Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-01-09
Continued from PAGE One)

as coHieSeoo Will TIC ledk mad profit
ed by IT.
He was as closely connected with
It as II he had specialized" Lawson
replied
Answering Rep. Lenroot's request
that he give his reasons for saying a
real investigation would find Congress
without quorum, Lawson said that
many would be at the leak hearings
and others would be absent because OF
their interest in stocks.
would you be willing to saw under
oath that members of Congress were
bareAciaries under the leak?" asked Lem
root.
Might Know Of others"
no, wouldn't say that" Lawson re-
plied but added that he knew Of a SEN
ator and a representative whose names
he would not give but who were supposed
10 have benefited, and that he might
know Of Others
III an inquiry were ordered" Lenroot
inquired, ARE you prepared to show
that congressman buy and sell stocks
and profit by advance information re-
gardins government affairs?''
40 I will show that they buy and
sell STOCKS, Lawson answered.
Lawson pointed out that the rules
committee WAS sitting merely 20 decide
whether to report an investigation reso-
Luton. adding:
i've given YOU lot Of information
already. in my opinion. | think it sutfi-
cicnt to make clear to the committee
whether there should be real investiga
ton ! don't intend % disclose my hand
m an invest cation that goes no further
than to decide whether there is to be
an investigation and thus let the crimi-
rols escape or destroy their records
Medley Of Charges
Through a hewiderng maze of intima-
ions and heated colloques, which turn
ed the hearing into an uproar, the House
rules committee wrestled for several
hours today with Thomas w. Lawson Of
Boston without obtaining any definite in
formation TO substantiate the story of a
leak" to Wall Street in advance of the
Presidents peace note.
When the committee adjourned until
tomorrow with Mr.. Lawson's examina-
ton uncompleted, a motion to cite him
before the bar of the House for contempt
because he refused to give names had
heen considered in executive session and
taken under Amusement.
Earlier in the day Joseph Tumulty.
secretary to President Wilson. whose
name was mentioned by Rep. Wood in
the rumors he laid before the commit
tee last week. appeared to give an
emphatic statement. endorsed by the
President. that he had no knowledge
OF the peace note before it was given
to the press. Me also denied the re-
port repeated by Rep. Wood, that Mr..
Tumulty and Bernard Baruch a New
York broker, had conferred in a New
York hotel few days before the note
was made public. Mr.. Tumulty de-,
nounced the action of Rep. Wood in
making public charges based on a let
ter from an unidentified man, and de-
clared from the witness stand, looking
representative Wood in the face, that
he was still awaiting the congress-
mans apology.
Lansing on Stand
Secretary Lansing, of the State de-
partment. also took the stand to as
set that he had no knowledge what
ever of advance information having
DetD ClTCuEileu ItSdIullS tliS petiIC
note Mr.. Lansing related the physical
history of the note. how it was pre-
pared, through whose hands it passed,
and of his participation in its prep
aration. He also told of statement
he had made, given in confidence to
newspaper men on the morning be-
fore the note was made public, IN
which he told them to expect note
at 5 o'clock that evening for publlca-
ton Thursday morning. He did not go
into details with the correspondents.
he said, but did say that it was not a
proposal for peace nor an offer of me-
diation.
The secretary further stated that he
had not given the possible effect OF
the note on the stock market the least
thought, but that he had cautioned Sc
crecy because of the courtesy due to
the foreign nations that the communi-
cation should not be published here
before it had been received abroad.
When Rep. Chiperfield. Republican,
OF Illinois sought to interrogate Secre-
tary Lansing regarding his interpre-
tations of the note on the day follow
ing it's publication, the secretary said
firmly that such questioning was gong
beyond the scope OF the inquiry and
was sustained by the committee.
Refuses to Reveal Names
The committees troubles with Mr..
Lawson began soon after the fnancter
took the stand, and grew into noisy
row quoted only after Chairman Henry
had threatened to clear the room OF
spectators and proceed in executive ses-
sion. After declaring that he mad evil
dence of a leak and asserting that he had
information from a member of Congress
that Il cabinet official had been a bene-
1iciary Lawson fatty refused to give the
names to the committee. He announces
detiantly that he would give no names.
regardless of consequences, and declared
You may punish me if you wish, but
l will not besmirch the names of men in
high position at this preliminary inquiry
My only business here is to give infor-
nation that will warrant you in ordering
a full investigation. This I think l have
done"
Congress in the Mire
Before this the witness had flown into
a passion when questioned by Rep. Chip
erield about his book 'Frenzied FL
nance" There were heated exchanges
during which the words -four fusher