Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-06-29
Rebel Junta Denies Receiving
Money from Big Business;
Within Our Rights" Hopkins
IAxxIA NIN1A
NEWS UF NEAKDY IACNAWAlNlNA lVVINO

WASHINGTON, June 29.-Pub-
lished statement to the effect that
the Mexican revolution is being
financed by big business in this
country met with emphatic denials
by Carranza's representatives in
Washington. They declared that not
one penny from these sources has
been received by Carranza, and. fur
thermore, that he has laid down the
general principle that no funds of this
character shall be accepted for the
promotion of the Constitutionalist
campaign.
The statements of the activity Of
big business in fomenting the Mex
lean revolution, based upon letters
taken from the files of Sherbourne u.
Hopkins, a Washington lawyer, WHO
has represented Calranza here,
caused a stir at Constitutionalist
headquarters today. Hopkins himself
has been known here for a long time
as counsel for Henry Clay Pierce.
but he Joined today with the other
members of the Carranza junta in
asserting that not a dollar had been
received by Carranza from MIR. Pierce
or any other business interest.
Challenge to Newspaper.
Carranzas representatives backed
up their denials with a challenge to
the newspaper, which is printing the
stolen correspondence, to show in
any way that the Carranza revolu-
ton had ever been financed from
American or foreign sources.
Hopkins, while acknowledging that
he has acted as Henry Clay Pierces
counsel while promoting the Consti-
tutionalists' propaganda here, de-
cleared that Mr.. Pierce was entirely
within his rights and duties as an
American citizen in seeking to pro-
tect his own interests in northern
Mexico.
Mr.. Hopkins contended that Mr..
Pierce's sole purpose in urging the
formation by Carranza of the rail-
roads in northern Mexico into a sep
drate system with a civil manage
ment was to protect his own and the
holdings of other Americans, which
were threatened by the continued
military management.
Other efforts by Mr. Pierce. he con-
tended, related solely to the reopen
ing of northern Mexico to his oil
business, which had been interrupted
by Huerta.
The letters passing between Hop
kins and Mr.. Pierce and between
Hopkins and Constituencies Off
cials were taken. so Hopkins says
from his desk a few weeks ago. A
man entered his office at night
| through a transom and removed the
documents.
Did Not Reach Carranza.
! While the letters themselves show
on their face that Hopkins was do
ing everything possible to promote
the interest of Pierce in Mexico
there is no evidence that he succeed
ed in getting very far with Carran-
"a. In fact, the latter has manifested
an apparent Indifference toward his
suggestions in favor of Mr. Pierce
This fact was pointed out as proof
that Mr.. iPerce's influence did not
| extend beyond Hopkins himself and
possibly some members of the Con-
stitutionalist junta.
1t is likely, though, that the cor
respondence will be made the sub
iect of a Congressional inquiry. A
Senate committee tried to show a
year or two ago that the Madero
revolution was financed by American
! interests and at that time the fact
was brought out that Hopkins rep
resented Henry Clay Pierce. That
however, was as far as the commit
| tee was able to go
Senator William Alden Smith OF
Michigan, senior minority member OF
the committee on foreign relations
said last night he would take no &C
| ton looking to the Introduction of the
resolutions of investigation until after
| opportunity to obtain the views OF
his committee colleagues. But Sena-
| tor Smith was willing to discuss the
| situation here and in Mexico in sc
! far as the meddling of big business
with the internal affairs of Mexico
was concerned. On this point he said
The Mexican revolutions, dating
| from that of President Madero, have
i in my opinion been encouraged anC
planned in the United States. | think
| the office of Sherbourne G. Hopkins
has been the principal headquarters
| of all these revolutions, incipient and
! otherwise | am led to believe this be-
! cause of the very painstaking investi-
! cation in which | assisted in conduct
! ing under the direction of the eSnate
/ a year and a half ago"