The Washington herald., 1917-01-09
MAY JUDGE LAWSON
in CONTEMPT OF HOUSE
Boston Banker Refuses to Give ANY
Real Facts to Rules COMMITTEES.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.

ing room of the House Office Building,
the Boston broker waved his arms and
shouted his general denunciation of
Washington leaks" The city is about
as leaky as a sieve, he told the commit
tee, Names and dates came harder and
the big crowd that jammed the room. So
ciety Washington. legislative Washing
ton, and a small army of newspaper cor
respondents heard some typical South
Boston language when Lawson and the
committee became involved in difficulties.
Used Naughty Words.
Half the time he was testifying. Law
sons rubicund couRtenance was wagging
within a foot Of the faces of the COM
mitteemen, across the big table. He was
out Of his chair frequently His language
followed suit. He told the committee
that the investigation was "hellish
thing and on more than one occasion
was wrought up to a damn" He apollo
sized. however. to the ladies present
when Representative Campbell reminded
him that he was not in a barroom-
Lawsons new information yesterday
was to the effect that Congressman had
told him that Cabinet minister profited
by the leak. He refused to give names.
The Boston broker likewise told of
banker friend Of his who told him that
another banker, a United States Senator,
and a Cabinet minister were parties to a
three-cornered joint account in Wall
Street. Again no names were forthcoming
Committeeman charged Lawson with
having no real information, and Lawson
in an outburst charged that the commit
tee did not want any facts.
Secretary to the President Tumulty
cleared his skirts of all leak contain
ination by producing a statement from
the President, declaring:
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"
Mr.. Lansing on Stand.
Secretary Lansing outlined the cir
cumstances surrounding the publica-
ton Of the note. He denied any know
edge which would justify the charge
that there had been leak.
The calling OF Lawson to the stand
was the beginning of a near riot which
lasted from fhe beginning of the testi-
mony until adjournment for the night.
When Representative Chipperfeld near
ly came to blows with the witness big
Jerry South, clerk Of the House, stopped
the row. He interposed his broad should
ers between the husky young Represent
ative and the equally "fit" appearing Law
son who admits to have spent forty-six
years in the stock market
Representative Lenroot, of Wisconsin.
tried to pin the witness down to an ex-
preston of his opinion whether he had
any information on competent authority.
Lawson ducked and shifted with great
agility but Lenroot was obdurate. Final
ly, Lawson said that he had that infor-
nation on the authority of big banker
Previously Lawson refused to divulge
the name of a Congressman who, he said,
had Informed him that a certain mem
Der Of the Cabinet had made huge profits
out of the recent activities of the market.
Kahn Plays Copy Boy"
In the audience today sat Otto H
Kahn, OF New York, member of the firm
Of Kuhn, Loeb & Co. one of Americas
weathiest citizens. Mr.. Kahn was much
amused at the examination Of Lawson.
In the afternoon he occupied a seat at
the press table and worked his passage
in this, for he at once became the target
for sheaves OF flying copy destined for
the telegraph boys in the corridors.
Pass 'em that would be shrilled
across the table and Otto Kahn passed
em that with a smile and alacrity.
Among the onlookers in the great crowd
which thronged the big hearing room were
Representative and Mrs. Longworth.
When 1t became evident that the bridal
trip of Mrs. Charles H. Sabin was about
to be eliminated by the heartless commit
tee, the exquisite princess Alice" sought
out Mrs. Sabin and extended her solace
and coincidence and dinner invitation
all in a breath. Also she promised ITO
lend her some things"