Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-01-19
DENIES STATEMENTS
THAT HE HAD OFTEN
D|NED WITH BROKER
Intimation That Secretary of.
State Had Given Away
State Secrets Is Branded as
Malicious Scandal
tBy Associafed Press.N


WASHINGTON. Jan. 1S-Secretary
Lansing today denied statements made
at the leak Shearings that he had
breakfasted several times at the Bit
more hotel in New York with Bernard
Baruch He, said he did not know M
Baruch and never had any conversation
with him.
Secretary Lansing's authorized state
ment was as follows:
While dislike very much to dignity
by denial false ana malicious scandal
at the same time the publicity which
has been given to some of. the reports
warrants me in saying that, in regard
to the statement that I breakfasted sew
eral times with Mr. Baruch at the Bit
more hotel. implying, 1 assume that 1
gave. him advance information concern
ing the note to the belligerents. / never
TO my knowledge saw Mr.. Barush at any
time. 1 do not know him and never
had any conversations with him and 1
have been out of Washington only once
since election. and that was to attend
the Army and Navy game in New YORK,
November %" -..
CONFERENCES HELD.
Postmaster General Burleson and So
licitor General Davis conferred today
committee. discussing the future CON-
duct of the leak inquiry.
Muir. Burleson frequently conveys to
congressional leaders personal messages
and the wishes of President Wilson ra-
garding legislation.
Chairman Henry declined to say what
feature of the discussion brought either
Burleson or Davis into the conference
A dozen widely known attorneys were
he
counsel to the committee. No decision
was reached.
Lindley NJ. Garrison. former secretary
of war. is being urged by many mem
bers of the house. Employment of Mr.
Garrison, it was learned, is being seri-
ously considered
Thomas W. Lawson- has left Wash
ington, but will return. whenever the
committee desires his presence.
Doubt was expressed in some quar-
tiers whether the hearings would be re-
sumed next week. Counsel, ii was
pointed out, would have to acquaint
himself with the case. Some members
of the committee desire, however, that
minor witnesses be called and examin-
ed. Out-of-town witnesses. including
Frank A. Vanderlip, Pliny Fisk and
other New York fnanciers, who ap-
peared yesterday we're permitted to re-
turn home under direction to come at
once if summoned.
1t was regarded as probable that in
vestigation of. Wall street conditions
and the market fluctuations during De-
cember when the alleged peace note
leak occurred will be made in New York.
MEMBERS WORK LATE.
Committeeman worked until late last
night trying to- reach an agreement, but
without result The difficulty is over
the selection of counsel satisfactory
alike to Democrats and Republicans.
As soon as a selection is made by the
Democrats they will submit the name
to the Republicans for approval. The
committee had before it today a num-
Der of prominent lawyers to select from.
Action by the house in granting coun-
sci followed statements on the floor by
Democratic members of the committee
that they already were EN- barrassed as
investigators in view of the dragging
in of names of high government officials.
Representative Garrett, speaking for the
committee, announced that, for this rea-
son the committee henceforth would as
sumo a judicial attitude with special
counsel to direct the investigation and
to interrogate witnesses.
HENRY NOT PRESENT.
Deliberations IN the house and in the
committee were conducted in the alb
sence of Chairman Henry, whose veTaci-
ty regarding his confidential conference
with Thomas W. Lawson, was chaneng-
ed yesterday by the Boston hnancier.
Representative Pou acted as chairman
There was an hours discussion in the
house when the committee presented its
resolution providing for the employment
of counsel and extension Of time.
Representative Focht, of Pennsy1-
vania, Republican, assailed the inquiry
as a '"collosal farce" denounced Lawson
as a Wall street tout and declared con-
gress ought to wash its hands of the
whole affair and throw out the evil
dence as worthless, damaged goods"
Representative Lenroot, of Wisconsin.
a Republican member of the committee,
strongly advised a thorough investiga-
ton with competent counsel There had
not been the slightest suggestion from
any member that Untermyer might be-
the counsel, he said.