The Washington herald., 1916-10-27
BAKER CHARGES
TREASON IN PLOT
AGAINST WILSON
Foes of Administration AL
legged to Plan Mexican
Raid on u. S.
TO ACT BEFORE NOV. 7
President Believed to Have Sanctioned
Publication of Sensational
Charge.

Cincinnati, Ohio, Oct. 2O-PresI-
dent Wilson was much dEsturbed'
when shown the statement from See
rotary OF War Baker that Influences
inimicaI 10 the administration were
endeayOring 10 stir mp trouble on the
Mexican border. Secretary TumUIty
was sent 10 get the Secretary Of War
on the telephone and ask his author
ity for the assertion, but reported
that he had been unSuccessfuL The
President made no comment.
Treasonable plotting by enemies of
the Wilson administration with Mex
lean bandits, to bring about an attack
on a border town or an American
army camp before election, was
charged yesterday by Newton D.
Baker, Secretary OF War.
This alleged plot is calculated to
throw discredit upon the Wilson
policy toward Mexico, according to
Secretary Baker.
President Wilson is said to have
sanctioned publication of the senss-
tional charge, but Robert Lansing,
Secretary OF State, and Thomas Watt
Gregory, Attorney General, with
whom Mr.. Baker was in consultation
yesterday, declined TO comment on It.
Baker Leaves Capital.
Secretary Baker left Washington yester-
day to deliver campaign speech at Mar
tinsburE. W. Va Today he will leave
for Cleveland.
The statement was as follows:
The War Department has received
definite information. confirmed from other
sources, that enemies OF the sdnlinlstra.-
tons policy towards Mexico. IN co-opers-
ton with Villa or other hand u In Mex
! ice. have arranged a spectacular attac4
20 be made either upon some part OF the
American forces or upon some American
community on the border between now
z = RE date OF the election. for the pur-
pose Of turning the tide Of sentiment
against the policy which the administra-
tiion has adopted for the protection OF
the border
1t IS significant in this connection that
both the State and War Departments
were advised that the bandit forces
operating at the present time in Mex
iCo are being paid in silver coin.
Full particulars have been Transmitted
TO Gen. Funston and Gen. PerShinE All
American forces are, therefore, fore
warned and in readiness for such an at
tack
believe Wilson CoEniIant.
The statement caused a sensation in
army and political circles. II was issued
by Secretary Baker after a conference
with Secretary OF State Lansing and At
] |TFr~T 60 -
in Washington that II was authorized BY
President Wilson and that It had long
been under consideration by the President
and his advisers
The seriousness OF the charge. together
with the time selected for publishing IT,
convinced officials who had no previous
knowledge OF the allegations that the
statement was issued at the explicit direc-
ton Of President Wilson.
It was pointed out that the obvious in
tention OF the statement was to create
the impression that Americans had con-
spired with Mexican bandits 10 organize
an attack either upon American troops or
on American border community.
An authority at the War Department
said last night:
The offense charged in Secretary
Bakers statement IS high treason under
the laws OF war and murder under the
civil laws II executed. As high treason
the government is empowered now to
prosecute tho conspirators and TO exc
cute upon conviction. Treason is giving
aid or comfort TO the enemy in time OF
war. The War Depa rtment has held that
we are in a state OF war and President
Wilson has defined the enemy as Villa
and other Mexican bandits. such as those
spoken Of in Mr.. Bakers statement"
officials All RetIcent.
Efforts to ascertain the source Of
the War Departments definite infor-
nation" !ast night met with no sue
cess. All War Department officials
referred inQuirers to Secretary Baker.
Assistant Attorney Gen. Charles
Warren, who would have charge Of
al investigation into the matter by
the Department OF Justice. and A
Bruce Bieleski chief Of the division
Of investigation. who would conduct
such an investigation. both refused
last night to discuss the matter.
Neither would affirm that an investi-
cation has been made, although the
Department Of Justice would be the
chief source OF information Of both
the State and War Department in
such cases.
An official familiar with the charges
said last night that Mexican propa-
Candists had recently been able to
furnish arms and ammUnitions to
Villa He intimated that arrests
would be made as soon as the agents
Of the Department OF Justice could
lay their hands on the conspirstora
Mexican propagandists along the bor-
der and important persons in certain
large American cities Il was init