Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1918-12-06
Says Money Advanced by the
Brewers for Purchase of
Washington Times Was
Merely Business Deal
HEARST PAYS EDITOR
$4,000 WEEKLY SALARY
Would Not Permit Ownership
of Other Journals interfere
With Income From Great
Publisher Magnate

lsY MORNING JOURNAL SPECIAL LEASED wtREl
Washington, Dec. 5.-Arthur Brs-
bane explained today to the senate
committee investigating brewers and
German propaganda his purchase of
the Washington Times with money
loaned by brewers. He also was ques-
toned regarding his business rela-
tions with William Randolph Hearst,
sentiments expressed in his editorials
and other matters,
Mr. Brisbane told the committee
that he arranged the loan for the
purchase of the Times with c. J.
Feigenspan, a brewer of Newark, n.
j.; thattthe transaction was business
affair entirely and that he did not
know the other brewers who assisted
Feigenspan IN underwriting the loan.
The brewers advanced $375,000.
Denied Pro- German Sentiment
The witness denied allegations of
pro-German sentiments in editorials
he has written. saying he always has
supported the cause of the United
States and strongly opposed Germany,
Excerpts from editorials appearing in
Hearst newspapers were produced by
the committee and Mr. Brisbane was
asked regarding their authorship.
Since only portions of the articles APP
peared in the reprints. the witness
was not positive as to their author
and he was given the excerpts with
which to go over the files to deter
mine whether he wrote the editorials.
III there was anything in these
favorable 10 Germany know did
not write IT," the witness declared.
Salary $4,000 a Week.
Mr.. Brisbane said William RAN
dolph Hearst knew nothing of his
purchase of the Times until the trans
action was completed and that Mr..
Hearst at first objected to it, because
Brisbane's contract with Hearst stip-
ulated that the former give his entire
time to the Hearst papers at salary
of $4,000 a week The witness said
he told Mr. Hearst that If the Wash
ington Times interfered with his work
Hearst could take over the Times at
the price paid to Frank A. Munsey.
Senator Sterling Of South Dakota
questioned Mr.. Brisbane about edi-
torials in which he said that Eng
land has not always been renowned
for her unselfishness."
No Reflection on America.
Nov, isn't that reference to the
principal ally of the United States
calculated to reflect on the United
States?" the senator asked.
mo, l do not think So" the wit
ness replied Il thought then and |
think now, that England has not al
ways been renowned for her unself-
ishness. That is not reflection on
the United States"
Brisbane said that A. Mitchell
Palmer, whose charge that brewers
had financed the purchase of the
Times led TO the present inquiry, Of
fered to sell him the New York Even
ing Mail, after that property came
into PaImer's hands as alien property
custodian. The price fixed was $780,
900, the witness said but he declined
to purchase it because 1t was losing
money.
The only other newspaper he owns,
Mr.. Brisbane said, Is the Wisconsin
News. He said he purchased the
Wisconsin Free Press and News and
consolidated them and that brewers
were not involved in that transaction.
Brewers His Friends.
The witness told the committee that
his attitude toward the use of beer
and light wines brought him in touch
with brewers. He said he asked Mr..
Munsey to sell him the Times and
let him pay for it out of its earnings,
but the request was refused. He then
went to Feigenspan
II said to him." declared the wit
ness, you know my attitude on beer.
You know how / feel toward your
business"
Brisbane then laid before Feigen-
span the plan for loan to purchase
the Times and the brewer said he be-
lieved it would be a good investment.
The witness went on to say that
Feigenspan said he did not know that
he could advance the full amount
himself. but that he would raise thu
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