New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-26

But though there may nave pvo" Nv
Aareuu on Whipple's part, as tne ~
suit Of Chipcrfeld's Interruption; ~ ieIs
in the minds Of observers q distinct
impression Of the strong political cur
rents dividing the committee NV
clioues. The Republicans on the CON-
mittec, who forced the continuation "
the investigation after the Washington
hearings. in the hope OF stirrlng up
more trouble for the Democratic Aa'
ministration. are in reality lheiihcu "
be friendly TO Wall Street:
They. IL is thought, would much Pr
fer TO have the committee proceeo III
the inquiry on the lines suggesteu uy
the Washington testimony tnat 49, In-
stead OF going way behind inc returns
20 comb the market for those VINO '''auS
lucky sales between December ~ anI
q. cali 10 the stand the men mentlohsu
bv Thomas W. Lawson and iind out tne
truth Of the charges that Secre.aI,es
McAdoo and Tumulty, Senator " , anu
other deserving Democrats maze hiiI-
ing through possession oil advance ~"
formation concerning the freslue"'
peace note. oo.ra,;c
committeeman, on the other manu.
while engaged in the unpleasant task
Of hunting for a Democratic lcaS'
would like TO throw a few harpoons
into the Stock Exchange and the IN
terests" in general, as species VI
revenge, perhaps. or consolation.
Chairman Henry recently introduced
q bill into the House forbidding short
selling on all exchanges or boards OF
trade with interstate connections, ana
providing for their incorporation. tie
would feel very much gratificd, he IN.
timated Yesterday, IL, in the course OF
the leak inquiry, enough material oil
general nature could be unearthed TO
point to the desirability OF such
law % he has introduced.
"Whv is it," he was asked, that the
committee has virtually ignored the
Washington testimony and begun here
with a dragnet of Wall Street opera
II wouldn't call it dragnet," no
replies. "and ! don't think we are ig-
norinr the Washington testimony"
"But you have not proceeded on the
lines laid down there 1t was objected.
"The obvious procedure would have
been. would 10 not, to have called to the
stand the men and firms involved IN
the Lawson statement"
"The procedure we have adopted IS
the only right procedure he coUn..
tered. "Then IN ever we get to any OF
these people it viii be because they be-
long in the case
Doesn't the Lawson testimony make
their names belong in the case?
1T might not at all"
Are you going to call Lawson
AGAIN." go,
at we get to Lawson again it will be
because he becomes a link in our IN
vestigation."
Mrs. Visconti's Status
"And how about Mrs. Ruth Thomason
Visconti7" he was asked.
"The question Of calling her has not
been decided, or even considered he
replied. "She won't be called to New
York, in any case"
Mrs. Visconti, usually described as
the "woman OF mystery" IN the case, is
known as A compendium of Washington
gossip. Lawson named her as authority
for the charge that Tumuity, with
newspaper man as intermediary, mad
made a handsome pro1t from the leak.
But this. it is said, is only one OF q
score Of scandals based on rumor with
which she is familiar and which she
would be happy 20 air o. the stand to
the utter CONSERVATION OF the capital.
Mr.. Whipple makes a third factor IN
the situation. An astute lawyer, with
an enviable reputation at the Boston
Bar, he nurses an ambition, it is wills
pered, to become United States Senator
from Massachusetts.
Some years ago, before the popular
election of Senators, the Democrats
actually nominated him for Senator
before the Legislature, in opposition
10 Senator Weeks. He stood no chance
Of election then, but to-day the Bay
State is much more evenly livided
politically, and, with q record as an
investigator similar TO that when
Hughes developed in the insurance IN
vestigation. and which elected MIN
Governor of New York, Mr.. Whippie
might easily carry the state, II is telt.
In other words, Mr.. Whlpple Is
anxious. 1t is said, to make consplc-
nous name for himself as the result
of his conduct of the present inquiry
He himself indicated that he mad the
example of Mr.. Hughes in mind when
he told the newspapermen last Mon
day that they could help him as they
lad Hughes in the insurance investi-
cation. And in making this reputation
he will not consider whom the tacts
uncovered by the inquiry may harm
politically. lie will hew to he line,
Il is predicted, let the chips fall on
Democrats or Republicans unless they
stop him.