The Washington times., 1915-03-02
Former Makes Lengthy State.
n,ent to Senate Investigat-
ing Committee.
NEW EVIDENCE IS SENT IN
Executive Session to Be Held
Today to Decide What Is to
Go Into Report.

Specifically denying every accusation
made by Andrew J. Wilson. president
Of the Anti-Saloon League. before the
Senate committee Investigating the Ex-
else Board yesterday. Cotter T. Bride,
a member of the board. todaytransmit-
ted to the committee a lengthy state
ment.
Henry 8. Baker, anoher member Of
the board. made q more brief reply, in
which he denied ever attending any
race track meeting or ever receiving
any so-called collections" Commits
sioner Baker also made a blanket denial
Of al.y similar testimony given during
the Senate inquiry.
The Senate committee is TO hold an
executive session this afternoon to
consider some additional evidence. in
written form. sent to the committee
today. The character Of this ad-
ditional evidence the committee
would not divulge.
Whether the evidence will be incor-
porated in the record Is to be de-
termined at todays executive session.
The committee expects to begin
writing its report OF the investiga-
tion tonight. and 1t is likely that 1t
will be presented to the Senate to-
morrow or Thursday morning.
Bakers Statement.
Mr., Bakers statement follows
Il have never been at the Laurel
race track in my life. as stated by q
man according to the testimony Of
Andrew Wilson; and | have never been
ut any other race track in my life.
Il have never received any money
from collections said to have bee
made for my benefit by my son or by
Mr.. Columbus. | have never authoriI-
ed my son or Mr.. Columbus or any.
body else to make any collections "f
money or any other thing Of value
for me. These statements in the testi-
mony of Andrew Wilson are wholly
without foundation.
Upon one occasion. in the hearing
Of the so-called Ebbitt House case. and
, fter the testimony was concluded. and
in private conference with the other
members of the boa rd. and in the pres
ence Of Alfred T.. Shoemaker. General
Smith stated that In his opinion the
evidence given by the witness, Wood.
was not convincing and that he would
not pay much attention to 1t. or words
to that effect. then said amen.
amen.
These are the only specific STATE
ments in the testimony yesterday that
relat te to me, but | desire to state gem
orally that ! deny every statement or
insinuation of improper conduct upon
my part that has been given in evil
dence by any Witness.
Levi Cooke Appears.
Levi Cooke, an attorney. who told the
committee he was general counsel for
the wholesale liquor dealers organiza- l.
ton nd the national distillers and that
he also represented the Retail Liquor
Dealers Association. testified at length
regarding the meaning of the law. and
stated that in his opinion the whole sit
uation resolved itself into d question of
Interpretation OF the law by the DoaDI.
The whole investigation before the
committee has to large extent come
sideratio Of the law by the Excise
Board. and the action of the Excise
Board In specific cases under the inter
pretations Of the law In matters of
licenses in specific cases."
Mr.. Cooke referred to the Times re-
port of the hearing of Saturday and
! read into the record an editorial on the
Excise Board which appeared in The
Times or saturday.
Nov. II the committee please. that
| editorial. following the testimony taken
Friday to the effect that the Excise
Board has been dominated by the
liquor interests. seemed to call for an
explanation, and that is why | am
here
II steems to me that the investiss
ton has covered a wide latitude. has
not disclosed conduct in violation OF
the excise law by members of the trade.
and that my first statement regarding
the attitude Of the trade toward this
law is largely supported by the investi-
CATION which the committee has so far
made The law has been complied with
by the retail and wholesale licensees
| and VII continue to be complied with.
Il will say that the Anti-Saloon
League did not do their best to uphold
| the administration of the law in broad
| and sensible fashion" said Mr. Cooke.
THAT was indicated by the invariable
protests which were made against any
and all applications for licences
"You Say that the Ant-Saloon League
! uurried Senator Sheppard.
! THAT is my understandins-that a
| formal protest was made against all
applications.
| Every officer in the Anti-Sa.oon
League is a prohibitionist, continued
| the witness. "Thev are nt in sympa-
| they with the Jones' Works law. No
prohibitionist is in favor OF any law
which permits Of the sales of liuuOr On
der any conditions"
Mr.. Cooke asked the committee To
hear Attorney Alexander Bell on the
| . ~