The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1917-01-09
WOOD TELLS RUNORS
OF PEACE NOTE LEAR
Tumulty, His Name Linked With Leak
Ia Story, Denies Everything.


Washington, Jan. 5.-Sensational
rumors Of leak" to Wall street IN
advance Of President wilson's peace
note we're related to tie house rules
committee today by Representative
Wood Of Indiana IL support Of his
resolution for inquiry. He prefaced
his testimony with the statement that
he had nothing but hearsay evidence
to offer and vainly protested against
an open session of the committee.
Names S1d rumored details Of the
alleged "leak" came thick and fas,
when Mr.. Wood began his story. H.
mentioned Joseph P Tumulty. score
tary to President Wilson; R. ". Boil
ing. brother-in-Iaw of the president;
Bernard Baruch Of New York and
various brokerage houses, erediting
most of his information to a letter re-
ceived from IA. Curtiss" Of New York.
This letter, produced later, was writ
ten on PLAIN paper without the writ
er's address. and up to a late hour
tonight Kenneth Romney, deputy SER
geant-at-arms Of the house, in New
York seaching for A. Curtis, had been
unable to ind any trace Of him.
Deny the Story.
Statements we're issued after the
committee meeting by Secretary Tun-
ulty and Mr.. Boiling hatly denying the
reports regarding them and Mr.. Tum-
ulty demanded that Representative
Wood publicly apologize for mention
ing his name. Mr. Wood followed
with statement pointing out that he
had desired to testify In private, but
that those whose names we're the sub
tect OF rumor should court the fullest
investigation.
The committee adopted a resolu-
ton asking the New York stock ex-
change and local brokers to preserve
their records of transactions from De-
cember 10 to date. Whether an 81
these records shall be sought as eV-
dence will be decided later.
81 am informed" Mr. Wood testi-
fed, "that Bernard Baruch had in
formation about the Lansing note to
the European belligerents two or
three days before it was sent and that
on two or three occasions at about
that time he was in consultation with
Mr.. TUmulty at the Biltnore hotel in
New York"
Nj. Wood qualified his statement
with a del elaration that what infor-
nation he had was only nearsay.
Chairman Henry, Mr.. Wood and
other members of the committee en-
gagged in a heated exchange over
bringing Secretary Tumulty's name
into the proceedings without consult
ing him.
"Do you charge" Henry asked
Wood, "that Mr.. Tumulty proftea by
this socalled advance information?
"No, do mott" said Wood emphati-
cally. "I do not charge that any one
prof1ted by it. 1 am merely telling
you what has been told me-"
Don't you think" Mr.. Henry con-
tinued, "that it would have been bet
ter for you to have submitted these
reports to Mr.. Tumulty before coming
here and giving them out publ ely?
Didn't Seek Publicity.
''That is the very reason ] wanted
to submit these rumors In a private
session." Mr.. Wood replied. II do not
know Mr.. Tumulty, and, therefore,
I did not want to go to him. He
might have been offended at me. e
stranger, approaching him in that
way"
Representative Chipperheld object
ed to Chairman Henry's line of Ques-
tioning, and after a general argument,
Henry stopped.
Mr.. Chipperfeld asked Mr.. Wood It
Mr.. Baruch was contributor to the
Democratic campaign fund
81 am informed" Mr. Wood said.
"that he contributed $4,000 to the
Democratic committee
Democratic members protested, say
ing that il Mr. Baruch did contribute
to the Democratic fund it was to a
worthy cause and insisted that mem
bers Of the United States Steel corpo-
ration doubtless contributed to the
Republican fund.
Republicans replied that Mr.. Ba-
ruch's contribution was very ma
terial fact in the investigation.
"Is there any effort on the part Of
any one pressing this investigation to
retard the efforts Of the president to
bring about peace?" asked Chairman
Henry.
"Not that l know off," Wood replied.
Baruch's Office in New York, Mr..
Wood said, he understood .is fitted
with private wires hunning to various
brokers Offices.
A. CURTIS DENIES