New-York tribune., 1918-12-21
Reed Forces Politics Into Quizs
BY Senate Of German Propaganda

been drawing as many as you nave
might respect others.
Mr.. Reed, in his ross-cNamination
of Becker after asking about political
conditions in New York. switched to
the Hearst case, and demanded to
know whether the affidavits charging
frequent calls by Bernstoril and bolo
on Hearst had been taken under the
Public Safety act
Nh Becker said they we're. under in
tructions Of the Governor to execute
the commission on the letters rogatory
of the French government in the Hum,
bert case, which, in substance, called
for an inquiry into all matters relat-
ing with the Paris journal
The dialogue continued
Mr.. Becker-l want to be perfectly
clear about it. At the time that Ger
tain affidavits were given out to the
press being Mr.. Lewiss rejoinder to
challenge that omanated from Mr.
Hearst these same men were exam
ined and their affidavits were taken
In straight affidavit form. The sub
stance was identical. Those were taken
and were presented to the pubic
through the medium of the press.
Senator Reed - They We're taken
under and by virtue of the authority
! of this law were they not?
MIR. Becker--No not at all.
Senator Reed want to ask you IT
these witnesses We're not summoned be-
fore you, and if their statements were
not taken in writing, and if they were
not sworn?
Mr. Rcckcr-Here was the way that
was done. Under and by virtue of the
law | summoned the witnesses cs---'
Senator Recd-What law?
Rocker Won't BE Heckled
Mr.. Becker Chapter 595 of the laws
of 1917. Let ME tell you the whole
story. Are you willing?
Senator Reed-No; | want to ask q
few questions.
Mr.. Becker-I will just answer the
questions that you ask. early IN the
spring of 1918, practically all these wit
neSSeS we're
Senator Reed do not want to be
short with you. l did not ask you that
7 asked YOU whether it is not fact
that these atfidavits which you took
were taken from witnesses that you
caused to be summoned before you?
Mr.. Becker-They were taken as toi-
lows
Senator Reed-Just answer, whether
YOU summoned these witnesses to come
before you?
Mr.. Becker.---I am going to answer
in my own way unless the committee
prevents. The witnesses were sum-
! moned by virtue of Chapter 595 of the
laws of 1917. They were examined
and a regular deposition taken for use
by the French government bearing
upon the issue that has been discussed.
At the same time | prepared an aih-
| davit for them to sign that contained
the substance of the dispositions. They
went before notary pubic, and WIN
out any use of the powers of the act
thew swore to that affidavit, and those
atfidavits sworn to before a notary pub
| lie were the ones that were used Tor
what | will frankly say was political
purpose
Senator Reed-You had sworn them
to the deposition yourself, personally?
Mr.. Becker Yes: have that power.
Senator Reed-Now, why did you
not swear. then, to the atfidavits?
Mr.. Becker-Because it was not
seQuently they went over to the Bel
mont hotel and swore to them before
notary
Reed Seeks After Dates
Senator Reed was most anxious to
get the exact chronology of the affair
and to find whether Mr.. Becker had
given out the affidavits personally. Mr..
Becker denied this, but said he would
have done it, Mr.. Reed then produced
story printed in The New York Trib-
une on July 81, 1918, about BOlo's re-
lations with Nine. Barrientos and the
letter to her in which he referred to
his friend Hearst. This Becker readily
admitted having given out. 1t did not
rest on the affidavits in question.
81 may say that | think that is
really very accurate statement of the
evidence in regard to the Hearst -Bolo-
Barrientos affair."" he remarked.
Senator Reed-What was your pur-
pose in giving this out at this time
Was it to reflect on Nine. Barrientos
Mr.. Becker-lt does not reflect on her
in the least. | have regarded anything
:, that tended to establish the facts in
regard to Mr.. Hearst's relations with
the Germans as of much greater public
! interest than anything that merely con-
Germs Nine. Barrientos.
= Senator Reed-And your purpose in
giving this publicity was for the pur-
=, pose of establishing the fact, was it?
Mr.. Becker-It was not for any pur-
: pose of establishing any fact. 1t was
because | deemed it an interesting news
, story. think the most interesting feat
, ure in it is the reference to Mr. Hearst
f and the reference to Nine. Barrentos
> interests good many people. too.
From this Senator Reed got on te
/ the political question again, and Mr.
Becker stated that while he personally
= did not try to influence the public
against Whitman by tying Whitman W
with Hearst and Hearst with Bolo, i
V was done.
I Senator Reed.--It was done by your
j, chief?
/ Mr.. Becker.-It was done by the
: Lewis campaign committee, unques
| tionably. The political strategy wa:
. to tie Whitman up to Hearst on thu
4 theory that Hearst had been discred
tied with large body of Republican
in the state. Let us talk frankly abou
i politics as they are.
e Senator Reed--And, as a part o
that, you. as the Deputy Attorney Gen
: eral of the State of New York, actin
! under powers of the drastic statut
u which you say was intended only as
u wartime measure, brought witnesse
before you, compelled their testmon
=, in these secret proceedings, and imme
:. diately gave the substance of thei
testimony to the public.
! Mr.. Becker-No; that is not true, a
y all. That is not fair statement O
the situation.
W Senator Reed am going to prov
a that it is true, and | am going to max
J. you admit that it is true.
" Mr.. Beckcr-Well, you will be lon
time doing that.
g Senator Overman-Oh, prove it, Sen
y ator Road ;f ,yo,, oo, o,,l H. -