The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-08
REPUBLICANS ARE INSISTING ONMORE
 EVIDENCE OF LEAK
Democrats Believe Charges Are Established, But Mi nOrity Wants to Hear
 Mrs. Visconti's Story

Washington, February I'm spite of a strong sentiment among some demo- cratic members of the Teak" investi- gating committee in favor of bringing the inquiry to close Friday or Satur- day, republican committeeman dis closed tonight that they had just 'be- gun to investigate"
 Until it is proved beyond all doubt that the alleged leak originated with the two Washington newspaper men, J. Fred Essary and W. w. Price, who have admitted they sent out warning messages on the peace note, the re- publicans, say they will not agree to terminate the inquiry. One republican said tonight he believed several demo- crats would join in forcing continu- ance of the investigation. The republi- cans insist that some one "higher up must have furnished the information in the first place.
 WANT TO KNOW SOURCE
 'We have found the conduits of the information, but we must not stop un- til we have found the source" said Representative Campbell of Kansas, ranking republican member of the committee.
 Every indication tonight was that sherman l.. Whipple, counsel for the committee, was planning to close his case. He began today examining stafe department employees who aided in transmission of the note, and is said to plan calling all the newspaper men to whom Secretary Lansing confided that note was coming and employees of the government printing office. Other newspaper men and Mrs Ruth Thompson Visconti also are to be called, but the committee is not con Vinced that any of them will give valu- able testimony.
 Official announcement was made to- day that Mrs. Visconti, who Thomas w. Lawson swore told him Secretary Tumulty "and others" were involved in Wall street deals, would testify either tomorrow or Friday. It is expected MT. Whipple will confine her testimony specifically to what she knows about the leak. since committeeman have made plain their opposition to permit ting her to wander into capital gossip generally.
 Another Washington newspaper man, N O. Messenger. of the Washington Star, was brought into the inquiry to- day and Thomas r. Logan of the Washington Post was summoned to ap- pear tomorrow. W. B. Hibbs, a local broker, testified today that for some years he has paid Messenger mot to eXcee $100 month" for the privilege of calling him on the telephone and asking about capital events. Nothing was developed to indicate that Mes- senger ever had furnished Iiibbs with advance information. The reason for calling Logan has not been disclosed JAMES ON STAND John H. James, head of the state | department bureau of information testified that a printers proof of the peace note lay in an unlocked drawer in his office throughout the greater part of December 20.
 Other copies were guarded wi Il great care, according to testimony James still was on the witness stand at adjournment, and he will be ex- amined further tomorrow.
 Frank I. Polk, counsellor to the state department, was questioned about reports of leaks in the depart ment during Secretary Bryans regime but said he had investig gated and was certain they no longer existed.