The sun., 1916-01-06
TELEGRAM EXPOSED
POWDER PLANT PLOT
Men Near Fairchance, Pa,
Works Disappear just as
Warning Comes.
BUCHANAN OFFERS PLEA

PrrrsBuRG. Jan. 5.--An intercepted
telegram was probably the means OF
preventing the destruction Of the du
Pont powder plant at Fairchance in
Fayette county short time ago. Tho
message was addressed to J. r. Lee.
who with J. J. Hewitt. was posing IN
Fayette county as coke operator.
anxious TO determine the value OF coke
drawing machines made by the Coving.
ton Machine Company of Covington. Va.
Both men spent much time near the
powder plant and IT Is the belief OF
SECRET Service Agent Judge. who 10
working on the case. that Hewitt and
Lee irad nearly perfected their plans to
destroy the works when they took alarm
and disappeared. The Intercepted tele-
gram reads as follows:
WILKINSON. Wash.
To J. T. Lee, Untonto,cn. Pa: Cover
up Joe Fires at Wilkinson. Beth
lehem. Roebling and du Pont Would
advise strategic retreat. II the Ger
man fleet has landed and YOU have
taken refuge on II come home TO your
sorrowing wife. II. Il. b.. W. F. {.
The day the men disappeared. word
came TO the Fayet;e county authorities
from Wilkinson tWashinston) to arrest
them.
From n secret service official II was
learned here to-day that the strikes now
under way at the Republic Iron ana
steel Company, Youngstown, Ohio: the
United States Cast Iron Pipe and Foun-
dry Company. Scottdale. Pa. and the
standard Steel Car Company. Newcastle,
Pa. are believed to be part OF the propa-
ganda which has for its object this
crippling and destruction OF all con-
Germs manufacturing munitions for the
Allies.
At the Republic Iron and Steel Com
pany $500 men are out tonight At
the Scottdale plant 100 men are out. At
the Standard steel Car Companys plant
400 men are out At tho Newcastis
plant, John Schulz. German who has
been here but six days, 10 the recognized
leader of the strikes.
The first striking workmen at the Re-
public Iron and Steel plant were per-
suaded to quit work by German who
had been in Youngstown only few
days.
Congressman Frank Buchanan. former
president Of the I.abor's National Peace
| Council, arrived here from Washington
! yesterday and going before Judge Henry
! II. Clayton. "A former colleague In tho
House of Representatives. pleaded not
guilty to the charge OF conspiring TO
! restrain foreign commerce in connection
with an alleged German plot TO stop the
export of munitions.
Appearance 10 heralded.
| The appearance OF Mr. Buchanan in
the Federal Building was partly un-
] expected. for he had given no advance
/ word of the exact time OF his arrival.
/ shortly after 3 O'Clock. however. he
sauntered into Judge Clayton's court
, room in the company of Albert Eng
! lish. an attorney OF % Cedar street.
4 Judge Clayton halted proceedings in
| another case pending the arraignment of
| the Congressman. Buchanan and Eng
| lish stepped forward and English an
nounced that his client wished thirty
days In which To plead That request
was refused. and then English an
| nounced plea OF not guilty, asking
thirty days IN which TO change the plea
The Judge allowed the defendant fifteen
days
In the argument on this point Judge
CLAYTON pointed out that the defendant
had surrendered himself. but Raymond
| H. Sarfaty. Assistant United States At
| torncy. who. with Roger Il. Wood. was
| in court. said:
"He surrendered himself after a war
rant had been sent to Washington for
! his arrest"
BAH was fxed at $1,000 and Mr. Bu-
chanan was parolled in custody OF his
attorney. The bond will he furnished
to-day. AS buchanan left the court room
he was surrounded by reporters and pho
tographers and he lowered above. SO
great is his height.
Asked about the charge against him
he said:
This case will fan of its own weight
Mr.. English wrote a statement In the
third person, purportins to give Mr.
BlrChanans views.
MIR. Buchanan has made no effort tc