New-York tribune., 1918-08-15
offer Conditioned on Keep
ing German Ownership Sc
cret, Says Attorney General
Brisbane Becomes
Target for Attack
State Official Quotes "Vos-
s;sche Zeitung" on Hearst
and Bernstorf

Attorney General Lewis was ques.
toned yesterday on the statement
uode editorially in The Tribune that
representative of William Randolph
Hearst offered to buy "The New York
Evening Mail" after its German owner
chin had been discovered, on condition
,bat the government discontinue con-
fscation proceedings and keep the facts
from becoming public.
Mr. Lewis said:
There was an effort made by one
Of Mr.. Hearst's editors to buy The
New York Evening Mall The propo-
stjon was advanced that if DR.. Rune
Tvs arrest could be delayed, plan
might be evolved to save the value
of the stockholders interest, subject
10 the bonds We became satisfied
that it was an attempt to turn the
newspaper over to the control of Mr..
Hearst and warrant for DR.. Rumely' s
arrest was executed"
When the Attorney General was
asked if he believed this was an indi-
cation that there was a connection
between William Randolph Hearst and
German influences, and whether such
an inference could be drawn, he said ::
Well that satisfies me-
The Attorney General made public
Yesterday the following statement:
Brisbane's Explanation
"In The Journal of yesterday" said
Mr.. Lewis "Mr Hearst, who is finding
it somewhat difficult 20 meet all the
attacks made upon him, attempted to
Justify and minimize his relations with
Boo Pasha. His editor, Brisbane,
says:
"Of course Bernstorff would have
been glad to influence Hearst.
"Of course Bolo, the swindler,
would like to be we'll acquainted.
"What happened?
"They saw Hearst. They sat talk
ing to him, one at time, while he
sat strummng his fingers and trying
10 look as if he were listening to
whatever lies or arguments they were
nventing Hearst does that every
day; it is one of the unpleasant
duties that go with his public
opinion.
What happened after the Kaiser's
Ambassador and the Kaiser's spy had
seen Hearst?
THEY WENT OUT AND BOUGHT
THE NEW YORK EVENING MAIL
one of the dying newspapers, gasp
ing for circulation and advertising
like little goldfish out of his bowl"
Il now quote from the 'Vossiche
zeitung' of December I, 1914. Pro
lessor Stein, fin an article published on
that day, entitled Change of Opinion
IN America said:
eve must regard it as an espe-
clally happy achievement of Count
Won Bernstorff that he succeeded
during his visit to William R.
Hearst, the American newspaper
King, in capturing this sovereign of
more than 600 newspapers for the
German cause, thus parrying the ef-
forts of the great press of America,
which is working in England's ser
which belongs to "The London
Times" -
Manipulation of the press is the
Of all countries, especially of Ger
man diplomacy. Count Won Bern
storf has also in this respect proved
himself to be the master of the sit
uation. To capture Mr.. Hearst is
equivalent to a battle won, for Mr..
Hearst is not only the head of the
International News Service Com
pany, or Hearsts Service, which
dominates more than 600 American
newspapers, but it is also co-proprie-
TOR Of THE News Pictorial" which
includes all the cinemas of America.
Inc latter throws the news onto the
screen twice week.
Since the visit of Count Won
bernstorff to Mr. Hearst, the Hearst
press has come out openly for the
herman cause. The editor in chief
Of his New York papers, Arthur