New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-12-14
Prominent New Yorker Is
Charged With Helping
Free Rich Germans
Is Out Permanently
Their Liberty Menaces U. S.
and Allies, Says Defence
Society's Head

The proposal that Congress investi-
gate the releasing Of enemy aliens from
detention camps found added support
ers yesterday. Some local Federal Off
Gals, who, for obvious reasons, would
not permit the use of their names, said
that such an investigation was neces-
sary.
The proposal, made by Henry G..
Quinby, Of the American Defence Soci-
ETY.. if received favorably by Congress,
will result in some startling revelations,
it was predicted here yesterday. Such
an investigation will bring to. the fore,
it was said, prominent New Yorker
who bears a German name and who for
years was a friend Of Count Won Bern
storfT and Captains Boyd and Won
Papen.
Trying TO Free Others
This man has been covertly active il
obtaining the release of some Of the
wealthy interEed enemy aliens. lie is
now trying to obtain releases for others.
In most cases he does not openly figure
in the appeals for release. Instead, his
agents-young lawyers Of this city
are hired by him to go to Washington
TO obtain the release Of these Germans.
In the last two weeks about fifteen
enemy aliens have been released perma-
nently by orders served on Thomas d.
Mccarthy. United States Marshal for
this district. Some of these orders for
release have come directly from Wash
ington with no reasons given. Others
come from Melville J.. France, United
States Attorney for the Eastern Dis
trict Of New York, and others from the
Office of Francis G.. Caifey, United
States Attorney for this district.
Richard NJ. Hurd, chairman Of the
board Of trustees of the American De-
fence Society. said last night:
"The easy-going methods OF the
Federal government in handling the
enemy alien situation are inexcusabie.
/ am heartily in favor Of a Congress
sional Investigation. The American
public is called upon to make sacr:-
fees of all kinds. to reduce the con-
sumption Of meat, wheat and sugar,
and they respond Loyalty at the re-
quest of Mr.. Hoover and his depart
ment. These extra supplies OF bacon,
sugar. and flour are placed in boxes
and barrels TO be shipped abroad and
then burned up by German and Aus
trian incendiar;es.
Baltimore. a few weeks ago. had a
S3,C00,000 fire. Ono million dollars
worth of wheat and flour was burned
in New York and 81 100000 worth OF
wheat was destroyed in Kansas City.
Added to this are the many fires in
munition works and equipment plants,
which arc steadily going up in smoke
or being destroyed by bombs.
Sees Danger in Their Release
"The most disquicting item of late
in connection with enemy aliens is
the news that three or four of the
most wealthy enemy aliens have been
released such as Hugo Schmidt,
American representative of the
Deutsche Bank; +. A. Borgemeister.
Spy Master Heynen's aid, and Rudolf
Hecht, German banker. and Noater of
Germany's only external war loan. Il
is quite clear that the more wealth
and the greater intelligence enemy
aliens have, the greater their power
OF harm for America.
1--WE have seen the number Of
times that bond of a few thous
and dollars is readily sacrificed by
German spies in carrying out their
orders from Berlin. 1t is absurd ITO
suppose that such bond put up by
the wealthy enemy aliens now wander
ing around freely is any protection to
this nation. What is bond TO
German? Another scrap OF paper"
Mr.. Hurd said that nothing short
Of a thorough investigation by Con-
gross OF the entire matter, even at
the cost Of Inconvenience and *.
pcnsc, would protect the American
public from the enemy alien menace.