Arizona republican., 1917-01-30
F|SK AND WHITE
 DENY LAWSON $
 LEAK CHARGES
TRepubIioan A. p. Leased Wirel

lRepubiloan A. F. Leased WlTe1
 NEW YORK, Jan 29.-Some of the most sensational charges of Thomas W. Lawson made in testifying recently in the house rules committee leak investigation, were vehemently denied today by Pliney Fisk and Archibald $. White. two widely known New York financiers, when they appeared here before the congressional inquisi sitors.
 Mir. Fisk, named by Lawson as the banker member Of an alleged trio com posed of a cabinet member, Secretary McAdOo, a member of congress known as Senator 0" and a banker Nho had a joint account in Wall Street declared emphatlcally that no such combination ever existed.
 White, who was declared by Lawson to have told him that Fisk had boasted. to him that he controlled Secretary McAdoo. and had offered to call the secretary from his bed by telephone at l:3O o'clock in the morning t. prove his assertion, insisted that Lawson was 'romancing."
 As q result of these denials, commit teemen tonight expressed belief that the length of the hearings here had been shortened materially. Sorne said they would close within three or four days If unexpected developments do not arise. Examination of certain stock -x change records for 13 days preceding the sending of the presidents peace note, of several bankers and brokers regarding general financial conditions during this period. and further exami- nation Of Barney Baruch. a heavy short" seller, and q few minor wit nesses. is expected to bring the end here. The committee now is intent on bringing the inquiry to a close with an investigation only of the Glleged peace note leak"
 The name of Count von Bernstcrff was again brought into the inquiry to- day ill questions put to Mr. White. but with what purpose was not made known. Sherman L. Whipple, counsel for the committee, wanted to know if just prior to the publication of the presidents note MT. White had ar ranged a meeting between the German ambassador and Lawson. MT. White, after saying that he had frequently 1 entertained BernstOrff at his home here and that they were friends of long ! standing, testified that Lawson had sought to have him arrange a meeting with the ambassador but that the re | quest has been made at least a year 1 and half ago. He said the request had l come to him through Lawson's "confi- 1 dential man, McSweeney," and that he i had told McSweeney to arrange the meeting himself. White said he did not | know whether the meeting ever took l place.
 Mir Whipple inquired closely into MT l Whites friendship with Lawson during
 the period prior to the publication oi | the note. He developed that the two 1 frequently met in New York, but 1 White would not admit that thev had discussed stock market speculation and | the effect that the war and peace situ- 1 alton would have on the market, lex cept in general terms"
 | While MT. Fisk admitted close busi- l ness associations with Mr McAdoC l prior to the latter's entering the cabi-
 net, the banker insisted that since thai ] time their relations had been largely
 social and that he had leaned back
 ward insofar as seeking favors from 1 the secretary were concerned The last business dealings he had with MT. Mo Adoo was in connection with the saIe ! of an excess of $112,000 worth of securi- 1 ties. which he said, the secretary Jeff
 with the firm of Harvey Fisk anc
 Sons for disposal when he became q
 cabinet member. This account was
 closed on January 15, 1914.
 MT. Whipple, however, elicited iron the banker statement that the fedora reserve bank of New York had taker
 a lease for year and q half of office, owned by the bankers firm MT. Fisl
 admitted that he had suggested {,
 the secretary that the offices were wei
 adapted to the use of the bank. bu
 said this suggestion had been mad, (Continued on Page TWo)