Omaha daily bee., 1910-04-14
LEAGUE Is ALWAYS N DEBT
Secretary Says It Has Never Fad
Funds Sufficient 70 Pay Debts.
AMERICAN flag" HAS ARTICLE
offIcfaI Publication Declares VT.
steener-an was Efther MalIcisus
or Unin6urmed En Malxfn=
Charges.

WASHINGTON April l1-RHfHrrrs 30
the grand Jury prssenlmenr against hin
f1r libel as a comic opera Indictment de-
cIarinE that the Merchant Marine lesgue
OF the United states had zuvar spent
cents On anyone IN Wa hingtDn f1r any pur-
unsa and -hat .ts -ecurd was sxrrlorli-
nar1ly ciean. John A. Pentnn Of Cleveland
o. secretary OF the league. was u1iays
star witness az the snip subsidy uvesuga-
tion.
He was called sharply IN account BY cutn-
sci fur Representative Stsengrs0u- wlu AZ
cused him OF -la Iibei-f1r speaking disrg-
spectflily OF the processes OF the law. ard
the remark WIS Withdrawn.
M Peurun Told the seleoz COMMITTEES 0f
the house OF a great galaxy OF puhiic men
VINO have made speeches az the instance of
the IenE-1e. for or % H. the list Including
President TAFT former President Roosevelt
former Vice President Fairbanks. Speaker
Cannon. former Governor Har-icH % ohio.
former Senator Foraker and a host of 9TH
ars. The COMMITTEES adjourned until Non
dav. when Penr1n and john NJ Maxwell
former editor Of the American FiAg, the
leag-le's organ. viii be ready 10 take the
witness stand.
Money faR LeaEue-
EaFF1eH Az1lAalHf AtA taFf'9aa-AA-r s@-H l--AN
other witness Today. tnid 1f Captain John
Mitchell ami D. E. Hanna. Gouider's init
mate friends. contributing Ea8 each u me
league. Peat1n toid 0f the organization 0f
the league ard declared that it had got-
ten now 50 a man engaged IN the snip
building industry had % enter Washington
Al night and hin visit was Interpreted as
3 aecasEira1fng a CAL for the police.
Il have never endeav0red ID become ac-
I74asnrpsf with ulerners 1f congress Tor ne
purpose CT attempting % iufluenca uneIn.
he said Newer a1rsTnpted t1 go to their
7 houses. never had auy communication win
: aur shin building nrm or officers Of any
DISQUALIFICATION operating ships that aly leg
I isiatlun rliHr miEnr be benefited By mis-
I Ierisiassuu. Yet Z "a ma knew wsH I
should not have done 50. Dar1na blte e1u-
siderarzon Of the tariff bnI IN congress.
{ everybody Interested In anything from tn
whistles 70 nHbv carriages we're IN WASH
ington daily seeking cuncessi0ns.'
7 Mr Peutun said he wrote me article In
the American Flag which figures 50 cnn-
spicuousIy in the libel proceedings brought
against him BY steeners0u and in the con-
r-esziunaI investigation and riar it was an
answer 10 sueenersun's Letter calling tis
4 league an organization of persons tl1ar sx-
uf1ErHN IN gel DIX aal4A- 49, AAia1+ III AAia-
posed legislation Fsnunn sad he stood by
his answer
-MaIfeious FaIsffiearion-r'
The Pentun reply AZ published IN ths
leagues organ December L last gives 70
stesnersOn some o. the honor ard credit
~ cur present humillarlng naval pOsition.''
saws steenerson was either uniformed or
malicious and guilty Of delIhsrafa and
malicious 6aIsificarion.' and called him an
enemy Of hts cuunrry, along with Othsr
sharp Characterization.
Penr1n identified letters the league
wished % Introduce as evidence Among
these was one from Stseners0u 10 z. A
Force OF Minneapolis. IN which the writer
said he had consistently opposed ship sun
sidy Legislation and declared that the
league was an organization of men who
expected TO get big contracts. tiiar their
patriotism and love f1r the flag was
largely. Il not wholly drls 20 appropria-
tons involved
Peuruu characrerizsd these allegations
az 'ahaoIuuelv saase. with not a word Of
r-urh in them and uheluus.
The witness declared rhat mis- ldenunca-
rion wfrh tne league this year had cost
} him E.8os through neglect Of his private
; business and taae be had been trying 10
get out for that reason nuI me -e1sle
had aims ne wished % see carried 0u-
r HIS interest was soieiy taAr u patriotic
{ citizen
He testified the league had always been
? in debit never had dnilar;''-tllar there
were ~ members paying 80 a year dlles
and rhat he had been making urgent
effort 70 secure funds fnr the ieagua. He
> said rha1 none of rhe officers OF the
league. concerning whom he was Gues-
rioued. had ever been interested in snip
building OF 1Ceau transportation