The Washington times., 1918-12-22
BECKER SCORED
FOR MNUENDOES


, York statutes, and the committee oio
not press him for the names.
1t did develop, however, that some
| of the employees of the apartment
house had enlisted in the army, and
that Becker, in his official capacity
called upon the military intelligence
| division to locate them ana detall
them TO the deputy attorney generaIs $
office for the purpose OF making the
| affidavits, which were immediately Is
sued to the press from Attorney Gen
| eral Lewis political headquartere.
= In the case of one OF the soldier
witnesses Becker acknowledged that
he paid his expenses. although 1t ap-
pears from the record that the witness
1 had been detailed by the war De-
partment on official duty.
Becker's Insinuation Improper.
The insistent questioning by Sen
ator Reed as to the details surround
ing the procurement of the afidavits
| led to a sharp exchange between the
examiner and the witness. On one
occasion Becker referred to Mr.
Hearst as Senator Reeds client. The
Senator promptly retorted that he
represented no individual or client
| and appeared not only as member
! his subcommittee must make its re-
port, but as a member of the United
! States Senate, which body viii, have
the power of finally passing upon the
4 Chairman overniAn ruled that
Becker's insinuation was highly -iin-
proper. The witness flushed and
apologized. Nevertheless the witness
again suggested that Senator Reed
was holding a brief for Mr.. Hearst.
He was interrupted by the Chairman
and cautioned not to repeat such i'm
nuendoes. and for a second time apollo
gized, explaining that it was slip
OF the tongue.
Senator Reed did not ask that these
interpolated comments of the wit
nesses be stricken from the record,
regarding them as impressive indicS-
tions of the witnesses animus and
prejudice.
Hearst Unknown to Reed.
Just before adjournment Senator
Reed announced that in view Of
Becker's imputations as to the rea-
sons for his appearance before the
committee he desired to make a brief
statement on the subject.
81 know Mr.. Hearst merely as a
newspaper man. / have no social re-
Iations with him. have no personal
relations with him. / have no po-
litical relations with him. except that
generally he has supported the party
to which I belong.
"I have followed with a great deaf
! of interest the line OF investigation
that has been pursued here, and be-
came convinced that there was de-
Iiberate and fixed purpose to try to
Hasten something akin to treason
upon a man by what / believe to be
scraps of testimony pieced in a dis
honest manner.
/ THAT was my impression, whether
right or wrong. came here and aska
ed to cross-examine this gentleman.
whom 1 happen to know had put his
information-this information-to po-
Iitical uses. 1 would do the same for
the editor OF the World, or the Times,
or for a street shoveIer. That is my
interest, and any man who insinuates
! II goes further is a common scoun-
dreL"
}, @seOundreI- In Record.
Chairman Overman said he thought
the last sentence might be better ex-
cluded from the Record. Senator King
Immediately interjected that the wit
ness had impugned the motives Of the
acts of member of the United States
Senate. and that the reply of S.nator
Reed ought to go in the, Record. 1t
was finally ruled that the statement
of Senator Reed should stand as ut
tered
Many other points in Becker's d.
rect testimony were touched upon by
Senator Reed. He brought out the
u fact that the name of Carl v. Van
Anda adffar of he Xnrlr
among others, had been purposely
omitted from the published lists of
guests at the Sherry dinner given by
Bolo Pasira. Becker's explanation in
effect was that he did not want to
scandalize other guests in the same
party.
Didn't Hesitate on Hearst.
Senator Reed pointed out that the
witness did not hesitate to scandallze
Mr. Hearst or" involved the latter in
unpleasant and discreditable impiica-
| tions. Becker thereupon made the con-
fession that he was suspicious OF any
thing done by Mr.. Hearst, and ap-
peared before the committee as a wit
ness to testify concerning Mr.. Hearst
! in that state Of mind, he said that he
was acting upon the maxim. let him
save himself IL he can"
| There are several other matters testi-
/ ned to by Becker upon his direct eX-
animation concerning which Senator
Reed desires to examine the witness.
The days proceedings were adjourned
| subject to the call of Chairman Over
\ man, and Becker was directed by the
committee to hold himself in readiness
to return to Washington upon notifica-
| ton. II was announced definitely that
the sessions Of the committee will not
| be resumed until after the holidays.
RESUME LONG FLIGHT.