New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-16
Sensational Discoveries of
Secret Service Now
Explained
Hoover and McAdoo
Greatly Embarrassed
Food Administration Tells
What the Supplies
Really Were

Food and other supplies legiti-
mately destined to European neutrals
but held up at this port by the ma
TONS wartime embargo, or pending
decision as to their destination, con-
s.ituted the bulk of the "S75,0000OO
hoard" announced on Sunday night
last by the Secret Service as having
been uncovered by its sleuths. OF
the supplies not admittedly consigned
10 Europe the greater portion was
legally stored here to feed New York.
In the balance remaining there were
"a few suspicious cases"
This information comes from a man
who has been in conference, and in al
most constant touch. with Herbert
Hoover, National Food Administrator.
He added that the whole affair had
been greatly embarrassing not only to
Mr.. Hoover, but TO Secretary McAdoo'
Of whose department the Secret Ser
vice is a branch.
Secret Service On ltS O"h iiu'io"'S
As is now explained, the Secret Ser
vice acted entirely on its own initiative
Il consulted neither Mr.. Hoover nor,
in this city, Arthur Williams, food ad-
ministrator for New York. Mr.. Will
Jams. even now, has never seen a copy
Of the Secret Service report. and has
no knowledge Of its contents other than
what he has been told from Washington
oyer the telephone. and from what he
has cleaned from the newspapers. he
was loath to discuss the matter yes
terday. He preferred to let 1t lie and
thereby avoid stirring up what al
ready has reached the semblance OF
controversy between the food admin
istration and the Treasury Department
lie did say, however, that he believed
investigation by the Secret Service or
ether agencies had shown very little
food boarding; and he was inclined to
think legitimate business has been put
in a rather unfair light and the public
generally misled.
IL il we're not seriously embarrassing
the situation would be ludicrous. Here
is what happened, as it has been re-
lated to The Tribune by one who
knows:
What Mr.. Hoover Wanted
Several weeks ago Mr.. Hoover, hav-
ing knowledge of and more or less
of an inventory Of foodstuffs and ma /.
terials which had piled up here by
tons and tons by virtue of the EN-
barge. asked the Secret Service TO do
little quiet investigating to deter
mine if possible if any of the ship
ments had the earmarks of being Ger
manbound. That was all that was
asked. There was no suggestion OF
a report on profteering or boarding
or any kindred exploitation.
With these instructions the opera
iives set 70 work. Meanwhile Arthur
Williams, general manager OF the
commercial department of the New
York Edison Company, assumed his
duties here as Food Administrator,
subordinate 10 Mr.. Hoover, but never
theless director Of food matters in the
greatest city in the country.
In due course--the Secret Service
savs about a fortnight ago-its re
Ior. on the shipments was forwarded
10 Washington. What happened TO II
there is not clear. At any rate ITS
contents were such that neither Nj.
Hoover nor any Of his immediate as
locates saw fit to make any pubic
announcement.
Ignorant of the nature of the re-
port. Mr.. Williams went about organ
izino his forces, and with considerable
success began developing press op,
eau It's function was 10 inform all
the newspapers on all matters apper-
tanning to food in New York.
The Big Sensation
Monday morning Ast found IT taxed
with a peak load. Every morning
pancr in the city had proclaimed
under scare heads the great discovery
81 the Secre. Service The S75,0OO,OOO
Cache" "Tons Of Food Such as Ger
MANI Wants" provisions to Feed an
Arnv." 50 the headlines ran.
What about It all? Mr.. Williams's
,ress bureau was asked. What did he.
- Food Administrator, know about 1t?
A. has been said before, Mr.. Williams
knew nothing about il. but through no
fault Of his own He did now the best
he could. He called Washington on the
telephone. and subsequently he issued
"a statement. II said in effect that
81 haf the Secret Service nad discovered
vas "the presence here and elsewhere
% Great quantities Of supplies.
The Explanation
Tor several days Mr.. Hoover was
silent. Wednesday he issued a state
ment saying that the supplies fell into
three classes, viz:
/. Those accumulated as a result Of
the embargo.
?. Goods Of neutral governments
whose ultimate destination was unde-
ciGed.
3. Goods legally stored in cities
"Some Of .hese goods (meaning the
latter class may be held fer specula-
tiyc purposes" 4. was added That was
~ Ear as the statement went in sup
Port Of the plot features. And OF the
relative amounts Of the classes speci-
fed there was no hint.
Iha, question n now answered.
At Secret Service headquarters IL
was said there vas nothing 70 add TO
he case.