The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-01-19
Boston Trial Lawyer Invited
by Committee to Take
Charge of.lnquiry.
DECISIONS, REACHED
AFTER BITTER FIGHT.
Resumption of Public Hear
ings on Lawson Charges
Set forNext Monday.

Washington. Jan. fisherman l..
Whipple OF Boston, Democrat. noted
as a trial lawyer, was invited tonight
by the rules committee Of the house to
act as counsel in the peace note leak
investigation, which. it now appears,
Will extend. deeply into Wall street
stock manipulations.
Representative Henry, chairman of
the committee, and Representative
Campbell, the ranking Republican
member. said when the announcement
was made that It was hoped Whipple
would accept. From other sources
there were intimations that the Bos-
ton attorney had been consulted and
was expected to undertake the task.
Resume Hearing Monday.
Further public hearings in the in
quiry were postponed until Monday
morning in order to give counsel and
the committee time to complete ar
rangements and prepare for future
proceedings.
The plan is. to call as the first wit
ness Mrs. Ruth Thomason visconti
the woman who Thomas w. Lawson
says told him Secretary Tumulty and
w. W. Price. Washington newspaper
man, were bcneficiaries Of the alleged
leak.
Mrs. visconti, will be followed by a
score or more of other witnesses in :
cluding the men whose names have
been brought into the inquiry. and a
number Of prominent New York III
nanciers. <
Action Fellows Bitter Fight.
The selection of Whipplc followed a
bitter fight Of several hours among
Democrats of the committee in which
Postmaster General Rurleson, Solicitor
General Davis and Majority Leader
Kitchin participated. Several Of the
Democrats, including Chairman Henry.
urgently advised the selection of Sam
uel Untermyer as counsel. despite at
tacks against such a course from both
sides of the house yesterday.
Mr.. Burleson, often administration
spokesman at the capitol, is understood
to have been there to advocate Inter
meyer. Representative Howard Of
Georgia. who announced his opposition
to Untermyer on the floor. was i'm
portuned by Democratic leaders to give
silent approval to his retention. How
ard vehemently declined, and his re-
newed protests with open objection
from other Democratic members and
unanimous tlisapproval on the Rcpub-
lican side, forced untcrmeyer's cham
pions to yield.
One Of the chief objections against
retaining Untermyer was that Lawson
had discussed tho case with him and
was known to want an investigation Of
the stock exchange with Untermyer in
charge of 1t. II
Agitation to broaden the scope Of
the inquiry stili further by a new reso-
luton which specifically would direct
thorough investigation of the stock
exchange with a view to reform legis.
lation. caused much discussion in the
Democratic conference early in the day.
After the selection of Whipple to-
night, however. It was said by Demo-
cratic leaders that the inquiry would
proceed along lines already outlined.
At one stage. when agreement On a
counsel seemed impossible. suggestion
was made that the rules committee
recommend Immediate appointment Of
a special committee TO take over the
investigation. When Untermycr
ceased to be urged. this proposal was
abandoned. g.,
Mr. Whipnle telesraphed Chairman
Henry tonight, that he would come to
Washington Saturday to confer with
the committed. Mr.. Henry said fhe
message was not an acceptance Of the
committees invitation, but that he did
not doubt that an iagreemont would be
reached without difficuity.'