The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1917-01-11

| Oatn or service forbidS It.
Il discussed the presidents note with
no one. first, because of my oath of
service, which requires that | make no
private use of official information, and,
secondly and specifically because, as
l have stated, l haG not seen the presi-
dents note and did not know that 1t
was In preparation or even cOntem-
plated.
"As have already said in public
statement, | frequently have requested
the president to keep me free from any
knowledge of impending international
moves, so that might not be embar-
raised by requests for information
| from the newspaper correspondents
who appeal to me in my office con-
stantly for such information.
| "The insinuations which have been
made, whether conceived In political
malice or merely through misinforma-
ton, are wholly false and without even
| the flimsiest basis. / have not at any
| time since acting as Mr.. Wilson's Sec
| rotary, first when he was governor Of
New Jersey, and later when he be-
came president, been interested in any
stock transactions of any kind or given
any information to any other person
upon which purchases or sales might
be made. / wish to make this state
ment as sweeping and complete as l
know how. l am still waiting for Mr..
Woods public apology"
Three Orners Present
Secretary of State Lansing was also
before the committee. He said that
on the morning of his conference with
the newspaper men about the peace
note, three other men were present
waiting to see him but that he did not
know they were in the room until after
he had talked to the newspaper men.
"Who were these menu" asked Rep
resentative Lenroot.
MIR. A. +. Snowden of New York; E.
Il. Gayler, civil engineer of the navy,
and DR.. n. r. Mclean of the navy
said Mr.. Lansing. The two naval Off
GERS were about to proceed to Haiti
for the government"
at Is not likely that they would say
anything about your statementT sug-
gested Representative Bennett.
VERY improbable"
Mr.. Bennett recalled Secretary Ian
sing had stated he never speculated in
the market and added:
"For that reason isn't it possible that
you gave little thought to the effects
statement made by you might have
on the stock markets"
II never gave it a thought" said the
secretary. at never entered my mind.
| was merely anxious to preserve the
courtesy due to foreign nations in the
matter"
Lawson Starts Row.
Thomas w. Lawson of Boston, who
originated the now famous charges of
an alleged leak" to Wall street of the
sending of President Wilson's peace
note, was called to the stand by the
house rules committee.
Lawson charged that official Wash
ington is literally honeycombed with
leaks"
There are leaks In the Supreme
Court OF the United States, in con-
gress in the cabinet and direct from
the White House." he declared.
There has been q gigantic robbery
of the American people-a deliberate,
premeditated robbery of the American
people"
Lawson Beligerent.
A furious row, in which fistguffs
seemed imminent between Representa-
tive Chiperfield and Lawson, developed
when Lawson charged that the commit
tee did not want to get at the facts.
Lawson arose from the witness
stand shook his fist under Clipper
fields nose and the whole hearing was
thrown into confusion.
The sergeant-at-arms finally quieted
Lawson by taking him by the arm and
urging him to sit down.
Let him go just bit further and
| he won't testify any more today" said
| Chiperheld.
Jerry South, sergcant-at-arms for the
committee, moved to Lawsons side as
it seemed likely there would be phys
| ical combat.
| II know a four-nusher every time l
see one" shouted Lawson, as he took
his seat and glared ut Chipertieid.
| Threatens Illinois Man.
The crowd was keyed up to high
pitch of excitement. Lawson advanced
and put his fist under the nose of the
Illinois member as he asserted that
he didn't propose to be bulldozed by
this committee or any member If it,
Various members of the committee
were shouting for order, and during
the hubbub Representative Garrett,
n Democratic member, demanded that
this witness be instructed to give this
committee facts and proceed in order"
whats the penalty, what's the pen
atty here for saying what ! want toT'
yelled Lawson in the confusion.
How the Trouble Started.
The trouble started when Mr.. Law
son attempted to say something about
the senate, evidently having reference
to Senator Stone, who aSsailed Lawson
on the floor Of that body recently.
II said when | made these leak
charges" said Mr.. Lawson, that | OK
pect HI 90 he lambasted into me by
congress. was right. As soon as the
senate opened n lcather-Iunged, sewer
mouthcd old hlathcrSkltc--"
mir. Chairman Mr.. Chairman. he