The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-02-01

OF several attmepts to buy the editor
ial support Of the New York Jour
/ nal of Commerce, in favor of ship
subsidy, was made to the House ship
subsidy investigating committee to-
| day by Alfred w. Dodsworth, busi-
ness manager Of the Journal of
| Commerce and Commercial Bulletin.
| Early in the day Paul G.. Fournier,
| representing the Uranium Steamship
Line, against which the so-called
London Conference Lines, controlling
what is alleged to be SO per cent of
the Atlantic passenger traffic, are ar
| rayed, told how railroad authorities
in this country, notably the Central
Passenger Association, at Chicago.
had refused to sell tickets routed via
independent lines, unless the inde-
pendents obtained the sanction of the
Conference Lines.
! AS result of today's evidence, Mr.
| Dodsworth's brother, John w. Dods-
worth, the editor Of the Journal Of
Commerce, will be recalled to Wash
ington to explain why he failed to en-
tighten the committee during his re-
cent testimony.
1t is probable that Chas. a. Conant,
of New York, a former Washington
correspondent may be asked to throw
| light on an offer to subsidize the pa
per, claimed to have been forwarded
through him to the Journal of Com
merce, which he then represented,
and the Federal authorities may take
notice of the event as to the rail-
roads discrimination against the in
| dependent steamship lines.
Alfred w. Dodsworth said that his
paper never had been subsidized by
any interests whatever, and its busi-
ness and editorial columns had no re-
| lation. But he testified, about six
years ago an unknown man came in
Journal of Commerce 100000, TAX
ing 100000 copies of his paper, fer
the insertion of an article in one is
sue supporting the ship subsidy bill.
/ The man refused to disclose his iden-
| tity unless his proposition was to he
accepted.
His proposition was to make out a
! certified check Immediately for S1O,-
! 600, TO bind the agreement, and to pay
! the balance of $4,000 upon publica-
l.on of the article. Mr.. Dodsworth
said he Immediately called his broth
ness to the conversation and the
! proposition was turned down as an
! attempt to make an improper ar
! rangement
Pressed by the committee, Mr..
| DodswOrth said that about thirty
! years ago his father was sitting in his
office, the same publication, and John
Roach, the shipbuilder, who was then
! building ships and active for a ship
;
! down a blank check, asked Dodsworth
! to fill out the check and stop writing
against ship subsidy. The offer was
! refused.
About two years ago. Dodsworth
J said, another man tried to buy the
support of the paper for $4,000 and
! during the Spanish American war the
! Spanish Government tried to buy the
! papers support.
Chairman Olcott, Representative
LongwOrth, of Ohio, and other MEM
/ bers Of the committee, criticised the
, two brothers for failing to submit
/ this information to the committee be-
! fore now, pointing ont that John w.
! DOdsWOrth, in his testimony some
time ago, had been asked categorical
! ly as to such matter, and he denounc-
/ ed any information such as that of
! today. Witness said the committee
would have to ask the brother why
/ he failed to dislocse the information.
Chairman Olcott asked the witness
who represented the Spanish Govern
mcut whom it tried tc buy the papers
support. Mr.. Dodsworth replied that
the Information came from Chas. :.
I Conant, who was then the papers
Washington correspondent. Pressed
as to the identity Of the man Who
mad" TN" offer, Mr.. Dodswsr,h said
/ tnat his father or brother may have
( been told, but he himself had moth
. ing to add. Mr.. Couaut commuuicat-
/ cd the proposition in a letter. accord
ing to the witness, who afterwards
qualified this by saving he thought it
was letter, after the committee had
stated 1t would like to have the let