Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-02-21
ECKELSVSLAWSON
War of Words Between Financier
and Former Comptroller
of Treasury.
VIGOROUS TERMS EXCHANGED
chicagoan Questions 5ostonian's Mo-
tives and Is Called Representa-
tive of the System"

Chicago, Feb. 2l-Open warfare
started yesterday between Thomas w.
Lawson, of Boston. and James H. Eek
els, president of the Commercial Ma
tional bank, of Chicago. In the morn
ing Everybody's Magazine appeared
with a charge from Mr.. Lawson that
Mr.. Eckles had been captured by the
Standard Oil System" when as Pres
ident Cleveland's comptrollerheh handled
the $1OO. 100000 bond issue.
Then, in the afternoon, Mr.. Eckels
spoke. He called the author of "Fren-
zied Finance" "a cowardly purveyor of
lies" and said in effect that he was no
gentleman.
Those complimentary remarks reach
ed Mr.. Lawson last night. and a re
turn shot was fired Instantly.
Latest Shot from Lawson.
Mr. Lawson says in answer TO Mr.
Eckels' mo gentleman" allegation:
James II. Eckels is like the men
who employ him. Without prOvoca-
tion, he. in the cowardly security of a
crowd of friends in his own city, Chi
cago, with no chance for me to reply,
made a low, white-livered attack, and
then when l give the whelp a return
blow he snarls: NO gentleman. and
whimpers.
'If you will allow me, / will say
was at Washington at the time of the
Cleveland bond sale and saw. in addi-
tion a number of gentlemen, a gang of
government looters who would make
professional sneak thieves join the
shame if they were found in their COM
pany
Discusses InSInuntIon.
"Mr. Eckels says / insinuate. Let
me see if do. | do not directly charge
James H. Eckels with the actual job
berry which took place that day at
Washington. because | only make di-
rect charges / can prove, and | admit
the Washington game was SO well COW
cred up | could not get at the inside
in a way that would be accepted in a
court of law or l would have attempted
to drag James II. EckeIs out into the
open long ago.
Il will not insinuate the following,
but will directly charge il: James II.
Eckels, while a director of the Trust
COMPANY VI the ittpuDilG VI new lDIhs
the notorious shipbuilding trust com
pany, borrowed money from the Trust
Company of the Republic. when the
law said directors should not borrow;
and when State Inspector Kilburn put
his finger on it and his eye on Eckels.
Eckels promptly paid up.
Now Others Turn.
Now. James II. Eckels, IL is your
turn. and to aid you to sight your next
shot. you tell me what / dare not do:
let me tell you what dare do. meet
you or any Of your kind. who feed on
the people, in any place, at any time.
and at any honest game you may Sc
lect: nothing barred but the kind OF
tricks by which you gained your pres
ent position as western mud-slinger Of
the system | gave the papers earlier
in the day an offer 10 cover you and
your eastern garbage distributing col
league. ex-Assistant United States At
torney Gen. James NJ. Beck.
Null il over and let the country see
whether or not you have any short
range pluck You do not seem to have
a lot Of long range
THOMAS W. LAWSON"
Statement by Mr. EekeIs.
The controversy between Mr.. Law
son and Mr. Eckels began ar the Bel
mont banquet OF the Chicago Under
7rters' association at the Auditorium