The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-01-09
In Near-Fis ticufs With Com
mitteemen and Uses Typical
Bostonese Language
TUMULTY AND LANSING
CLEAR THEIR SKIRTS
Show If There Was Such a
Thing as a Leak They Knew
Nothing of lt-Lawson On
Stand Today

Washington, an. S-TwO
vigorous, sweeping dcnials and
ten-ronnd verbal boxing match
were the product of a strenuous
day In the House Rules Comrnit-
tee investigation OF the peace
panic leak Secretary of state
Lansing and Secretary to the
President Tumulty supplied tho
denials, making II clear that they
knew nothing about any leak,
had heard nothing about any
leak, and could not possibly have
been involved In any leak.
Thomas w. lawson supplied the
boxing bout, and he took on ono
member of the committee after
another in n pyrotschnical display
Of Wall Street vcrracular. law
son talked himself into one near
fist-aght, into the beginning of
contempt proceedings against
him I'm the House. and added lit
III, to the record In the way of
definite leak information.
In the center of the big marble
hearing room of the House office
building. the Boston broker waved hts
arms and shouted his general de-
nunciatfon OF Washington leaks
The Supreme Court. White HOUSE.
House and Senate were all about as
feaky as Sieve. he told the COM
mttee. But names and dates came
harder and the hig crowd that jam
med the room. society Washington,
legislative Washington. and q small
army of newspaper correspondents
heard some typical South Boston
language when Lawson and the COM
10 {yA%-pts.N3 syY As f1gIsAffp@
Half the time ne was tesufytng,
Iawson's rubscund countenance was
wagging within a foot OF the faces
of the committeeman across the big
tables He Was out OF his chair. and
pract!cing gymnastic at every oppor-
tunity. And his language followed
| suit He told the com nlittee that the
Investigation was a "hellish thing
and on more than one occasion was
wrought up to a damn" He apollo
glzed however, TO the ladies present.
fHTPERFTELD WANTS LAWSON
PUNISHED FOR CONTEMPT
A part OF rawson's new informa-
ton today was 10 the effect that
Congressman had told him that
Cabinet member prof'ted by the leak,
| He refused to give the name. and that
initiated clash with Representative
Chiperfield who after narrowly
ayerted fistic encounter, moved that
the committee recommend 10 the
House that the witness he punished
for contempt. The resolution was
held In allegiance. The Boston broker
likewise told OF banker friend OF
his who told him that another banker.
United States Senator and a Cabi-
net member were parties to three
cornered Joint account In Wall Street.
No names were forthcoming and
another httrst- Of rhetorical raa-fre II
up the scene. Com ulitteanen charged
Lawson with having no real informa-
! tion and Lawson In an outburst
charged that the committee did not
want any facts.
Lawson had rot completed his
testimony tonight and he will go on
tomorrow. Meantime the shadow of
the committees contempt resolution
hangs over the author Of the sensa-
tionai leak charges
Secretary to the President Tumulty
cleared his skirts OF az leak con-
taminatioid by producing a statement
from the President declaring:
president WILSON ENDORSES
TUNfUITY'S STATEMENTS
II 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
Secretary Tumulty repeated his
denials Of charges that he had break
tasted in New York with Broker
Bernard NJ. Baruch Just before the
peace note was made public He
filed a broad. general denial OF any
leak knowledge with the committee.
Secretary Lansing outlined the cir
cumstances surrounding the publica-
ton OF the note. He denied any
knowledge which would justify the
charge that there had been a leak.
IAAWsON PREDICTS
ANOTHER LEAK To COME
Thomas w. Lawson predicted there
would be another break in the mar
ket within few weeks, even worse
than that caused by the peace note.
II object to the statement as try
Ing to throw scare into the coun-
kry," said Representative Chiperfleld
II don't give a damn what YOU
think about it," retorted Lawson
Chairman Henry admonished the
witness, there were ladies present
and that the hearing was not,a bar
room"
'sThat's Bostonese,'' sarcastically
commented Chiperfield.
Lawson told the committee that
Wall Street frequently knows in ad-
vance of government documents that
are given out in Washington and
sheld for release"
"A Stock Exchange house of New
York and Boston recently passed
aronnd among its members one Of
these confidential documents-show-
Ing they are getting rather careless"
he declared. lse@a
l. &..I
Court decision that leaked--you have
mentioned that in Your public state
(Coutinued on Second PAxa)