The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-01-09

out "a washington nad IuFnlsueu III
formation upon which Wall Street
had speculated for many years. He
had asserted that the Supreme Court,
the House. the Senate, the State De-
partment, and the White House were
all leak sources He was questioned
as to the Supreme Court and on this
point he endeavorej to make 1t clear
that he had referred to court officers
and not to the justices,
To what amount do you estimate
the public losses through these leaks?'
was asked of Lawson.
! He replied that the American In
vestors had been robbed of several
millions to a billion and half, lit
orally robbed, he shouted, Just as
though they had been knocked over
the head by a highwayman.
Il. M. Baruch was also above spec
ulating on Washington advance tips,
| said Lawson, in disclaiming his own
innocense OF ever having played the
market on Washington leak informa-
ton.
There isn't squarer or more up
right man." asserted lawson. Il
must say that for him, even If he is
competitor"
In the audience today sat Otto II.
Kahn. of New York, member or the
| firm of Kuhn. Loeb g. Co, one or
| Americas wealthiest citizens. Mr.
Kahn was much amused at lawson.
In the afternoon ne occupied seat
at the press table and worked his
passage in this for he at onco became
/ the target for sheavos Of flying copy
| destined for the telegraph boys In
the corridors
Pas 'em that" would be shrtiied
across the table. and Otto Kahn.
uh Il. %1Ek no. second.
passed 'em that" with a smile.
Among the onlookers in the great
crowd which thronged the big hear
ing-room were Representative and
Mrs. Longworth. When 1t became
evident that the bridal trip of Mrs.
Charles II. Sabin was about TO be
eliminated by the heartless committee.
the exquisite Princess Alice sought
out Mrs. Sabin and extended her
solace and coincidence and dinner
invitation.
A little domestic tragedy intruded
upon the proceedings. 1t was the en-
forced cancellation of the wedding
tour abroad of President Charles II.
Sabin, of the Guaranty Trust Com
pany. who had been summoned before
the committee and was present with
his bride, pretty, auburn haired
Polly" Morton, daughter of the late
Paul Morton. Sabin was mentioned
by lawson as having had fore-knowl-
edge OF information regarding peace
move by Germany. He asked permits
sion to take the stand at once, which
was denied and tonight he Is COM
PEELED to linger In washington. while
at noon tomorrow commodious suite
aboard one of the great ocean liners
Is perforce vacant.
MR.. TJMULTY MAKES
FRANK, CLEAR STATEMENT
Joseph p. Tumulty, secretary to
President Wilson. the first one called,
read the following statement: Il APP
pear before this committee to resent
the unjust intimation that I gave in
formation to 3. NJ. Baruch in regard
to the so-called peace note sent to
the European belligerents last month
by the Secretary of State. This init
nation was contained in q statement
made to this committee by Repre-
sentative Wood OF Indiana, a man
whom l do not know. To the best
Of my knowledge. l have never met
Mr.. Wood. Certainly he made no
effort to find out the truth from me
before dragging my name into this
affair.
Il wish to deny generally and spe-
officially that l gave advance inror-
nation to Mr.. Baruch or to anybody
else in regard to the peace note.
did not know OF the existence OF this
note or that this government contem-
plated the dispatch of such a note
until after the printed copies of the
note had been given to the press by
the State Department, | was not con-
suited in the preparation of the note
by the President or by anybody else.
The conference and communications
relating to the drafting of the note
and Its dispatch were confidential be-
tween the President and the Secre-
tary OF State. ] knew nothing of
them whatever, nor did any other per-
son employed in the executive Office
NEVER DISCUSSED NOTE
WITH ANYONE AT ALL
| a have had no correspondence,
written or Geographic, with Mr.. Ba-
ruch, or anybody representing him.
regarding this matter have had
no telephone talks with Mr.. Baruch
or anybody representing him regard
| ing this matter. I have never talked
with him or anybody representing
him.. or with anyone else. publicly or
privately, with regard to this matter.
! apparently the only insinuations
! made against me are that | lunched
with or met Mr.. Baruch at the Bit
| more hotel at or ABOUT the time OF
| the preparation of the President
suggestion that the European bellig-
erents state their peace terms | have
never hreakfasted, lunched. dined. or
| taken any meals with Mr.. Barucn. |
have met him only at several ban
| quets and large dinners. when many
many other persons were present.
have never discussed any peace or
other note, either when 1t was in pros
| pect or afterwards, with Mr.. Baruch
or any other person engaged in the
purchase or sale of securities of any
kind in the stock market.
| While this Is a complete denial OF
the only insinuations which have been
| made. I wis hto go further and say
that / have never engaged in stock
market sales or purchases myself. nor
through brokers. friends. or agents. 80
| II am authorized by the President
to quote him as follows: I wish In
justice to Mr.. Timulty to say that he
has stated the exact fact. He had
no knowledge Of the note whatever
until 1t was given out for publica-
ton"
| Chairman Henry announced that
he had no questions to ask.