Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-01-03
BROKER IS NAMED
IN LEAK CHARGE
Representative Bennet, in
House, Mentions Rumor In
voIving Barney Baruch.
New RESOLUTION BY WOOD

The name of Barney Baruch, well
known New York stock operator and
member Of the Council of National De-
fense, was connected with the Lawson
leak" charges on the floor of the
House today in most dramatic manner
by Representative Bennett of New York
city. Representative Bennet's charges
were in the form of reply to chal-
lenge from Representative Garrett of
Tennessee, who had been endeavoring to
stave of any investigation Of the Law
SON 7chargss st1axf4s Capitol had
been wallowfng in Wall street leak
graft"
Representative Bennet's statement
preceded by few minutes the intro
auctions of a new investigating reso-
of Indiana, which was referred to the
rules committee with instructions from
the House Of Representatives for a
report in ten days. Representative Ben
the most interesting battles on the
floor of the House seen this Congress-
Mr.. Bennett Makes Reply.
After the democrats had said and re-
Lawson could not produce any evil
dence to back up his statement Repre-
sentative Bennett, in reply to Mr.. Gar
rett, said:
Il win state to the gentleman from
Tennessee what the rumor Is The
rumor is that Mr. Barney Baruch, a
member Of the council of national de-
Tense. was the man who was respon-
sible. for this information getting to
Wall street. and that thirty minutes
before the Presidents message was
made public he sold on a rising market
in steel. by the way. 5000 shares of
Steel common short. That Is the rumor
in New York CITY,"
Representative Bennet's statement
made a profound impression in the
House, which had been keyed to a state
of excitement which has not been seen
in that body since the days Of the Null
hall investigation.
In addition Representative Gardner
of Massachusetts, after almost an hour
Of denial from the democratic side that
there could have been anything in the
Lawson charges. declared In most dra-
matte manner that he knew there has
been a leak" and that the investigat-
ing committee could summon the Pres
ident of the United States and ask him
with whom he discussed the note.
Representative Gardner said he would
ask each one of the persons named
in what way the inside White House in
formation had been passed on. He said
he would summon stenographers and
and go carefully over every
step involved.
Mr.. Wood Starts Debate.
The matter was opened at noon by
Representative Wood of Indiana, who
introduced a privilege resolution quot
ing Thomas w. Lawson. Representa-
tive Henry of Texas and Representative
Garrett of Tennessee argued that the
Lawson charges were but idle vapor-
ing and that Mr.. Lawson was a COM
mon gossip.
son has not a reputation as good as Col.
Mulhall Representative Garrett replied
that the Mulhall charges were specific.
and then followed a long argument in
which every phase of the Lawson-Henry
Controversy was turned upward to the
Representative Campbell of Kansas and
Representative Lenroot OF Wisconsin. re-
declared that the minority members of
that committee were anxious Tor an in
yestfzation but that such action seemed
to be denied them.
sides, declared that neither Representa-
tive Wood Of Indiana nor Mr.. Lawson
had given any facts. > He said that the
so-called Lawson information was bosh
and clap-trap.
Ga rdner Of Massachusetts, declared that
no matter what Mr.. Henry thinks. the
whole stock market shows leak.
Representative Garrett challenged the
to produce any facts or to
submit any rumors that carried any
names. and 1t was then that Repre-
sentative Bennet made his charge that
Barney Baruch was responsible for the
leak. ogs
Contributed to Campaign.
An inspection Of, the public account
of the campaign fund fled by the demo-
cratic national committee with the clerk
of the House, shows that Mr.. Baruch