The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-04-19
Former Editor Of Merchant Ma
rine League Organ Refuses
to Answer Questions.
ACCUSED C0NGRESSMEN
OF BEING CORRUPTED
Admits Writing Articles That
Caused Storm, But Stops
at That.

w WASHING1ON, April lSs-SWcpt along
on flood Of sharp questions as to his
authority for charging members OF con-
gress and newspapers with being cor
ruptly influenced. John NJ Maxwell, for
mer editor of the American Flag, the
organ OF the Merchant Marine league. to-
day refused point blank to answer ques-
tons or give his source of informa ton.
The interrogatorles again will be put TO
him at a special session OF the house Sc
lect committee tomorrow and, unless he
changes his mind, the attitude OF the wit
ness will be reported 10 the house.
Prodded BY counsel for member OF
congress accused by the league. Max
that editorial privileges justified his re-
plies. declined TO answer the queries.
He avowed authorship of letters fig
uring conspicuously in the investigation.
can Flag, written mostly by him:
contained an article headed, Word
TO Washington Correspondents" which
he testified today was a reply TO
by some Washington correspondents. He
acknowledged the only correspondents he
could mention were John Snure of the
Des Moincs Register and William Brig
ham of the Boston Transcript.
lie charged these correspondents with
taking because they sent stories 20
their papers stating ii had become clear
the campaign for ship subsidy originated
in the STANDARD Oil-boef trust plan to
dominate South America
''Who Are the Liars?
The witness explained he did not mean
these newspaper men have any direct
relations with, or are Influenced by. such
foreign shipping lobby. but that they
country wide propaganda TO prevent
legislation 10 restore the merchant ma
rine. The article under fire warned call
professional merchant marine liars that
we propose TO get a square deal
'Who are these professional liars?'
was asked.
The witness declined to answer and
explained that his interest and connec-
ton with the league having ceased, IL
meant nothing TO him 10 continue in an
attitude of making charges.
Questioned as to his use OF the term
"slimy graft" the witness contended no
names were mentioned in that connec-
tion. but counsel for Representative
Steenerson declared the term scandalized
congress.
The article suggested il the writer Of
the Iowa papers dispatch cid not get
his from the foreign shipping interests
for sending IL to Iowa, then the corre-
spondent is q bIankety blank fool"
DO YOU know any correspondent that
got his'?" was asked.
NO" replied Maxwell. "but any corre-
spondent who would send out such an
untrue story must have
"Do you wish TO leave the inference
that Shiny graft eyists?'
II don't wish TO leave any inference.
IT was not intended as an attnck on
congress"
DO you know OF any Shiny graft?"
'If ! did | would not state 1t at this
moment"
Still Like Clam.
Maxwell was questioned sharply about
the references made in the article TO
Representatives Wilson, Mann and Nc
Dermott of Illinois, tending 70 Indicate
hnpanse tbeN came from nNck ing house
districts they might he controlled by the
beef trust FIe denied any intention of
charging them with improper actions.
Maxwell said the letter he had pub
lshed. quoting the captain of a European
steamer as declaring after the defeat OF
the ocean mail bill by slender major
ity. 'that we could have had bigger
ma jority II we had wanted It, was writ
Roosevelt's secretary of the merchant
marine commission. Maxwell did not
know the captains name nor the steam
ship line, but he admitted he meant TO
convey the meaning that the statement
meant bribery. .'if the captains state
mcnt was 10 be believed"
The witness refused 10 diVuge his in
formant as to a London conference to
head Off ship subsidy legislation here,
pleading editorial privilege
When asked what he meant by Wash
Ing ton Doodle campaign he replied he
did not care To elaborate, that he pub
worth. lie said he believed money was
expended by the foreign shipping bureau.
Asked IL he knew anything aGalns,
kustermans reputation.
the witness declined further to reflect
ln him" Tle declared lie had informa-
ton that the free ship clause OF the
I<usterman merchant marine bill was
offered by representatives of foreign
Shipping organizations. lie declined 10
name his informant.
The inquiry will be resumed tomorrow