New-York tribune., 1918-10-21
Supplied Money for
Notoriously Anti
War milwaukee
Leader"
Editor Now Is
Under indictment
Persistent Disloya]
Propaganda Caused
It To Be Barred
From Mails
lSnso:aL Dispatclt to The IIribunel


WASHINGTON, Oct. 2O.-Evidence
closely connecting Arthur Brisbane
with a paper barred from the mails,
whose editor is now under Federal
Indictment for alleged violation of
the espionage act, is now in the hands
Of a member of the Senate committee
investigating the purchase by Hearst's
chief editor of "The Washington
Times" with money supplied by pool
Of German American brewers.
The paper in question is "The Mil
waukee Leader" and the editor under
Indictment and soon to face trial in
Chicago is Victor Berger.
Brisbane's Part
Arthur Brisbane has been part own
er of THE Milwaukee Leader" during
Americas belligerency.
He owned stock in "Ihe Leader
durIng the period prior to Americas
declaration of war, when the Berger
paper was playing the same pro-Ger-
man game as the Hearst papers for
which Brisbane worked.
He owned stock in "The Leader
turing period when "The Leader
wen. even further than the Hearst pa
pers in anti-war propaganda.
During the period from April T.,
1917, to October j, 1917, and therefore
while Brisbane was a stockholder IN
The LEADER" Berger's editorials came
in for severe criticism both from press
and public and from official sources.
Finally, on or about the latter date,
the Postoffice Department took action
to bar "The Leader" from the mails.
When official action threatened, Bris-
hanc tried to save the editor, the paper
and his money.
In spite of the criticism which had
been launched against "The Leader
and the knowledge which Brisbane
must have had of the editorial opinions
OF the paper of which he was part
owner, Hearst's editor went to the
Postofice Department and made spe-
cial personal appeal to Postmaster
General Burleson to save "The Leader"
Brisbane is understood to have defended
Berger and the paper.
The Postmaster General, in spite OF
the pressure brought to bear by man
whose reputation had not then suf-
tered from the disclosure of the real
ownership of "The Washington Times,
refused to accedc to Brisbane's plea
and banned "The Leades."
Brisbane Still Owns Stock
Since the postoffice Department. ex-
Guided "Thc Leader from the second
class mailing privileges, the paper has
naturally neither printed nor filed
statements of ownership. But the Mil
waukec weekly, "Vorwaerts," issued
by the same organization as "The
Leader" the Social Democratic Pub
'ishing Company, carried Arthur Brls-
oane's name as an owner of stock In
A. NJ. Simons. a prominent member
OF the Social Democratic League Of
America, and until America entered the
var the managing editor of "The
Leader" was the first source of in
formation regarding the Brisbane
holdings in Bcrger's paper. Simons
informed New York newspaper man
mat on a number of occasions Berger
mad told him that the paper needed
money and that it would be forthcom-
ing from Brisbane. Simons recalled
enc instance where the sum required
vas $4,000.
lie believes that altogether Brisbane
put between $4,000 and $4,000 into
The Leader
The Leader" has never shown any
indication OF profits likely to induce
'eg'tlmate investment. 1t has subsisted
'" those who we're glad to support 1T
'0r purposes of propaganda.
mere are two records Of officlal
0pihion regarding the Berger Brisbane
Paper
onc is the brief of Postmaster
neheral Burleson, filed in the Supreme
sVurt of the District of Columbia
,oVember l6 1917, in answer to "The
leaders" suit to lift the mail ban
ssa'nst it. BY number of excerpts
.''m Its editorials Burleson showed
'he apparent satisfaction of the
&srI :.
'ae Leader" was one Of group OF
fContinr.ed on page fve)