The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-19
Wanted to Make Boston Man "the Goat" and
 Failed in Attempt
WALL STREET SYSTEM
 WILL NOW BE PROBED
This Was Just What Noted Financier Desired When He Made the
 Charge as to Peace
 Note Leak
By HUGH W. ROBERTS

Washington, January Especial. )-The cleverness of Lawson is the cleverness of the devil. He is So smart that members of the Congress which he has so conclu- sively outgeneraled are finding comfort in rather indefinite charge that the Boston financier is crazy
 It is the general belief in Washington that MT. Lawson in the beginning desired Congress to investigate Wall street-not any specific incident connected with Wall street, but Wall street, itself. Therefore when it was reported that 'lealS' of the Presidents peace message had oc- cured, Lawson very promptly and very loudly exclaimed: "Certainly.'
 And then there ensued the early skir- mishes between the fnancier and the the rules committee prepared to send Lawson to jail. But Lawson, turning the tables, put the committee in hole" out of which it will have difficulty in extri- eating itself
 AN "UNWILLING" WITNESS
 
 Lawson in the role of chief prosecutor. At the present. he is unouestionably in the position of a most unwilling witness. And it is true in accordance with the record that for the odium incidental to the introduction into the muddle of the names of those who sit high, the com mittee is directly responsible.
 The single specific statement that Law son has made was to the effect that there was leak" That there was a leak" :, no one denies. In his preliminary con- versation with MT. Henry, chairman of the rules committee, MT. Lawson declined to mention the name of single indi- vidual in any manner connected with the Teak" He did tell the chairman, how ever. just how he could open up Tine of official inquiry which might lead to ton, MT. Henry widely proclaimed that Lawson had mentioned no names. The republicans forced tee fots.s into ordering a consideration Of the Wood resolution providing for an official and widespread investigation. In accordance with instructions. the rules committee subpoenaed Lawson. The financier ap- peared He stated that he had heard that members of Congress gambled, that certain officials of the government had profted from the ''leak.' and certain other gentlemen had been more or less remotely connected
 ''NO LEGAL KNOWLEDGE"
 Tho onyo r,,itt ea y1sistod tho ySor give it the names of those he had heard were connected. He declined. The com mittee repeatedly lost it's temper. It was boisterously insistent that Lawson con meet through hearsay testimony names of prominent people with a bold and un- scrupulous form of graft. Lawson per sisted in declining. To each demand he replied:
 Gentlemen, I have no legal knowledge; tion.'
 The committee regarded Lawson as be- ing in contempt. But before proceeding further, 1t carried the battle to the House. The democrats were very anx- ious to drop the investigation. The re- publicans were determined that it be carried to it's logical conclusion. Certain democrats. indicating that they had noth- ing to fear. joined the republicans. Then it was that orders were issued to probe the scandal into it's very depths.
 OUT OF THE TRAP
 The first step of the committee was for the purpose of making Lawson the goat" and of sending him to jail for contempt. The plans were carefully laid.
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