The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-01-09

son. 'Tf the market had broken with
out that preparation, made possible by
a leak, the break would have been
We didn't have any failures accom-
| pany this crash. so I think the leak
really was good thing in one way"
Representative Chipperf1eld ques-
| toned Lawson, seeking to show that
| he was beneficiary of the falling
market.
Lawson denied that he was connect
ed with any brokerage firm, but adj
mitted that he operated occasionally
through brokers as an individual.
MY purpose said Chipperfield, lis
to show that Lawson, who says he was
not the recipient of any leak, dealt
largely on the stock exchange during
this break. I want to show up bust
ness transactions which were conduct
operate successfully without a leak
then condemn the effort being made
here to indict other men for operating
successfully in the same market.
"Give US the name of your broker!"
he demanded.
Lawson said one brokerage firm. was
H. Content & Co., Ill Broadway, New
York.
Chipperfield then asked questions to
show that Lawson began a selling
campaign in December and asked If
his transactions in steel did not aggre-
gate as much as 100000. Lawson said
he had no idea what they aggregated.
He would not give a direct answer
when asked II he had operated SELL
ing campaign.
Mr.. Lawson promised the committee
he would disclose the names of the
cabinet official, the senator and the
New York banker, who, he says a
member of congress told him, were
engaged in Safeguarding partner
ship, If the house ordered an investi-
cation as a. result of the rules COM
mittee's preliminary hearings.
A third motion to report Lawson
for contempt was entered by the COM
mittee on demand of Representative
Chipperfield when Lawson continued
to refuse to tell who gave him the
names of three men alleged to be in
volved in the leak. Lawson insisted
that his informant, a congressman,
had said the names should not be
made public because 1t might be dis
astrous to the nation and administra-
ton.
Answering Mr.. Chipperfield, Law
son again declared he had no direct
knowledge through a leak" of the
coming of the presidents peace note.
Weren't there others throughout
a break in the market as youSdid?''
Hundreds of them?"
BY a process of elimination Chip
perfield then established that Law
son had no court knowledge" of any
broker including Bernard Baruch,
operating on leak" of any govern
ment officer who had knowledge of a
leak" or any member OF congress
who operated on the exchange during
September. either on leak or 9TH
erwise.
Representative Chipperfield then
urged Lawson to give the name OF the
'leaker" he was reported to have
given Chairman Henry in confidence
ten days ago.
"Til release the witness from any
confidence" interrupted Mr.. Henry.
did you mention any name to Mr..
Henry as that of the 'leaker'2" re-
peated Chipperfield.
Il did not"
After persistent demands were
made that he give the name MOVE
Lawson said:
Il would rather take the conse-
quences than to mention the names
now. There is another name that
might be mentioned that might pre-
cipitate even more serious conse-
quences but this is not the time or
place"
representative CanIrlu Ln0n asked
Mr.. Lawson IL he would furnish all the
names should the house order an in
vestigatiOn.
Z will. replied Lawson emphati-
cally.
You really have no interest in any
investigation about the leak anyway,
have your" asked Representative Cars
rett. "All on earth you want is an i'm
vestigation of the stock exchange that
will lead to federal regulation, is it
not?' a1g
yes, that's true" said Lawson
frankly, arousing the surprise OF some
members of the committee.
THE only motive behind your agi-
tation Of this matter Is to force .dras-
tic inquiry into the stock exchange for
legislative purposes?' Garrett contin-
ued.
Absolutely said Lawson.
cannot name the cabinet officer
to whom have referred Lawson re-
Piled to renewed questioning by Rep
fesentative Harrison, without mem
tioning another official Of a higher po-
sition and that would be more seri-
Gus than IL cast a cloud over the en-
tire congress and was sent TO jail my
self for life."
In response to questions bv Repre-
sentative Patten, Lawson said he did
not think the leak got into Wall street
through any newspaper men or
through any printed document