New-York tribune., 1911-01-31
SUBSIDY BRBE GOSSIP
John O. DodsWorth Says He Did
Not Hear 100000 Offered.
BROTHER TOLD HIM OF IT
Former Correspondent of Journal
Denies Submitting Bribery Offer
from Spanish Government.
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IFrora The Tribune Brreau)
Washington. Jan. 30.-Quite dlnerence
az opinion between the Dodsworth brothers,
owners OF THE Journal OF Commerce" OF
New York. developed at the hearing Of the
House ship subsidy investigation to-day,
when John Q. Dodsworth, managing editor
of that paper. told the committee that his
brother. Alfred W Dodsworth. was in er-
ror in saving that he. John o. had heard
scroe stranger try 70 bribe the paper in
favor Of ship subsidy.
Charles \ Conant. former Washington
correspondent of Tho Journal Of Com
merce." was also on the stand. Alfred w.
DoQsporth. he said, had made another er-
ror in saying that Conant had once trans
rnitted a bribery offer from the Spanish
rovernment about the time Of the Spanish
American War.
wien Alfred " Dodsworth, business
raan2.c. Of the paper was on the stand
las. week. he testified that a man Of nys-
fery. whose name be did not ascertain. en-
tered the Office Of his publication about six
years sgo and offered 100000 for the pa
pers editorial support Of ship subsidy. Al
ned w. said that he had called his brother
20 his Office and that the offer Of the stran-
rer had been repeated in his presence. This
bribery offer he added. was only one OF
several.
MY brother is mistaken" said John o.
Doosworth to-day. Il never heard the Of
fer made" The committee at the time was
enGeavoring TO find out why John o. Dods-
worth had not related the incident when he
appeared before It last year.
Bribery Talk Not Pertinent.
Frankly. gentlemen" said John o. Dods-
worth. Il don't attach as much importance
ss you 90 to these bribery attempts
thought the committee was investigating
the merits Of ship subsidy legislation. IN
stead Of hunting for scandal"
Then you consider it Of no importance
wien q stranger, presumably representing
shipping interests. walks into the Office Of
. your newspaper, or any other newspaper
md offers to pay 100000 for an editorial?'
asked Representative Longworth, Of the
committee.
Mr.. Dodsworth reiterated that he didn't
regard such an incident as pertinent 10 the
oommitttee's inquiry. and added that he
disagreed with his brother as 10 the
necessity for br'- 10 up the subject
When Alfred ~ Oodsworth testified he
presented to Mr.. Olcott a list Of questions,
which ne asked the chairman Of the COM
mittee TO put To- him.
How about those questions DID you
see those before your brother came TO
Washington?' Mr.. Longworth asked the
witness.
i examined them casually" said John
Q. Dodsworth.
But you didn't know that in his an
swers your brother intended to tell Of five
occasions upon which an effort was made
70 bribe your paper|'
NO" responded the witness. Il was
utterly stunned when 7 picked up the
papers the next morning and saw my
brothers testimony. I only knew that my
brother wanted 10 vindicate The Journal
of Commerce because OF the slurs that
had been cast upon I because OF our oppo-
fiton 70 ship subsidy"
Members Of the committee wanted 70
know who did the slurrinG. but the witness
couldn't say.
Thinks Subsidy Means Graft,
Nv. Dodsworth rather startled the COM
Tnittef wh4n he observed that the ship
subsidy was q graft proposition. anyway"
1Ir. Olcott later obtained q qualification
Of the statement "Oh. there are some
honest men IN favor OF ship subsidy" con-
ceded NIr Dodsworth.
lir. Longworth wanted 20 know II the
witness believed an attempt had been made
10 brbe the Journal The answer was in
the affirmative
Why suggested Mr.. Longworth.
Because my brother says So" said John
o. Dodsworth with positiveness
TObr ND -vrO~rh o1eo eaFG he
cessity for. dragging in the Spanish brib-
cry offer.
Why, your brother brought up the oues-
fton himself" said Chairman Olcott.
Mr.. Worthington. attorney Cor the Afer-
chant Marine League. asked the commit
tee 70 send for Alfred w. Do6sworth again.
Mr.. Worthington said he did not believe
the story OF that witness. The committee
took the request under advisement.
Charles A Conant entered a specific de-
nial that any representative OF the Spanish
government had ever attempted to bribe
him or that he had submitted such an
ofer 70 his New York ONCE. He remained
With THE Journal" for several years
after the alleged incident. which he
thought disproved the story that he at
tenpted TO give publicity 70 Spain's good
Intentions toward Cuba.
F. c. Donald. OF Chicago. representing
! the Central Passenger Association, testi-
FED as 70 the way IN which the arrange
nnent Of the railroads In his territory
worked out with respect to cooperation
with the conference steamship cornpanies
tn maintaining the stability OF rates He
seid the exclusion Of the Uranium Steam
ship Line from the general agreement was
2 matter Of business discretion.
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