The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-04-19
In Charging Corruption In Congress Deties Committee
[eHARGEs 0F TAKING
John M. Maxwell, Who Is Questioned By House Committed, Says Ncws- paper Men Have Aided the
 Game of Graft

Washington, April 1s.-Swept along on flood of sharp questions as to his authority for charging members of Con gross and newspapers with being cor ruptly influenced, John M Maxwell, for mer editor of the American Flag. the organ of the Merchant Marine league Of the United States, today refused point blank to answer questions as to his sources of information. The interroga- tions again will be put to him at a spe- cial session of the House select commit tee tomorrow, and unless he changes his mind, the attitude of the witness will be reported immediately to the House by the committee.
 His testimony occupied this afternoons session of the committee.
 Prodded by counsel for a. member of Congress accused by the league, with oc- casonal questioning by Acting Chairman Longworth and other members of the committee, Maxwell, without counsel and on the ground that editorial privileges justified his replies. parried or declined to answer the queries put to him.
 He avowed authorship of the letters figuring conspicuousy in the investiga- ton. The November issue of the Amer ican Flag. which was written mostly by him, contained an article entitled "A Word to Washington Correspondents" was a rebuke to some interruptions writers. H9k charged these correspondents with "faking'' because they sent stories to their papers stating that it had become clear that the campaign for ship subsidy originated in tho Standard Oil-Beef plan to dominate South America"
 The witness proceeded to explain he did not mean these newspaper men have any direct relation with or are influenced by such a foreign shipping lobby, but that they send out matter fairly repre- sentative of the kind of countrywide propaganda to prevent legislation to re- store the merchant marine.
 The article under fire warned 'all pro- fessional merchant marine liars that we propose to get square deal.'
 Who are these professional liarsg' asked Attorney Ralstonr The witness declined to answer, and ex- plained that his interest and connection with the league having ceased, it meant nothing to him to continue in an attitude of making charges.
 Questioned as to his use of the term ''slimy graft the witness contended that no names were mentioned in that con- nection, but counsel for MT. Steenerson declared that the term "scandalized Con- gress." The article suggested that if the writer of the Iowa papers dispatch did not get his'' from the foreign shipping interests for sending 1t out to Iowa, then the correspondent is a blanketyblank fool.
 "Do you know any correspondent that got his?' asked Ralston.
 No replied Maxwell, ''but any cor- respondent who would send out such an untrue story must have"
 Do you wish to leave the inference that 'slimy graft exists?"
 q don't wish to leave any inference. It was not intended as an attack on Congress"
 Do you know of any slimy graft'?''
 eff did I would not state it at this time."
 Maxwell was questioned sharply about the reference he had made in the article to Representatives Wilson, Mann and Mo- Dermott of Illinois. tending to indicate that because they came from packing house districts they might be controlled by the beef trust. He denied any inten- ton to charge them with improper &C., tions.
 Maxwell said the letter he had pub lished quoting the captain of European steamer as declaring, touching the defeat of the ocean mall bill by & slender ma jority, that we could have had bigger majority if we had wanted it, was writ ten by Winthrop L. Meyer. President Roosevelt's secretary of the merchant marine commission. He did not know the captains name or the Hhip line but admitted he meant to convey the mean ing that the statement meant bribery, If the captains statement was to be be- leved"
 The witness refused to divulge his in- formant as to a London conference to plan heading off ship subsidy legislation here. pleading editorial privilege" When asked what he meant by washington poodle campaign, "he replied that he did not care to elaborate, that he published the statement for what 1t was worth. He said he believed money was expended by the foreign shipping bureau.
 Asked if he knew anything against Representative Kustermann's reputation, the witness declined further to ref1ect'' upon him. He declared that he had in- formation that the free-ship clause of the Kustermann merchant marine bill was offered by representatives of foreign ship ping organizations
 The inquiry will be taken up again to- morrow.