Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1917-01-11
HIGH MEN INVOLVED.
LAWSON CHARGES CABINET
MEMBER AND SENATOR ARE
INVOLVED IN NOTE "LEAK."
REFUSES TO REVEAL NAMES
Boston Broker Berates Members OF
CONGRESS During Hearing Until Shut
OFF by Chairman-WiIson Exoner-
ates Secretary Tumulty.

first as q SuppOSlIlOuS case, Dut IdteI
stating it had been told to him as
fact, Thomas w. Lawson in his teStl-
monye before the house rules commit
tee pictures a United States senator,
cabinet officer and New York banker
having a joint stock gambling account
and dividing the profits among them.
He declined to give names because he
did not know them of his own knoWl-
edge.
"Was it a case within your personal
knowledge?" asked Representative Gar
rett. II don't want to ask you for
hearsay."
II appreciate your attitude" an
swered Lawson, land / meet it by
saying that I might explode many
sensations if I desired. I don't think
this has reached the stage for giving
names. 1t is not within my personal
knowledge"
did the person who told you claim
to have knowledge?"
Had Control of Official.
"No, but | corroborated it later, and
had a reputable banker, a friend of
mine, and friend Of the banker, go to
see this banker He mentioned this
matter and said, What do you know
about it?' He said the banker told
him that he not only had this account,
but others, and that he had this cab
met member under such absolute con-
troll that he could bring the cabinet
member from Washington to New
York or to the telephone at any time
of the day or night, and he offered
then and there to call him on the tele-
phone to demonstrate it. Now | am
sorry to have gone that far"
Wilson Denial Aids Tumuity.
President Wilson added his indorse-
ment to Secretary Tumulty's denial of
any knowledge of Wall street ''leak'
in connection with the peace note. Mr..
Tumulty appeared before the house
rules committee and made a statement
reiterating that he had no knowledge
of the note until it had been given to
the press, and concluding:
81 am authorized by the president
to quote him as follows:
al wish in justice to Mr.. Tumulty
to say that he has stated the exact
fact. He had no knowledge Of the note
whatever until it was given out for
publication
Three Others Present.
Secretary of State Lansing was also
before the committee. He said that
on the morning of his conference with
the newspaper men about the peace
note three other men were present
waiting to see him but that he did not
know they were in the room until after
he had talked to the newspaper men.
"Who were these men," asked Req.
resentative Lenroot.
"Mr. A. E. Snowden Of New York, e.
r. Gayler, a civil engineer Of the navy,
and DR.. n. T. Mclean of the navy"
said Mr.. Lansing. ''The two naval Off
GERS were about to proceed to Haiti
for the government"
"It is not likely that they would say
anything about your statement?" sug-
gested Representative Bennett.
Every improbable"
Mr.. Bennett recalled Secretary Lam
sing had stated he never specialized in
the market and added:
"For that reason isn't it possible that
you gave little thought to the effects
statement made by you might have
on the stock market?'
II never gave it a thought" said the
secretary. ut never entered my mind.
I was merely anxious to preserve the
courtesy due to foreign nations in the
matter"
Mr.. Snowden issued a statement at
New York and denied that he was re.
sponsible for the "leak."
Lawson Starts Row.
Thomas w. Lawson Of Boston, who
originated the now famous charges of
an alleged '1eak'' to Wall street of the
sending of President Wilson's peace
note, was called to the stand by the
house rules committee.
Lawson charged that official Wash
ington is literally honeycombed with
leaks"
"There are leaks in the Supreme
court Of the United States, in con.
gress, in the cabinet and direct from
the White House." he declared.
'There has been a gigantic robbery
of the American people-a deliberate,
premeditated robbery of the American
people"
Lawson BelIigerent.
A furious row, in which isticuffs
seemed imminent between Representa-
tive Chiperfeld and Lawson, developed
when Lawson charged that the commit
tee did not want to get at the facts.
Can you give US the names Of any
one who profited by the leak?' asked
Chairman Henry, before Mr.. Lawson
quit the stand.
sDid you say can or 'will?" in
quired Lawson.