New-York tribune., 1918-12-18
Tells Senate Committee
He Was Pro-American
From Outset of the War
Acted for Albert
Only as a Friend
Didn't Consider Teutons''
Effort to Buy The Sum
as Being ,Untoward Act
Neg York Tribune
Wdshinpto1, Bureau


Ilntermyer, international lawyer, ap.
nsared to-day before the Overman Sen.
ate Committee, which is investigating
German propaganda, to emphasize his
nrevious statements to the press that
he never was employed by German
agents as counsel, and that he was pro.
Ally and anti-German from the first
DAYS of the war.
After reading a long formal state
ment replying to and explaining evi-
dence concerning him that previously
had been brought out at the hearing
Mr.. Untermyer was put under long
cross examination.
Points Brought Out
The chief points brought out during
the day were:
Mr.. Untermeyer's acquaintance
with German agents in America.
The existence of letters signed
by both Mr.. Untermeyer and DR..
Heinrich F. Albert, German propa-
ganda chief, in which Mr.. Inter
myer is described as Albert's counsel,
though even after their introduction
Mr.. Untermyer insisted that he had
never been counsel to Albert and
that he had acted in this case mere
ly out of friendship and on the re-
quest Of Albert's lawyers.
The attempt of a client of Mr..
Untermeyer's to buy "The New
York Sum-" in which vain effort
was made to get Mr.. Albert inter
ested.
A letter from Mr.. untermeyer Of
ferring to buy "The New York
Evening Mail" on behalf of Henry l..
Stoddsrd on condition that its for
mer German ownership be kept
secret unless criminal prosecution
should be necessary was introduced.
This letter showed that a mysterious
client had also considered this pur-
chase, but had dropped it because he
feared that his previous affiliations"
would injufe the paper.
Clashes With Humes
The name of the man concerned in
"The Sun" deal was not put into the
record, but was given by Mr.. Inter
myer to the committee. 1t is reported
he is Caleb M. Van Hamm, managing
editor of Hearst's New York Ameri-
can" for the last eight years.
No evidence was introduced to re-
fute Mr.. untermyer's statement that he
never had received fees from the Ger
mans. His memory was dim as to
many of the contacts he was alleged
to have had with the German agents,
and there was considerable dispute as
to the propriety of certain uestions
which Major Humes, counsel for the
committee, asked. The latter appa-
rently were based on reports Of dista-
pnone conversations recorded by gov
ernment agents who had tapped the
wires of the German plotters, and Mr..
untermyer expressed great contempt
for such evidence. He denied memory
OF any of the incidents alleged in these
questions.
Don't have such a suspicious mind"
ne said to Major Humes when the
latter was trying to find out the in
Alberts request, had introduced the
German to Frank A. Vanderlip, presi-
dent Of the National City Bank, and
wny Albert's letter had said: "Do not
mention that gold transaction is in
vowed; | prefer to leave this matter
open and to define the matter as purely
commercial transaction for Argen-
Tine interests"
Judge Levy Explains
The matter, Mr.. Untermyer stated,
was to arrange for shipment of gold
70 Argentine to establish German
credit here. He felt that the latter
simply indicated that DR.. Albert
wanted to be the first to explain the
deal to Vanderlip, and Major Humes
seemed to doubt this.
Mr. Untermyer," Major Humes re-
pled, when you are going through all
enis material on the German conspira-
e.es you can't help coming to have a
soou many suspicious"
les, but sometimes it develops into
an obsession."
Well, We'll try not to have it come
&c that in this case" was the majors
aaiai shot The interchange was a fair
ing. - '''o ''eN1
y,soree Before Air. Uutermyer took the stand
suuge Aaron j. Levy, of New York,
ssppeared at his own request to reply
~ ~ cmarges regarding the financing Of
;ss v"e "arheit" and "The Leader" jew
hsn papers on the East Side, in which
td ne ahd Mr.. Untermyer had been in
sbanSd. rfbrested. He challenged the pro-Ally
who vIhalaeter sl with which Louis E. Miller,
ana aa3 mad nad made charges against Levy
ana hno Gntermyer, had sought to invest
~hh'mselI shnnlI and read several editorials to
s;S sHHw mat Miller had taken the other
siue sh".. he had not brought material to
ssow ss.N the, the character of the "Warheit"
"''er Miller left it, he said.
Lester Testifies as to Fox
caaollowlng Mr.. Untermyer, Captain
corg c"ige b. Lester, of counsel for the
sn"nlttee, AN took the stand to reply to
III. nn.'ack from Bradford Merrill, of
Nv nearst papers, on testimony he gave
Continued on poge four