New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-05-13
Motives Attacked.

Motives Attacked.
There is a broad intimation that the
primary purpose of Solicitor Folk Is to
gain wide publicity. His summoning OK
John D. Rockefeller and his general
conduct of the case are cited in support
of this contention.
At the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion there is broad intlmation that MI
McReynolds is hoping TO make coup
and to gain wide popularity by indict-
ing some prominent official OF the New
Haven. and that he is willing to sacri-
fee thoroughness to this ambition
The President has heard only the
contentious Of the Attorney General
and gave no indication tonight or his
own view Of the situation.
Mr.. McReynolds is particularly anx-
ious that ex-President Mellen should
not be put on the stand. Mr.. Folk said
tonight that there was no change in
his purpose to put Mr.. Mellen on the
stand tomorrow.
The testimony to-day was sensa-
tional. William B. Lawrence, the
sponsor for Louis d. Brandeis, made
number of sensational charges reflect
ing on the late ]. p. Morgan and others
Lewis Cass Ledyard, demanding to
be heard Immediately in reply to Mr..
Lawrence's statements, declared them
false and without foundation. He Wig
orously defended Mr.. Morgan and w.
X. Vanderbilt against the charges
made by Mr.. Lawrence.
To Confer on Probe.
It Is understood that Mr.. McChord
will hold tomorrow morning con-
ference with those Senators responsible
for the passage Of the resolution call
ing on the Interstate Commerce Com
mission to conduct an investigation OF
the New Haven affairs.
The Attorney General maintains that
these hearings are not essential TO car
rying out the provisions Of the resolu-
ton.
Behind the suggestion Of the Attor-
nev General to Ex-Governor Folk, chlei
counsel Of the Interstate Commerce
Commission, that Charles 5. Mellen AMI
certain other prominent officers be not
permitted to testify in the New Haven
hearing being conducted by the COM
mission is a determination on che part
of Mr.. McReynolds not TO yield the
slightest concession to those he holds
responsible for the railroad conditions
in New England. nor to afford them
immunity from possible, if not proba-
BILE, criminal prosecution.
Lays Matter Before Wilson.
It developed to-day that there IS a
radical difference of opinion, If not real
friction. between Mr.. McReynolds and
Mr. Folk as TO the ultimate effect Of
having Mr.. Mellen and others under the
ban of the Department Of Justice tes-
tifv at the hearing, and that the situa-
ton already had been brought to the
attention of the President. The Attor-
ney General laid It before President
Wilson this evening.
Mr.. McReynolds has made it clear to
the Interstate Commerce Commission
and Mr.. Folk that he believes that il
would be unwise to have Mr.. Mellen
give any testimony, but the chief coun-
sci for the commission announced to-
night that there was no change in his
plan TO have the ex-president Of tie
New Haven testify tomorrow. c. =.
McChord, chairman Of the commits
sion. declines 10 discuss the subject.
Whether Mr.. McReynolds eventually
begins criminal prosecution Of Mr.. Mel
len and others, 1t is well known that
the strongest persuasive element IN the
so-called amicable solution OF the New
Haven problem has been the possibility
of criminal action, the Department of
Justice holding this phase Of the case
in allowance for obvious reasons.
II is because OF this that Mr.. McReyn-
olds is afraid that Mr. Polk may unwit-
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