Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1911-07-28
JAS. 4. TAWNEY
DEMANDS HEARING
WIRES SENATOR DILLINGHAM;
FOR RIGHT TO TESTIFY BE-
FORE COMMITTEE.
ATTACKED IN DARK. HE SAYS
Denies James keeIey's Statements
Asks Fair Play and Asserts His
Right to Clear
Matters.

st. Paul, July 27-Entering an alb
solute denial relative to the testimony
given by James Kelley managing edi.
tor of the Chicago Tribune before the
Lorimer investigating committee at
Washington, former Congressman
James A. Tawney sent a telegram to
Senator Dillingham; of the committee.
demanding the right to be heard be-
fore the committee.
Mr.. Tawney arrived in st. Paul from
W1nona. He had read carefully the
reports of the testimony given by Mr.
Kelley, in which his name was con-
nected with the Lorimer case.
That testimony was to the effect that
George O. CLAWS, brother Of Louis
R. CLAWS, who figured in the Pinchot
investigation, had agreed to purchase
and deliver the books of a certain
lobbying firm at Washington, for which
he was given $3.50 by the Tribune. He
failed to deliver the books and Mr..
Kelley had him arrested for embezZle-
ment.
CLAWS had told Mr.. Kelley, accord
ing to Keeley's testimony, that the
name of Senator Lorimer was impli-
Gated in connection with work done
for q Chicago publication known as the
Fireproof Magazine, and that another
mans name would be found on these
books. When pressed for a statement
of the mans nale, Mr.. Kelley had
said it was former Congressman Taw-
ney.
Mr.. Tawney says he is absolutely at
sea over the entire matter and feels
that he is being attacked with his
hands tied behind his back" He
says he never heard Of the magazine
in question and insists that the COM
mittee in fairness should give him an
opportunity to appear before it and
state under oath the substance of the
telegram which he sent last night to
Senator Dillingham;.
Il would willingly submit to a cross
examination of the committee" said
Mr. Tawney, land of course there is
not the slightest scintilla Of truth in
the insinuation.
THE records Of the third assistant
postmaster general would show if had
done anything for this magazine and if
my name has beer used in any way it
is an absolute forgery.
so far as Lorimer is concerned, he
and l were never friendly.
The trouble started at the time of
the oleomargaTine fight, when he rep
resented the cleo manufacturers and |
led the fight for the dairymen Of the
United States. Later we were opposed
to each other in the fight over the
lakes to the gulf waterways PROPOSE
ton. He favored the proposition and
| was opposed to il for several reasons,
among them being the interest of the
Northwest and because l regarded it
as impracticable at that time.
"To bring my name into this case
is an unfair thing. I have telegraphed
Senator Dillingham;, asking for a hear
ing, to which | think | am entitled"
Mr.. Tawney's Telegram.
The telegram which Mr.. Tawney
sent Senator Dillingham; is:
''St. Paul, Mimi, July 90, 1911.
Senator Dillingham;, Chairman Lori
mer Investigating Committee, Wash
ington, D. C.
Have just read testimony of Mr..
Kelley of Chicago Tribune yesterday.
| want to have entered Of record with
your committee my most solemn and
emphatic denial of ever having had
any connection, either direct or indi-
rect, with the "Fireproof Magazine' of
Chicago or any other publication seek
ing mail or any other privilege either
from the postofIice department or from
congress. That | have never been con-
nected, either directly Or indirectly,
with any firm of lobbyists or other rep
resentatives Of said magazine or other
publication, or of any other interest
seeking such mail or any other privi-
lege from the government.
And that | have never been re-
quested by the "Fireproof Magazine"
or by anyone claiming to represent it
to do anything either in congress Or
in the department in its behalf. Or
that | have ever been offered or re-
c6lVou anything lIOlH SdlN FlIepIOoL
Magazine" or other publication, either
directly or indirectly. That until /
read Mr. Keeley's testimony S did not
know that there was in existence
publication named The Fireproof Mag
azine of Chicago"
"The records OF the third assistant
postmaster general, which are at your
command, will corroborate this state
ment. | would like to be summoned
before your committee to make this
denial under oath and to submit myself
to any examination the committee may
want to make. Answer: Winona, Mimi.
u. A. TAWNEY."
pENtDpONITv RIIt CIGNEn