Omaha daily bee., 1912-04-23
White Star Line Vice President
Tells Senate Committee He Was
Afraid of Alarming Public.
SENDS OUT HOPEFUL REPORTS
Admits They Were Not Based on
Anything Tangible.
CANNOT GET TRACE OF TELEGRAM
Sender of Message Saying ALI Are
Safe Unidentified.
IS SURPRISED AT REPORTERS
Says Men Rushed TO Telephone
when He Told Them that the
Titanic Had sunk in the
Ocean,


Ocean,
WASHINGTON, April 22.-Vice Presi-
dent P. A, 5. Franklin of the Interna-
tional Mercantile Marine company told
the senate investigating committee today
how he had asked to have the earlier
reports OF the Titanic disaster held up to
avoid unnecessary alarm. lie denied any
knowledge of the message addressed to
Representative Hughes of West virginia
about the ships being towed to Halifax
and gave other details. Senator William
Alden Smith of Michigan presided.
After denying that Officials Of the
White Star line had any knowledge OF a
MISLEADING telegram to Mr.. Hughes 1t
was acknowledged by, Mr. Franklin that
he had issued reassuring statements when
he had no facts on which to base them.
Mr.. Franklin denied that the White
Star company had any intention TO
spirit away from the country any Titanic
officers or crew or that the plans to re-
turn the survivors OF the crew were
prompted by any desire to suppress the
facts. He said that nothing that the
officers or crew could tell could affect
what might be told by surviving pas
sengers.
Reads wireless Telegram.
The witness read from a great sheaf Of
wireless kilograms received Monday
morning, None Of them contained any In.
formation OF value. but II was on this
data that the line issued its statements
in an effort, said Mr.. Franklin. to reas-
sure inqulrers. Later when the news
came, he said, be sent Immediately for
the reporters and proceeded to begin read
ing TO them the long Marconigram from
the carpathia, giving the grewsome news
in considerable detail.
Il began to read Titanic went down
! this morning at 2:2O,' and then I looked
up" said Mr.. Franklin There wasn't
reporter in the room. They were all
racing for phones to get the news out to
the world. I'd.
Committee Room Crowded.
Hours before the resumption Of the
Inquiry great crowds swarmed TO the
senate office building and made rush
for the crystal lighted caucus room,
Hundreds Of them were women. and as
In the Titanic disaster, It was women
first" who were admitted to the hearing.
Capitol police took charge Of the ar.
rangements and by 10 O'Clock there were
no available seats and standing room was
exhausted. Even senators and repre-
sentatives who sought to get places OF
vantage for members Of their families
were unable to do so.
When Third Officer Boxhall, who was
summoned as the first witness entered
the room. Senator Smith asked him to
step aside and called p. A. S. Franklin,
vice president of the International Mer-
camille Marine company. He began to
question Mr.. Franklin as to the conf
panies comprising the corporation, Its
connections and its capitalization.
franklin In Control.
You are the real representative in this
country Of the White star line?" Senator
Smith asked Mr.. Franklin.
Yes. sir"
Does anyone share the responsibility
with you?"
Il am mainly responsible" answered
Franklin. There are directors In this
country and meeting are held frequently" :"
SO far as you know did you or any
OF your subordinate officers have any
communication with Captain Smith on his
last voyage
None at all"
Mr.. Franklin said he had received no
communication from Mr.. Ismay except
one by cable from southampton, an
nouncing the success Of the Titanic's
trial trip.
This is the only attempt at comnunlca-
ton and so far as you know, any at
tempt from officers. crew OF passengers
TO communicate with you after they left
Southampton? the senator continued.
Yes"
Senator Smith then sehowed Mr.. Frank
lin the telegram received by Congress
man Hughes Of West Virginia from the
White Star line. dated New York, April
l5. and addressed to J. \. Hughes. Hunt
ington. W. Va, as follows:
Titanic proceeding to Halifax. Pas
sengers probably land on Wednesday. All
safe
"CsignedJ WHITE sTAR LINE"
y ask you" continued the senator.
whether you know about the sending OF
that telegram. by whom it was authorized
and from whom it was sentT'
Il do not. sir. "A said Franklin. since
il was mentioned at the Waldorf satur-
day We have had the entire passenger
staff examined and We cannot find out. q"
First Direct News Monday.
Asked when he first knew that the IT,
tanic had sunk Mr.. Franklin said he first
knew It at s.27 p m Monday.
About twenty minutes Of on Monday
morning" said Mr.. Franklin, "a reporter
telephoned me that the Titanic had met
with an accident and was sinking. The
information he told me had come by wire
less from the Steamship v.rginian. which
had been appealed to by the Titanic for
I'D"
Mr. Franklin said the White star docks
had no information and he then appealed
to the Associated Press and there was
read to him dispatch from Cape Race
advising Of the accident
4 asked the Associated Press said
Mr.. Franklin. mot to send out the dis
patch until We had more detailed infor-
nation In order to avoid causing unneces-
Continued on Second Page.l