The Washington times., 1917-01-12

conducted a. to yield private profit.
and the Importance 10 magnified when
such questions grow out OF our inter-
national relations. Every phase OF
the conduct OF such questions a.
these should be above suspicion.
THE Committee on Rules early In
its proceedings, took steps to pre-
serve important testimony that might
be important to an investigating
committee In connection with these
charges.
stock exchanges and stock brokers
throughout the country have been no
tined to preserve all their records
that would have bearing upon the
names Of those who took advantage
of the stock market at the time the
advance information as 70 the note
was Affecting the market.
This testimony has not been taken.
The committee was informed that
records have been ordered preserved
that will disclose the names Of the
benehciaries OF the leak, even though
the transactions were not in his
proper name.
Grave Responsibility.
'rMr. Speaker, the House Is today
confronted with q grave responsible
ity ana an Important duty.
For many days rumors have been
afoat and charges made that Govern
ment officials had violated the Sc
crecy with respect to grave interna-
tional questions, and that Government
officials and others had profited by
violating the confidence the country
placed in them.
: II have believed from the time
these charges were first published
that the Importance Of purging the
Covenant Of /such . srious scandal
was an important duty. I do not
think we should rest the charges or
the scandal on the statements Of
w. Lawson, Of Boston. The
charges were published and generally
believed throughout the country be-
fore Lawson became prominent in
with them.
His refusal to testify to important
matters that he says came to his knowi-
edge did not leave the committee and
does not leave the House without in
upon which the House ought |
now to proceed to order q searching |
that win clear up this |
whole matter and purge the Government |
Of the United States OF one Of the most |
serious scandals that has had wide |
publicity with respect to our Govern |
ment IN half a century.
"The last witness called before the
Committee on Rules, the news editor
of the Wall Street Journal. Mr.. Reilly,
testified that on the twentieth day of
December, at about 1880 o'clock in
The afternoon, one of his reporters
brought him news that the rumor
was on the street, received over the
private wire Of Washington broker,
hat President Wilson was about to
END q peace note to the beIligerent
powers This information was at
,nce placed upon the ticker and givend
% the financial world by the wall
street Journal.
Told where To Go.
Congressman Bennett said, amid
that:
"Mr. Lawson has had opportunity
% tell US where to so-and we have
to go there"
1.-THE majority are afraid to inves-
igate this leak" he. continued. 81
lbsolve from this statement Mr.. :
yantrill of Kentucky. He Il not
Ifraid. Lawson took the legal ground
hat the only duty OF the Rules Com
nittee was to report whether there
hall be an Investigation. In this he
vas right. He promised to give more
to a select committe. He
aid I VIII when Mr.. Cantrill asked
Z he would give names to a special
Material witnesses Needed.
The majority called out. the wit
Iesses in Washington who could not
rove anything. You cannot make
ut a case without material wit
esses"
Mr.. Heflin of Alabama referred to
fr. Lawson as "a crazy man who tes-
lied for hours and hours"
ANY intelligent man who reads
his page advertisement In the Wash
ngton papers must reach the conclu-
ion that this man Is Grassy" said
Ieflin.
Congressman Ferris of Oklahoma, a
Democrat, contended that IF Mr..
.awson were a responsible man the
louise would be inclined to follow
his investigation to the last note"
Congressman Garrett, of Tennessee,
rged that the resolution be laid on
he table because not q single scintil-
1 of evidence, not a single intimation
as been furnished that would con-
ect any member Of this House with
took speculation