The Washington times., 1917-01-02

Massachusetts,, that isl, where miles
and miles of white fence is all over
grown with Crimson ramblers IN tne
springtime, isn't quite sure yet whetn
er he came to Washington all lot
joke, or not, though a good time Is
being had, and he doesn't regret the
trip.
"The joke, though, mind you, ne
added grimly, isn't on me, either
way. II they take me seriously, I'll
tell 'em a few things. II they don't
well it won't take more than month
or six weeks for certain things to
happen.
aThen they'll be saying, Maybe
that fellow knew what he, was talk
ing about And maybe they'll De
sending for me again"
Yes, It's .STom, Lawson.
Yes, it is Thomas w. Lawson we're
talking about-Lawson the supposed
fire eater, the apostle of frenzied fl
nance, the man who made fortune
at. sixteen, and lost it and then made
another and kept on increasing II
the Monte Cristo of New England.
But on this New Year call he seem
ed much more interested in those
Crimson ramblers, and in that prize
bull that cleaned up all the prizes
in sight at the New York State fair
the Dreamwold butter that took more
prizes than any other at the Spring
field National Dairy Show, and in his
collection of elephants.
The Shoreham register showed his
valet, and his daughter, and her maid,
and his secretary. But where was
the dashing. dominant, ruthless cap
tain of finance; he of the bespeckled
vests and brilliant ties that the Sun
day supplements show?
1SImpIe" Black Pearls.
The Thomas W. Lawson that the
interviewer found was distinctive
enough, a commanding figure in any
company, with carefully brushed hair.
a black tie, an unobtrusive black
business suit, a white flower in his
buttonhole, shaggy eyebrows. we'll
knit figure, with a big, deep chest
bull throated, and a pair of whimsical
gray-green eyes.
Simple enough, yes. that black pearl
in his tie. which one would have to
look at a second time to fnd-that
was about $4,000 worth of simplicity
those cuff links, also black pearls
and that simple" watch chain-more
of the simplicity that only the very
wealthy could AFFORD.
Being a figure of national-inter-
national-news Importance, troubles
him not at all. All that is "old stuff
IL q Many-Sided Man.
Black pearls, editions de luxe OF
his own books and some others he
likes, three or four hudred elephants
bronze, and ivory. and crystal and
wooden ones, flowers, that $4,000 or
der OF Lawson carnations. prize cattle
asparagus culture. silver-mounted
telephones-from each of these fads
and fancies hangs ta,e of this many
sided man of talents SO diverse that
the average man never has been able
to size him up.
Mention names? Well, what for
he inquired. 1--WE come down here a.
an expert, perhaps, to tell what J
know. I'll put them on the track
III they think / am joking, well, I told
them this crash was coming, and they
didn't believe me, and tell you now
that another crash, a bigger crash, IL
coming, and when that comes they'll
take it seriously enough.
These men up in Congress, they're
bright enough, but stock gambling
let's call it what it isis my business
and lifelong study with me.
Case Of One CONGRESSMAN.
'Now, one bright Congressman, one
Of the brightest men in the House
came up and ssaid he wanted me tc
start at o o'clock in the morning and
go right through until 6 and tell hin
all about the stock market.
81 did, and we kept on the mex
day, and he suddenly asked me, Well
but where are the things they are
selling, I don't hear you say anything
about warehouses; it all on paper?'
81 told him it was. He went away
and was surprised to learn he couldn't
find out all about Wall Street in
twenty-four hours. Now, I DOM
know anything about astronomy, and
IL some one sat down and talked to me
for a day or two wouldn't expect
to be a full-fledged astronomer.
Not Taught In College.
Remember, too, that we have col
lege courses in astronomy and his
tory and biology to teach these sci
ences, but the science of stock specu
lation-welI, that isn't taught, and
when you find a man who made g
half million over night at it and cal
around to ask how he did it, does he
stop to explain?
"He does not. He dreamily recalls
that he was out of town that day.
These fellows aren't drawing dia
grams for you. They are sitting uI
nights to keep the public from know
ing what they are about. You are
not going to catch up by asking them
TO be nice little boys and come down
and tell all about it.
Interested I'm the "System."
But some things are so plain that
anyone ought to see them. l did moi
come down here to say who did it
That is only a minor incident. That
is not what am interested in. I am
interested in the system"
All vague, you say? Well, Lawson
then told how he had engaged the
best experts he could find, paid fees
OF $1,000 and $4,000, all to prepare
one bill presented several years age
to regulate Wall Street operations
and the whole thing didn't cover more
thar a few printed pages.
That is an old story, though, told
in "Frenzied Finance" and in "The
Remedy" and in other writings OF
this man who is ever new and fresh
and vital.