Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1917-01-12
HITS MAN HIGHER
THAN CABINET
Lawson Makes Startling State
ment at Quiz.
BARUCH ENTERS A DENIAL
Denies He Dined With Secretary Tu-
muIty at Hotel in New York and
Says He Does Not Know
"A. Curtis"

Washington, Jan. 10.-The leak" in
yestigation seemed to make its first
progress toward some definite point
when Thomas w. Lawson, after much
questioning and urging. promised that
should the house order a formal in
QEiry he would disclose the names of
the cabinet officer, the senator and the
New York broker who, he said con-
gresham told him, were engaged in
stock gambling partnership and had
profited through advance information
of President Wilson'S peace note.
Refuses to Reveal Names.
To disclose the names to the house
rules committee Lawson repeatedly re-
fused even when confronted with three
separate resolutions to put him in con-
Tempt for two reasons:
l. He contended the rules committee
had no power to conduct a thorough
investigation, including one of the
stock exchange, such as he urged, and
he would not be assured of an investi-
CATION If he disclosed the names.
9. Lawson said he considered that
disclosure of the names at this time
would have a disastrous effect for the
country and the administration. He
preferred berg punished for con-
tempt of congress.
Plead With Lawson for Names.
Congressman pleaded in vain with the
Boston fnancier to give the names of
the informing congressman, the cabi-
net officer or the senator.
Il cannot name the cabinet officer
to whom l have referred without men,
tioning another official of higher posi-
tion," said Lawson, land that would
be more serious than if l cast a cloud
over the entire congress and was sent
to Jail myself for life"
All through his testimony Lawson
limited at names higher up" but no
amount of questioning would bring
Lawson was excused by the committee
as witness, but told to remain within
the jurisdiction of the committee.
Lawson frankly acknowledged he
was more interested in a congression-
al investigation of the New York stock
exchange which would result in re-
medal legislation than he was in in
vestigating the leak" on President
Wilson's peace note.
Will Tell of Amounts Made.
In the course of the discussion of
the unnamed trio of whom the con-
gresham is said to have spoken, Law
son declared he would give a special
committee not only their names, but
the amounts of money they were sup
posed to have made from stock trans
actions. Lawson promised to furnish
competent testimony.
"Will you give their names?" Chair
man Henry asked.
Il will go farther" said Lawson. 81
will name amounts of money, great
amounts of money. More than $1,000
OOO"
Lawson's Operations Taken Up.
Lawson said that, bad as the break
on the market was when the leak
came, it probably would have been
worse If there had been no leak.
MY opinion Is that the break was
weeks in coming and that the leak
gave certain operators an opportunity
to prepare for the crash" said Law
son. "They were left in position to
know just what to do. If the market
had broken without that preparation
made possible by the leak the break
would have been much more disastrous
TO the country. We didn't have any
bank or stock exchange failures ac-
companying this crash. So think the
leak really was good thing in one
way"
Raises Beneficiary Question.
Representative Chiperfeld interro-
gated Lawson, seeking to show that
he was a beneficiary of the falling
market. Lawson denied that he was
connected with any stock brok erage
firm, but admitted that he operated
occasionally through brokers as an In
dividual.
third motion to report Mr.. Lawson
for contempt was entered by the COM
mittee on demand of Mr.. Chiperfeld
when the witness continued to refuse
to tell who gave him the names of
three men alleged to have been in
volved in the leak. Mr.. Lawson insist
Ing that his informant, congressman,
had said the names should not be
made public because it might be dis
Gstrous to the ration ard the admin
iStration.
Efforts by Mr. Chiperfield to induce
Mr.. Lawson to state the amount Of
his profits on the stock market during
December were futile. Lawson main
tanned he did rot know whether he
made 81 100000 or 100000.
Answering Mr.. Chiperfield, Lawson
again declared he had no direct knowl-
edge through leak" of the coming