confound his enemies and theirs
All his friends will be gratied If he can find It
possible TO produce his definite and complete
justification without waiting for the oppor-
tunity which the War Departments inquiry
ordered by Secretary Root may give him.