The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-02-15
RARE BREACH OF FAITH.

The discovery OF Ine InysIerlous
leak" thru which advance informa- :.
ton of President Wilson'S peace note
reached Wall street before its delivery
is not gratifying to those engaged in
the newspaper calling.
The humiliating confessions of two
Washington newspaper men, that
they supplied forecasts of the message
ers, cites two rare instances where
newspaper. men have betrayed the
faith and confidence placed in them
almost daily by public officials.
Scarcely a day passes but the presi-
dent of the United States or others
high in authority and standing give
to the press, in confidence, important
messages, addresses or documents
which are not to be made public until
a specified time.
The violation of this trust is so rare
the testimony offered in tears by two
reporters a few days ago at the
probe" hearing in Washington. The
details of these confessions are dis
tressing.
Here is, a report from a New York
paper which refers to the situation,
rot heretofore covered fully in the
news reports:
I'm concluding his testimony before the
inquisitorial commission William w. Price
for twenty continuous years the represen-
tative of the Washington Star, broke into
tears, his huge frame shaking with emo
ton, as he confessed that he had, without
ha Inn Il of off fae naI
sums of money monthly from brokerage
houses and had written two messages on
the presidents peace note from informa-
ton he had received at the White House
from Albert W. Fox, of the New York
Sun. He broke down under questioning
concerning his financial transactions
which he declared were pitifully small in
view of the tremendous consequences
Price was promptly discharged by the
Star
u. Fred Essary, in the newspaper bus
mess for fifteen years, now head of the
Washington bureau of the Baltimore Sun
and correspondent of the New Orleans
Item, Richmond Times Despatch, and Bos
ton Journal, while declaring that he acted
only thru friendship, and not for financial
consideration. admitted that he had visited
the White House around noon of Decem-
Der 90 and had learned from other news
paper men that Secretary Lansing had
announced that he would issue a conf
dental state document at p. m, and that,
something like an hour later, Essary drew
up Il forecast of the document and per
sonally filed 1t with the operator at the
brokerage shop of F. A Connolly & Co.
This message went to the Connolly New
York correspondent, E. f. Hutton x Co.
In sending his tips to brokers, Price
used the name "Childs," as he natur-
ally did not want his connections
known.
A reporter for the New York Sun
and a fellow newspaper worker with
f'rice, told the committee that he had
rot the slightest idea that Price was
sending notes to brokers concerning
what Lansing had told the CORE
spondents. Fox said he told Price the
note was being held in confidence.
Within ten minutes, the witness,
Frice, admitted he had the following
message on the wire:
| Frederick C. Aldrich, Duplicate care Mink,
| 200 South La Sale Street, Chicago Ill.
Have intimation that important State
| Department statement regarding economic
conditions of European war as affecting
neutrals and intended to promote peace
prospects likely to become public late this
afternoon. Childs.''
The prompt dismissal of Price by
the Washington Star is refreshing and
gratifying.
| The Baltimore Sun did not dis.
charge it's reporter as did the Wash
| irgton Star, but said: THE Sun
oeeply deplores and strongly disap-
proves of what Essary did. The in
Vestigation shows that, while Essary
did very indiscreet and wrong thing,
he did it without any wrong or I'M
worthy motive and wholly from
friendship of years with Connolly ard
without financial gain to himself"
After Thomas W. Lawson had
heard a part of the testimony of Price
lie said:
81 have had as many dealings with
newspaper men as almost any man in
| the United States, and I have some
times placed almost my very life in
their hands. Never but twice have l
been betrayed; once it was by a down
right scoundred who never did qualify
as a newspaper man and another time
by a poor old fellow who was pressed
to distraction by financial difficulties,
and had to shoot some one and hap
! pened to pick me. But 1 would never
| hesitate to place my confidence in the
average newspaper man, and these
revelations here are not typical. In
! some instances these men have been
pitifully cheated by wolves of finance.
1t will be a lesson for newspaper
men,
Sherman L. Whipple said: st wish
to state publicly that in my public
career 1 have trusted hundreds OF
| newspaper men as I would my son OF
my partner, and 1 have never been
disappointed. Newspaper men are az
a class, scrupulously careful to main
tain condolences. These revelations
here will serve merely to clean the
barnacles from one of the finest ships
that sails the seas of public life
Other members of the committee
expressed similar views and Mr.. Chip
crfield said: Newspaper men need
not hang their heads. There is nc
profession that does not suffer from
urethical practices of individuals; and
O. them all, lawyers doctors and ever
lraac hers I thinl. tl,at ,aaz..sr,a nor. NOR