The Washington times., 1906-05-12
STATE DEPARTMENT
TURNS SEARCHING
EYE ON PIERCE
Investigation of His Tour
Expected to Develop
Sensations.
OFFICIALS FEAR SCANDAL
Carload Of Souvenirs" From
Far East VIII Probably Be
Investigated.

The Department Of State is per-
turbed TO an almost unprecedented
degree by the threatened shadow of
scandal, Of which the country is
talking freely today.
Although this official dismay has
been concealed TO a great degree
by absolute silence in some in
stances, and in others by the as
sumption of Indifference to what
is said on all sides concerning the
Peirce-AfcYade controversy, The
Times is enabled 70 say that Her
bert H. D. Peiree. now holding the
position of Third Assistant Secre-
tary Of State. and his official con.
duct are affording the department.
grave concern
Left TO State Department.
It is also known that at present
there VIII be no action by Congress
in regard to the official behavior i'm
puted to Assistant Secretary Peirce.
In some manner, more or less mvs-
terious, there seems to be a well
defined idea in the Congressional
mind that the Department of State
intends TO cope with the Peirce mat
ter in way that viii leave nothing
&c be added
Although the fear has been expressed
By scne uGeasy. gentlemen that there
VIII be whItewashing~ for AIr.
Peirce, there IS no general belief that
such q course viii be followed by the
Secretary Of State and other officials
Of the department
According 10 reports from the most
reilaDle sources, the Department OF
state even now, directed by the grieved
and yet determined Secretary of State.
Alr- kOOtr - engaged IN sweeping and
thorough campaign 70 esta bIish once and
for all what has been the nature Of the
conduct OF Mr. Peirce all along. and
were his services to the Government
when he took the now famous tour OF
the Orient
Depends Upon Investigation.
Should Shis Investigation bring forth
the fruit o. damaging proof. the fate
Of Mr.. Peirce VIII not long hang in the
balance. On the other hand If the de-
partment 5 satisfied that the charges
against this high official are ground
less, he viii be promptly eXOnerated.
The present status Of the whole affair.
however. is that Mr. Peirce is under the
imperative necessity Of showing that
his official skirts were untouched by
the marking hand Of suspicion while he
was in the Orient
There has been much talk in various
ire
which Mr.. Peirce IS alleged 20 have
brought back from the Orient with him
10 Washington II is now reported
that the Department Of State. Unac-
CustOmed 10 have its highest dignitaries
return from inspection tours laden down
with souvenirs, viii feel compelled TO
know much of this carload.
Charges by MeWade.
There is. however. another phase TO
the Peirce situation Charges were
made against him last week before the
House Committee on Foreign Affairs
by former Consul Robert NJ. McWade
who, as the result of a report by Mr..
Peirce following his trip to the Orient,
was dismissed from his post at Canton,
China These charges. IT IS understood,
were Of a character unusual IN gravity
Today AIr. Peirce. at his own request,
goes before this same committee in
executive session 10 answer lneS8
charges. Yesterday Mr.. McWade asked
the privilege Of being present at the
hearing This was denied HIM His mo-
tive for asking this privilege was to
clear his name which he feels has been
wrongly treated through his dismissal
following the Peirce report after the
Oriental tour.
Not Harmful to McWade.
In denying the request. however. IL
is not thought that the committee took
action very harmful 10 Mr. McWade
owing to the strong impression in the
minds Of everybody that the Depart
ment Of State viii follow UP the official
record Of Mr.. PeiTce with the most
sCTupulOus care
Later Mr.. McWade VIII submit to
the department a written statement to
clear his own name and. he says, TO
throw more light on his serious
charges against the Third Assistant
Secretary OF State
Altogether the situation is frauEht
with grave probabilities and is recog-
niZed as heavy with the possibility OF
unexpected disclosures