New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-12-22
Tells lsCommittee Publisher
Was Accused of Some
thing Akin to Treason
Clashes Frequently
Will, A. L. Becker
Government Attorney Is
Upheld i'm Refusal to
Reveal Detectives

Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON Dec. 21.-The ques-
tion of the loyalty of William Ran
doph Hearst was made the focus of
the inquiry into German propaganda
so.day by Senator James A. Reed, of
Missouri, in three hour attack upon
Deputy Attorney General Alfred L.
Becker, of New York, and the evidence
he has submitted to the Overman com
mittee.
Mr. Becker in his replies to Mr..
Reeds questions repeatedly charged
that the Senator, who is not member
Of the committee and has hardly been
at the hearings till Mr.. Becker was
called, was acting on behalf of Hearst
and the latter finally admitted he was
there because l became convinced
that there was a deliberate attempt
to fasten something akin to treason
upon q man by what l believed to be
scraps Of testimony pieced together in
dishonest manner"
The long examination, punctuated by
freuqent alterations, charges and in
sinuations, failed to produce any new
evidence, or any charges other than
those previously made by Hearst
against the men who have been inves-
tigating him. Mr. Reed did not finish
his efforts, and Mr.. Becker will ap-
pear again when the committee re-
convenes after the holidays. But so
far as one member of the committee
stated after the hearing, "the evidence
against Hearst was not broken down
in any way and most of it was not even
attacked"
Evidence Is Attacked
The whole of the days discussion
hinged on depositions taken by Becker
in New York. Through it ran the
charge, made and answered yesterday,
that the legal power of the Attorney
Generals Office had been improperly
used for political purposes in obtain
ing this evidence.
Mr. Reed did demand the name of
the men who had brought in the wit
nesses against Hearst, and after long
series of alterations about it demand
ed that the committee order Becker to
give this information, which Becker
refused on the ground that it would
eetray the workings of branch of the
Secret Service.
AS soon as he made the request Mr..
Reed suggested that the committee
might hold answer "in reserve" which
1t did. Just before adjournment the
chairman ruled the question out, as the
committee had been most careful
throughout not to risk crippling fut-
ure inquiries by revealing matters of
'nis kind. A statement of the money
spent on the Bolo- Humbert- Hearst in
Sestgation was also demanded, and this
Nr. Becker offered to produce If the
committee thought it worth while
This question also was held in reserve
Exchanges Are Heated
But if the hearing was barren of new
laets or evidence, it was prolific of ex'
''ement and recriminations. The cross
examiners hostility to the witness was
even more marked than yesterday ant
W.T. becker's resentment was more ap
parent This resulted in exchanges II
which such words as "insolence" ant
lie figured, and finally "scoundrel."
lhe chairman did not interfere ex
'ept when the debate passed parlia
nentary bounds. During the session
''r. Reed extended his zone of actor
" include Major Humes, counsel to thu
sohmittee, and once, when Chairman
o'erman ordered that remark of hi
'e stricken from the record, ever
'urhed on him and declared, at will
~ IN some record"
throughout there were attacks b,
senator Reed on Mr.. Becker's goo
@.h' veracity, fairness and honesty
s'a IN return Mr.. Becker intimate,
=, s"s the Senator was there for NOR
t.. susn the impartial purpose of seein
' piay which he claimed. Mr.. Becke
r1'0 no stated forcefully his opinion o
''S' and his friends, not only as l.