The Washington herald., 1910-05-18

Iingenuously to lead the investigation into
a trial of the President"
In the course Of the debate that ensued
Senator Root said the Lawler brief was
not pertinent to the inquiry. I'm as much
as it related 20 an action of the President,
and in reply 10 a question of Represent
lative James said he had known Of charges
against a Cabinet member having been
disposed of in exactly the same manner
in which the President had disposed OF
the charges against Mr.. Ballinger. Rep
resentative James and Senator Purcell in
sisted that testimony relative TO the Law
Ter brief and the White House statement
was relevant because OF the attempted
suppression of the LAWYER brief and the
; question raised as to the creditability OF
testimony offered by Secretary Ballinger
On a roll call. however. the committee
sustained Senator Roots objection, the
Democratic members only voting in the
negative.
Brandeis Not Checked.
Attorney Brandels started to make a
reply to the structures passed on him by
Senator Root. and Chairman Nelson told
him that his explanation or reply was
not in order.
"Oh. yes, it is interrupted Repre-
sentative Madison. and Senator Root and
tother members Of the committee agreeing
with the Kansan. Mr.. Brandeis was per
mitted to proceed. In the course of ar
extended statement he made II clear
, that the prosecution is endeavoring tC
show that President Taft's finding in the
case presented by the CLAWS charges
against Ballinger was erroneous, that the
President did not have time personally q
review the evidence. that he did not have
Attorney General Understands review
Of the evidence before him when he
made his decision. although the Wicker
sham review was afterward dated back
in order TO make il appear that the Pres
ident had considered il. and that Tho
President had accepted as the basis OF hi.
decision the I.awler memorandum. "a
document" said Mr.. Brandeis. "of q
character not judicial, but extremely
partisan"
LnuIer Takes stand.
II was I o'clock when Assistant Attor,
ney General Lawler took the stand HI.
brow was clouded. his bearing ominous
and all signs pointed 10 a storm. II
, came quickly. Mr.. Lawler told OF hi.
, return from Beverly under instruction,
from the President 10 prepare the brief
although he did not state specifically thai
= he had such Instructions. as the com.
mittee's rules preclude testimony as e
what passed between anybody and the
President-and how he set about hi.
, work with Stenographeys Kerby and Mas
sey IN
The document was prepared without
consultation with a single person undei
heaven" declared Lawler. with his frs
display Of heat and the statement
referring 10 Kerby's testimony that
consulted with Secretary Ballinger OF
Finney. or Schwartz. or bennett o.
, Pierce. is an absolute and unequivoca
. falsehood."
Mr.. Lawler said that Secretary Balm
ger and Schwartz had gone over The
8 document with him after Il was com
peted 10 verify il and TO aid him II
preparing an index Of references to tn,
records. In explaining why he had or
t dered the rough drafts OF the document
burned, Lawler said that he was i'm
pressed with the idea that he SHOULD
leave no possible chance for anybody {
learn anything about the preparation o.
the document.
; Charges Spying Tactics.
For months" he said, IL had beer
positive that men had been gum-shoeinl
around after me. following every NOV,
| I Z
a chance TO learn anything If 1 coull
help IT."
who were these gum-shoers?'' inter.
rupted one Of them
There's one Of them" said Lawler
pointing dramatically to Attorney
Brandels That man Hapgood (the edi.
tor OF Collier's) IS another and that mar
|. Connolly Ga magazine writer Is another,
and TO show you the kind they are, Con
= nelly is a man who trampled women and
children under his feet in a fight for the
b. lifeboats on a sinking steamer But that
man (agaln pointing at Brandeis) is the
flower Of the foul flock that has beer
setting detectives to dog the steps OF
honest men and corrupting witnesses and
stopping at nothing in a despicable and
cowardly attempt to assassinate charac-
ter"
Representative Graham: You realize
that you are under oath, and do YOU
mean to have that statement about cor
rupting witnesses stand as part Of your
! testimony
Lawler: IT do"
Representative Graham: WHO are these
icorruptersT'
Mr.. Lawler. with every evidence OF in.
tense feeling, raised his voice as he re-
piled: 4 mean James R. Garfield. and
Clifford Pinchot, and their agents-this
man Brandeis-"
Interrupted with Kisses.
Before he could finish his sentence the
demonstration of disapproval from the
spectators, kissing predominating, broke
in. When it had ceased Lawler made
his comment about snakes and gees,
making like noises. The assistant ser.
geant-at-arms of the committee called
for order. hurried through the room. and
beckoned to hefty policeman 20 enter
He met the officer in the center OF the
room and ordered him to see that order
was maintained None of the members
Of the committee appeared greatly ex-
cited over the incident, however.
Representative James Intercepted
Lawler closely as TO why LawIer had
had occasion to be so worried about de-
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