The Kadoka press and Kadoka reporter. [volume] (Kadoka, S.D.) 1910-1923, 1917-09-28
LANSING ONCE MORE
TURNS ON SPOTLIGHT
Another Chapter Flashed on German Intrigue Plot
Involves BernstOrff SO Count Accused
of Diplomatic DupliCity

/ unlimited operations III this country
OF the German secretary service. How
complete is the evidence OF Germar
! diplomatic dupiicity remaining in pos
session of the United States govern
ment is only conjectural but that it is
! far more than probably has been SUP
| posed is now certain. 1t was init
mated by government officials TODAY
! that the series of revelations is not
( nearly complete. From the outside
there are reaching the state depart
ment echoes Of the apprehension
sounded by friends of men toward
whom suspicion long has pointed
Official reputation was given a sug
gestiOn that diplomat now in Wash
ington is about to be placed under
the spotlight.
The coordinated intelligence forces
OF the government are shown to be
continuing their Investigations, how
ever, and il is pointed out that the
government has not lost sight of the
necessity of watching for German in.
trigue and espionage.
1t was suggested at the state de
partmCnt that the odd mixing of Count
Won Bernstorr's talk about peace and
his secret activities while in Wash
ington appeared significant, in view of
the peace propaganda recently ema.
mating from Germany.
There may be some discussion of
the incident in the senate tomorrow
when it reconvenes, after a week vir
tually spent in recess.
Congressman HefIin's Charges.
Representative Heflin, Of Alabama.
said on the floor of the house that if
permitted he could name twelve or
fourteen members in the two branches
of congress who had acted SUSPECT
Ously" and ought to be investigated
as a result of the disclosure of Count
Won Bernstorff's letter to Berlin, ask
ing for money to influence congress.
Il do not know to whom the count
refers" he said but | do know that
the contents of his message consti-
tutes a serious reflection upon CON
gress and should be investigated. If
permitted, | could name thirteen or
fourteen men in the two bodies who
have acted suspiciously. If a mem.
Der has acted suspiciously in or out
Of congress he ought to be investi-
gated and expelled if the facts war
rant If any member is not giving
his hearty support h the commander
IN chief in this time of war, he should
be put out of the capitol"
Mr. Hefin concluded by saying that,
speaking for the house as a body, he
repudiatod the intimation conveyed by
the message that congress was sus-
ceptible to corruption.
Message an Insult: Stone.
That is an insult to this govern
ment," Senator Stone, chairman of the
senate foreign relations committee, an
grily declared when he read the Bern
storff message. 1T is absolutely in
tolerable," he added. Amy represen-
tative of any foreign government who
should make such an attempt to in
terfere with affairs of this government
for it is direct interference with the
government TO attempt to influence
congress-well deserves to be given
his passports and sent from the coun-
try"
Senator Stone said he had no knowl-
edge of any attempt to influence con
sress as indicated in the German mes
"a 90 htnt hnf hn
oongressmen, had stacks of propagan-
la kilograms.
Il don't believe that any such or.
sanization tried to influence congress"
aid Senator Kenyon. Congress can.
not prevent scoundrels from using
heir names, but | do not think any
ierman money was used to influence
congress"
An official investigation by congress
vas suggested by Senator Overman,
# South Carolina, chairman of the
'enate rules and lobby investigating
committee. The latter is still in ex.
stence and the senator said is in
position to act.
THE whole affair ought TO be un.
raveled TO the end" he declared. 1T
is amazing and shows the despicable
ends Germany had gone to-"
Not His Organization.
New York, Sept. 2l-Prof. Scott
Nearing, recently elected chairman Of
the executive committee OF the Peo-
ple's Council for Democracy and
Peace, gave out a statement tonight
in which he declared that organiza.
tion could not have been the one re-
ferred to In Count Won Bernstorn's
message in as much as its organizing
committee was not formed until May
81 last
1T, therefore, is obvious" he said,
that the peoples council is not con.
nected in any way with these funds"
Had Message for Months.
Secretary Lansing adhered 10 the !
not TO discuss this lat. |
est disclosure and refused TO reveal |
the manner in which the message TO |
H..