Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-05-19

New York. May 19.-Police Com
missioner Arthur Woods is ready and
apparently eager today TO tell the
state executive committee which has
begun an inquiry into police tapping
of telephone wires why the police
listened on the wire to the Offices of
the law firm OF Seymour and Seymour.
State Senator George F Thompson,
chairman Of the committee, promised
Mr.. Woods he should have an oppOr-
tunIty to disclose the facts in justif-
cation Of the action of the police
After a conference in which Sena-
tor Thompson, the police commission
eT. the district attorney and Mayor
Mitchell took part, District Attorney
Swan gave out the information that
the wire IN question was tapped be
cause J. P. Morgan and company had
complained that confidential cable
grams from the French government to
that firm regarding the buying of war
material had been stolen from the
firms Offices and sold TO munition
manufacturers IN this country.
Seym0urs Not in Plot.
The district attorney was informed
that copies of the French cablegrams
had been received by men who had
desk room in the offices of Seymour
and Seymour, but that this firm had
nothing TO do with the matter These
cablegrams, the district attorney said,
gave directions as to the war NUM-
tons to be purchased for France and
the prices to be paid for them.
Nation l. Involved!
Before testifying today. the police
commissioner said the theft of the in
formation from the Morgan Offices was
only one reason why the police tap
ped the wire. There was another
reason which l am not at liberty to
tell because it has TO do with most i'm
p0rtant matters affecting the national
government" said Mr.. Woods.
II was reported that the police had
been informed that foreign agent
posing as the representative of the
Russian government had purchased
war munitions, ostensibly for the en-
tente allies and had smuggled them
INTO Mexico.
Mayor Makes Accusation.
Mayor Mitchell in a statement is
sued from his office today accused
Senator George F. Thompson, chair
man of the executive committee which
has been investigating wire tapping
activities Of the police ''of treachery
10 the United States" because Of his
attempt to investigate the tapping Of
the telephones of the munitions deal
ing firm Of Seymour and Seymour.
This statement was issued after
Chairman Thompson had announced
that the inquiry into the wire tap
ping would be continued at today's
session although in executive session.
Thompson told Corporation Counsel
Lamar Hardy, representing Mayor
Mitchell. that there is not now and
never was question Of international
interest involved in the case This
vas after Hardy had protested against
further inquiry into the Seymour case
on the ground that national interests
were at stake if publicity was given
10 the case.
County Not Connected.
oeudLOF thompson PRIOR 10 JAIS nan
said there was not evidence that fed
erai authorities were connected with
the wire tapping, asserting 1t was
done by the Burns detective agency
representing J. P Morgan and COM
pany, with whom Seymour and Sey-
mour had dealings in regard to mu-
nltlous contract.
Il insist" said Hardy TO the chair
man, that there is national interest
involved and l defy you to show to the
contrary"
Il don't have TO prove it and I
won't replied Chairman Thompson.
This committee is prepared to go on
with its Investigation and ] don
think 1t proper that there should come
from any source the imputation that
the Investigation is interfering with
questions involving the national gov
ernmeHt 1t is a funny thing that no
government official is in a position
20 know anything Of the alleged gov
erHmeut plot or knew of il except to
say they heard it through the news