The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-01-15
Springs Sensation by Naming
PrOber as Informant.
Says Chairman Henry Involved
High Officials.
NAMES correspondent, TOO
Cabinet Member, Congressman
and Broker in Pool.
Lansing, Tumulty and Bern
stOrff Also Mentioned.

Washington. Jan. 15.-Thomas w.
Lawson sprang a sensation in the
Teak" inquiry today when he testified
that Chairman Henry of the rules
committee conducting the inquiry was
the congressman who told him that a
cabinet officer a member of congress
and a banker, were said to have
profited in the stock market by adj
vance information on President Will
sons note.
Names Secretary McAdoo, Too.
Secretary McAdoo. Lawson said,
was the cabinet member to whom he
ferred in his previous testimony as
being connected. according to rumor'
with Il Teak" on President wilson
peace note.
Lawson said he could not give the
names of any members of congress
who were engaged in buying and sell
ing stocks.
Lawson also testified that Mrs.
Ruth Tomlinson Nisconti OF WASH
ington, had told him that w. w. Price,
correspondent of the Washington Star
ut the White House had a part in the
leak affair between Secretary Tumul-
ty and others.
Lawson said that the banker who
told him he knew another banker
who dominated a cabinet officer in
Washington was Archibald S. White
of White x Company. Boston. The
committee Immediately issued a sub
puenae for White.
Al the very outset Lawson sprang
sensa ton by declaring Chairman
Henry was the congressman who told
him a cabinet member, a senator and
a stock broker were in a pool to profit
in the stock market by a leak on
President Wilson's peace note.
Wanted Secret Session. ='-,s
Lawson first pleaded with the COM
mittee to give the names first in sc~
cret and in public later if the commit
tee decided it was wise.
The committee would not grant the
plea and Chairman Henry demanded
an answer to the question::
Who was the member of con-
g1ess ?" Lawson was asked.
''Chairman Henry" said Lawson
calmly.
Another banker to whom Lawson
referred as having been involved in
the leak" was H. Pliny Fiske of Har-
vey Fiske &. Son, New York, The
senator. Lawson. said. was known to
him only as 90"
Lawson had been asked if he was
prepared to offer proof of his state
ment that there were beneficiaries of
the leak among lawmakers aud
others. He produced letter which
he asked to sumbit in private. The
committee insisted that he read it. II
was from Mrs. Visconti.
TumuIty Got His Bit?
Asked by Representative Henry who
he meant when he said he could give
the name of a go-between who re-
ceived large sum for his bit" Law
son said he referred to the name given
him by Mrs. Visconti as Secretary
Tumulty."
Lawson also declared that the firm
of c. d. Barney & Co. of Wall street;
Malcolm McAdoo, brother of Score
tary McAdoo and Stewart G.. Gibboney
of New York, knew of the leak and
that a public man who knew the
leak machinery" was Paul NJ. War
burg of the federal reserve board.
Lawson indirectly brought the
names of Secretary Lansing and Am
bassador Bernstorff into the hearing
but not in connection with the leak.
When Henry charged him with
dragging in the name of Lansing,
Lawson indignantly replied:
Il have held The names of Lansing
and the German ambassador out of
this,