Evening star., 1917-01-02
LAWSON IS SSCORED
BY SENATOR STONE
Story duplicating Statesmen
in Stock Deals Discredited
by Missourian.
KNOWS OF SOME "LEAKS"

Rising to a question of personal privi-
of the foreign relations committee. today
denounced as an absolute fabrication q
report printed in the Ottumwa. Iowa.
Courier. December 81, which said that
"'U S. Stone figured in dealings on the
574.00 shares"
81 did not buy or sell one penny's worth
of stock; the story is an unvarnished
faIsehood." said Senator Stone.
The story was from New York. deal
ing with the enormous number OF
shares of stock sold on the exchange
following the publication of the Presi-
dents peace note and the statements
issued by Secretary Lansing relating
thereto.
After Senator Stone had denounced
wild reports of financial transactions
and paid his respects to Thomas W.
Lawson, whom he characterized as an
Ass" a creature of a low type" and
IAN abominable character. Senator
Borah of Idaho asked to see the dis
patch published in the Ottumwa paper.
~. s. steel'' Not stone Meant.
1T is very clear that there was no
intention to reflect upon Senator Stone
in this story" he said. 1T appears to
be a dispatch sent by the Associated
Press, and in transmission it was made
to read U. S. Stone when it should
have read u. S. Steel
Senator Stone spoke of the alleged
leak" which Is said to have resulted
in tremendous stock transactions at the
time of the Presidents peace note.
IF it is true that any public official
has or did use any secret information,
as has been alleged. to further his own
personal interests. he is an unspeakable
scoundrel- If any man in legislative
life did it, which 1 believe to be impos-
sible, he ought to be dismissed from
Office.
Il do not know If there is any foun-
dation for these sensational stories.
But 1 do know that things have occur
red in the departments that ought not
to be possible. / know that confidential
communications to the State Depart
ment from foreign governments. which
would never have been made except in
the faith that the department would
hold them sacred, have by some means
found their way into hands of men not
authorized to receive them.
"Public Confidence Betrayed"
The things to which I refer did not
concern stock market transactions,
however. but the honor of the nation.
How this happened do not know. but
only could 1t have happened through the
inndeiity OF employees of the State De-
partment / fear. however. that this be-
trayal Of public confidence is in some
way traceable to our beautiful civil
service.
III I could have my way. I would have
every administration put trusted men in
every responsible place. There are men
now holding important places who have
no reason to be faithful. except that as
honest men they are faithful to their
chiefs"
Senator Stone said that the reports
Of what Thomas w. Lawson had said
about the Teak" had disgusted him,
and that he was sorry that the news
papers of the country had given them
so much space.
II dispise these sensational takers"
said Senator Stone, who are always
talking about legislative bodies. He
makes bold to say that, II an honest
investigation were attempted. there
would not be quorum of the Senate
or House present"