The Washington herald., 1918-09-23
Mentions Times Purchase
But Scantly in Public
Statement.
SENATORS WANT LIGHT
Committee Named Today
Will Probably Call
Witnesses.

tCiy last night issued statement
in reply to the disclosures. of A.
sMitchell Palmer, Alien Property
fCustodian. Mr.. Brisbane denies
THAT he is pro-German and de-
felares that he is proally: His
tstatement is an explanation of his
tioyslty. The only reference that
lMr. Brisbane makes to the hnsnc-
ling of the Washington Times by
brewers is: an my statement re-
lrently published l have told the
sfacts in regard to my purchase OF
the Washington Times"
The full committee of the SEN
iate Judiciary Committee meets
this morning to appoint a special
Subcommittee to delve into the
Ichsrges made by Mr.. Palmer
lagainst Mr.. Brisbane and his
| tbackers.
Want Full Publicity.
Members of the committee have de-
olsred their determination Of going
TO the bottom of Mr.. Palmer's revels-
tiOns. Senators are unwilling. 1t Is
declared to leave the matter to be
dealt with by the executive depart
ments. They insist that 1t should be
held up to the glare OF the fullest
publicity. Indications were last night
that all the principals involved in Mr..
Palmer'S disclosures would be sub
poenaed as witnesses.
The complete text of Mr.. Brisbane's
reply 10 Mr.. Palmer follows:
In my statement recently pub
lished | have told the facts in regard
10 my PURCHASE of the Washington
TimeS Since then various state
luGE,s. surmises and innuendos.
which are entirely false, have ap-
psared in number of newspapers.
Wish to correct the more important
al these allega tions.
The thing that I am chiefly con-
cerned about is the false allegation
that ] and my paper are. or have
been ct any time, in any way pro-
German.
Mr.. A. Mitchell Palmer. the Alien
Property Custodian, made public a
s1stter written by Mr.. Alexander
KOntd. That letter has no conceiv-
able connection with my paper or
myself.
Il was Introduced to Mr.. Alex
Rnder konta eight or nine years
ago by Mr.. Butes. the private sec
.retsry OF Lord Northcliffe and pre-
Tviously private secretary of Joseph
Pulitzer.
Knows Little of Konts.
"I have not seen or heard from
Nj Alexander Konts for at least
eight years. I know nothing what
ever Of his sentiments and he knows
nothing OF mine And his letter.
written two years before bought
the Washington Times. makes no
reference direct or indirect to me or
10 my paper.
Mr. Geoffrey konta. of No. l2o
Broadway, stepson of Mr.. Alexander
5KOnta. is the Mr. Konta who is my
gattOrney. l have never had the
slightest business connection or as
sOciatiOn with Mr.. Alexander Kon-
ta.
1T is not difficult for me to es-
tablish the facts as to my sympa-
Shies and activities in this war.
AFTER the war broke out. in De-
rember. 1914. ! was i'll in the hos
pitsl in Atlanta. having gone to At
1anta in connection with the case OF
Mr.. Leo Frank. whom / believed un-
sustly accused of murder.
My one desire was then and has
been ever since, to see the quickest
possible defeat Of Germany.
Gave HINT on Hydraulics.
7 cabled to Lord Northcliffe my
belief that the use Of American
Hydraulic mining machinery against
1ha German trenches would be ef-
aective by flooding and undermining
ahem.
Il then expended several thousand
nollars in securing a number of So
called hydraulic giants of the diff
eerent sizes. which 1 sent to Lord
Horthcli1e by express for expert
mental purposes.
"As to my newspaper attitude, my
writings In the Washington Times
Goncerning the war are of course
bpen to everybody.
The paper has been read by the
most important officials of the gov
prnment, from whom I have had
frequent letters Of commendatiou
Because of my attitude on the war.
From the day that became owner
pf the Washington Times. I defy any
newspaper critic to quote one line or
one word on the subject of Germany
written by me or published in that
! paper that was not denunciation of
!, Germany. of Prussia, of the Kaiser
and his methods
Was stroag for Dynamite.
Before anybody else in the United
States, l wrote conspicuous editorials
for Mr.. Hearsts newspapers urging
The building of thousands OF fyins
machines as the best and quickest
elethod Of bringing the Kaiser to his
Knees by widespread dynsmitiag.
These editorials I wrote before the
patton was at war. because OF my
sympathy with the allies, and / have
written constantly upon the subject
Since then. IN addition to writing per
eonal letters to the most important
officials in Washington. urging ut
most activitS In the flying machine
Department.
Il have never written one line in
Favor Of Germany and I have wrT.-
Zen hundreds of columns in denuncia.
lion Of Germany and her method.
Z Ind purposes in this war
do not think there is any paper
n the United States or any editor
n The United States who has been
hs bitterly. as violently and as per-
= pistently pro-slly and anti-German n
fs have been And ! know thai
n accusations against me. there
ere, are not only untruthfui, but
whoiiy insincere.
7 believe that every unprejudice
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