The Washington times., 1917-01-16

contributions had four conversations
with Secretary Lansing.
We have the conversation of one
and a part of another.
BernstOrn Named.
"~wS have it that Count Won Bern
stoff was so mixed up in it that he
made over two Millions"
Then the two discussed Baruch
and Lasing, Lawson telling Henry he
regarded Baruch as honest and up
right, and Henry saying he didn't
believe Lansing would make so
much as a postage stamp out OF such
dealings"
well, how did this happen?" Law
son saidhe had asked Henry.
Wall Street Conspiracy.
There was a conspiracy in Wall
Street to affect the market, l told
him" Lawson continued at the same
time declaring that first the Mexican
situation and tlTen the war were used
to make profits for SPECTATORS.
Lawson said he and Henry had
speculated on what Lansing and Ba-
ruch might confer about. They had
suggested that Baruch might legiti-
mately talk with Lansing to know
what the Administration thought
about prospects. of peace, U-boat raids,
or other big international matters.
Lawson held such a thing would be
perfectly natural" but both men
agreed that the two were above re-
proach or suspicion, though he added:
2 II don't know whether they might |
have been used by Others
Cabinet Member Concerned. -
Yesterday Lawson testified that |
Archibald White, New York banker,
had told him of another banker who |
was so close to a Cabinet member he
could call the latter up at any time.
This Cabinet member was alleged to
be in on the leak.
Asked to amplify that today Law
son said: 81 told White, Il hear that
your. friend Pliny Fiske is doing the
steering Tin connection with the leak 4
stock gambling)'."
Fiske, according to the conversa-
tion, was allied with c. ID. Barney /
& Co.
The conversation White gave Law
son was in substance, according %
Lawson
The story is that Pliny Fiske IL
and it's a terrible thing. And Fiske
almost made me go to the telephone
to show me he could call McAdoo to
New York.
In Moment of Expansion
Lawson said White had indicated
Fiske was "'eating late and smoking
late" when he made his boasts about
being able to call McAdoo up.
.That happens to many a man."
Congressman Pou interpolated as the
audience caught Lawson's words.
Pou asked IL it was indicated Fiske
was in his cups. i
II wouldn't want to pass on that"
replied Lawson.
3. Lawson asked whether he had testi-
fed correctly about money passing
when yesterday he said that Mrs.
Ruth Thomason Visconti stated to
me in substance that william d.
Price, a Washington newspaper man,
had acted as 4go-between in the leak
affair between the Presidents Secre-
tary, Mr.. Tumulty, and others, aud
that he had received $1,000 cash for
It and that Mr.. Tumulty had re-
ceived a much larger sum-
yes: that Is substantially what she
told me-" he replied.
Named With ReIuctanee.
Incidentally Lawson declared he
had opened up his list of names only
after reading OF a plan by the COM
mittee to pass several brands of
torture on me If I didn't talk"
Reverting to the statement Henry
issued after their conference. saying
the leak appeared to be a mirage"
Lawson shouted:
God help the American people If
there are many more such mirages."
Congressman Patten then dug into
the conversation Lawson had with
Mrs. Visconti, who. Lawson said, had
named Price as q go-between for
TumuIty and others.
''She appeared to be q woman Of
responsibility, a lady who appeared to
be very earnest" Lawson said.
Seeks Source Of Information.
Patten wanted to know II Mrs. Wis
cont had given the source Of her in
formation.
Lawson hesitated, and wanted to
know IL 1t was essential.
You know what the value of a
good reputation is," retorted Patten.
do you not think II would be unfair
to blast q reputation on the word of
a woman you had never seen be-
fore7"
every unfair" retorted Lawson.
"And IL she had not had a reputable
lawyer with her 1 should have hesf-
tated.
81 tried to get at the bottom of it.
And her talk was so peculiar, so con-
THE WEATHER REPORT.