New-York tribune., 1918-12-06
Is Pro-Any, He Asserts
Alexander Konia Confused
When Asked to Tell of
Dealings With Dernburg
Ne1r York 7'riburc
Wash ;uoforo R,,~-r,,

= oIueI all luNeSClGaClCn OF the relations
between the brewing interests and the
pro German propaganda, appeared be-
fore the Overman committee this after
noon at his own request
Mr.. Brisbane defended his editorial
utterances, which have been attacked
as propaganda on the ground that he
believed them to be true, and that he
saw no reason why they should not be
told to strong men" He declared
that he had ben strongly prc-Ally since
the beginning of the war, and that
SINCE the United States entered it had
written as vigorously and sistently
as as he knew how in support Of America
DE quoted Secretary Daniels and Post
master General Burleson as having as
sured him that no paper had supported
the war more Loyalty than his. "The
J only thing | have to reproach myself
WITH he said, "is that sometimes /
! write too BITTERLY"
"Harrowing" Is Abandoned
Cross-examinaton as to the justifi-
cation of particular writings was cut
short by Senator Wolcott, who had
been asked by Chairman Overman to
study the Brisbane editorials. and, as
he said, "harrow" Mr.. Brisbane about
them.
II confess myself unable to do it,"
Senator Wolcott said. From reading
| these excerpts Chose gathered in az
ticles in The Tribune) the impression
on my mind was-I will not say that
Mr.. Brisbane was engaged in propa-
ganda- but that he was saying things
that | did not think were helpful to
America
whole of the editorials from which
they were taken, and others that he has
written, ] am convinced that no man
can Justly say that he has been en-
gagged in a pro- o-German campaign"
Senator Sterling read a few quota
tlons and questioned Mr.. Brisbane
about them, but was not fully pre-
pared to take up the examination, and
the subject was dropped, the Senator
announcing that he would have other
quotations put into the record.
Admits Hearst Control
Mr.. Brisbane was questioned about
the various activities of his which
have been under suspicion and ex-
planned them.
he admitted that he had an agree
ment with William Randolph Hearst,
under which Hearst was to take over
either II Brisbane wished to get rid
of them, or il Hearst thought they
were interfering with Brisbanes SER
vices to the Hearst papers. This
agreement, he said was made after he
had bought "The Washington Times"
Of which Mr.. Hearst knew nothing ill
the deal was completed.
He defended Victor Berger, the Mil.
wauk kee Socialist, now under indict-
ment, saying that he still believed him
honest and intelligent. He had tried
because he felt that if he were re-
moved, less desirable leader would
take his place. He had taken the mat
ter up with President Wilson, when
Berger was investigated by the Post
office Department last fall, and had
been referred to Mr.. Burleson. The
latter showed him some foolish"
things Berger had written, and he
dropped the matter.
Lent $4,000 to Berger
Major Humes, counsel for the COM
mittee, brought out the fact that at
the time this occurred, Brisbane owned
stock In the Leader" Berger's paper.
Mr.. Brisbane explained that he had at
various times lent Berger $4,000, final
~ at berger's request taking stock for
his notes. Last spring. he said, Berger
took the stock back and again gave
him notes.
"The brewers lent me the money to
buy the Washington Times" he
stated, because | was on their side on
q public question. My point is that
have always been on their side I
went TO them because | was on their
side. If | had been strong prohibi-
tion advocate I'd have gone to some
man like John y. Rockefeller, who, I
understand. is d prohibitionist."
The brewers had no share in his re-
cent purchase of three Milwaukee
papers. Mr.. Brisbane declared. and he
stated that they knew nothing about
1T until the announcement was made
He said he did not even kno wthe
names of the men who put up the
money with which he financed "The
Washington Times" deal until he read
the list when given out by A. Mitchell
Palmer, the Alien Property Custodian.
except that he knew Gustave Pabst
and Joseph uihlein were among them.
Transaction Not a GIFT
In answer to questions by Senator
Wolcott ne argued that even in the
brewers minds the transaction could
not have seemed gift. He said the
note of the Growing Circulation Corp
grafton, which was given for the
the money, had been replaced by per
sonal note, which he expected since
he was now drawing a profit from the
"Ilmes,' TO be able to pay in two
years
Mr.. Brisbane also declared that Mr.
falmcr, IN private conversation, had
dlsclaimed any intention Of rejecting
on his patriotism in his attack ON the
brewers deal, and in evidence Of this
sad r, Palmer had offered to sell him
- nc New York Evening Mail" for
S,o0ooo. lie had investigated its pos
slblltles, he said and dropped it he
cause the paper was losing too heavily
$500 a month.
lie mad no financial interest in "The
Chicago Herald" deal, he said. and M
money from "The Washington Times"
had been sent to Chicago to nav for
The Herald He had been sending
81 900 week to Chicago. he testified
to pay for 100000 Liberty Loan sur
scription which he had made wb;Ia
there. univ
Sought Northcliffes Aid
The attempt to get the Hearst serv.
zee reinstated Ia England, where il
had been barred out on a charge of
taking pro German dispatches, was
gone INTO. Mr.. Brisbane told of me-
gotiatlng for Lord Northcljffe'a aid in
accomplishing this, and said Nor+b-
cn11e had told him he tbouob+ ~