The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1917-01-09
THOMAS LAWSON
STILL CHIEF FIGURE
Finally Agreed to Name Cabinet Off
cials, Senator and New York Bank
er in Gambling Combine.

WASHINGTON, Jan 9.-Continued re-
fusal OF Thomas w Lawson to answer
categorical questions by the house rules
committee in the leak inquiry today caused
the committee to entertain a second mo-
ton by Representative Bennett that Law
son be cited before the bar of the house
for contempt The motion was laid on the
table for action Representative Bennett
demanded that Lawson name the man
who, he SAYS, told him a New York brok-
er, cabinet official and a United States
senator participated IN a stock gambling
partnership Lawson fatty refused for
two reasons one that he was already cited
for contempt and the other that he did
not think II necessary to give the names
at this time.
Later Mr.. lawson promised the commit
tee he would disclose the names of the
cabinet officials, the senator and the New
| York banker, who, he says, member OF
congress told him were engaged in a stock
gambling partnership.
The line OF examination today turned TO
stock exchange offairs and Lawson's own
operations, particularly during the month
of December, 1916, during which the leak
occurred.
Lawson said that bad as the break in the
IildlhtJ WIS WIFI AHt lGdE tdfIic II WOULD
probably have been worse if there had
been no leak.
My opinion is that the break was weeks
in coming and that the leak gave certain
operators an opportunity to prepare for
the crash, said Lawson.
Representative Chiperfeld questioned
Lawson, seeking to show that he was a
beneficiary Of the falling market
My purpose" said Chipertield, SIS to
show that Lawson. who says he was not
the recipient OF any leak, dealt largely on
the stock exchange during this break |
want to show up his transactions, which
We're conducted independently of a leak
? Ii he can operate successfully without a
leak, then ! condemn the efforts being
made 10 indict other men for operating
| successfully on that same market"
After wrange Lawson gave the name
of the brokerage firm under which he
operated. Chipertield then asked question.
D to show that Lawson began his selling
- campaign in December, and asked if hi,
f transactions in steel did not aggregate a.
+ much as $4,000
lawson said he had no idea what they
I aggregated He would not give direct
i answer when asked if he had operated
selling campaign.
n Efforts by Mr. Chipertield to induce Mr.
q Lawson to state the amount of his prof
on the stock market during Decemher
a were futile Lawson saaintained he di,
j, not know whether he made 81 900 900 o
= $500, 600 Answering Mr.. Chipertield Mr.
:. Lawson again declared he had no direc
knowledge through a leak OF the coming
= Of the President peace note
Lawson surprised the committee b
fravl-ly- ! Lo+ !, -
i est in the investigation of the leak wa
: to secure n complete investigation o
. The stock exchange that might lead t
j federal regulation.
:. In the course of the discussion O
q the unnamed trio, of whom a congress
V man is said to have spoken, Lawson dc
n clared he not only would give the spt
a cal committee their names. but ais
the amounts of money they were SUI
IL posed to have made from stock trans
1t actions, which he said was more tha
d 81 100000.
Ig II cannot name the cabinet office
i. to whom | have referred without mel
le tioning another official of higher pos
" tion. said Lawson, land that woul
tn he more serious than if east a clou
over the entire congress and was SCI
ee to jail myself for life.
~ When the committee recessed fl
or lunch the members seemed to thin
ID they had gone as far as they cou
ne with Lawson at this stage, so they g
q. cused him as a witness at present, b.
told him to remain within the jurisdi
tion of the committee until the resol
tions putting him in contempt are di
posed of.