Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-01-09
WILSON 5 AIDS
TESTIFY ABOUT
LEAK OF Ne VS.
Nigh Officials Disclaim
knowledge as to Who
Gaye Out the Tip
TUMULTY CALLED
AS FIRST WITNESS

AS FIRST WITNESS
Washington, D. c.. Jan. S.-lnquiry
into the alleged Teak" to Wall street
on President Wilson's peace note was
resumed today by the house rules
committee with a number of witnesses
on hand ready to testify.
When the hearing opened Represen
tative Campbell. republican, moved
that the committee subpoena F. NJ
Lockwood & Co., brokers, 46-4S Broad
way, New York, to bring papers and
documents showing sales from Decem-
ber 10 to %. The committee decided
TO consider it in executive session. On
motion of Representative Chiperfeld
the Boston stock exchange was order.
ed to preserve it's brokers' slips for
the same period.
Joseph P. Tumulty, secretary to
President Wilson, then was called and
read the following statement:
Backed with an endorsement by
President Wilson, Secretary Tumulty
today made the following statement
before the house rules committee:
II appear before this committee to
resent the unjust intimation that
gave information to B. NJ. Bar
uch in regard to the so-called peace
note sent to the European belliger-
ents last month by the secretary of
state. This intimation was contained
in a statement made to this commit.
tee by Representative Wood of In
diana a man whom I do not know.
To the best of my knowledge I have
never met Mr.. Wood. Certainly he
made no effort to find out the truth
from me before dragging my name in.
to this affair.
II wish to deny generally and spe-
cifically that gave advance informa-
tion to Mr. Baruch or to anybody else
In regard to the peace note. I did not
know Of the existence Of this note
or that this government contem.
Mated the liSpAtch .nEsAyicllaa- mote
until . printed copy OF the note had
been eiven to representatives OF the
press by the state department. i was
not consulted in the preparation Of
the note by the president or by any
body else. The conferences and CON-
munications relating to the drafting
Of the note and its dispatch were con-
fidential between the president and
the secretary of state. I knew moth
ing Of them whatever. nor did any
other person employed in the execn-
tive office.
II have had no correspondence,
written or telegrapinic with Mr.. Bar
uch or anybody representing him. re-
garding this matter. have had no
telephone talks with Mr.. Baruch or
ANYBODY representing him regarding
this matter. | have never talked with
him or anybody representing him. or
with anyone else publicly or privately,
with regard to this matter
Apparently the only insinuations
made against me are that I lunched
with or met Mr.. Baruch at the Bit
more hotel at or about the time Of the
preparation of the presidents sugges-
ton that the European belligerents
state their peace terms. have never
breakfasted. lunched, dined or taken
any meals with Mr.. Baruch. have
met him only at several banQuets and
large dinners, when many other per
sons were present have never dis.
cussed any peace or other note, either
when it was in prospect or afterwards,
with Mr.. Baruch or any other person
engaged in the purchase or sale of Sc
curities Of any kind in the stock mar.
ket.
while this Is complete denial Of
the only in5inuations which have been
made, wish to 60 further and say
that have never engaged in stock
UnA kot Cn1n y,
through brokers. friends or agents.
am authorized by the president
to quote him as follows:
! wish in justice to Mr., Tumulty
20 say that he has stated the exact
fact. He had no knowledge Of the
note whatever until 1t was given out
Tor publication
Chairman Henry Of the rules com
mittee announced that he had no ques-
tions to ask and Representative Camp
bell questioned Mr.. Tumulty:
do you know who aided in the
preparation OF this note?"
The president prepared and wrote
the note himself" said Mr. Tumulty.
'.He is an expert typewriter in addi
ton to his other achievements"
did any stenographer or clerk in
the executive Offices know of the ex-
istence Of the note?"
II do not know"
Mr.. Tumulty added that he had
tried to find out how leak could have
occurred but had been unable to get
any definite information
THE mere mechanics of preparing
the note might make it possible for it
IN GOT ont hp said "My first kn0wL
edge that note had been given out
came from The Associated Press cor
at the white house on the
afternoon of December 20. He told
me when | returned from lunch that
the note had been given out. asked
him what note and he said the peace
note"
Have you any information as to
how the leak occurred7" Mr. Campbell
asked.