The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-12-25
Hearst and Bolo
Investigation of German Prop
aganda Reveals Suspicious
Association.

DAYS session of the senate commit
tee investigating German propaganda
was taken up with tits between AL
general of New York, and Senator
Reed of Missouri, who is not a MEM
Der of the committee.
Senator Reed, in cross examining
the New York official, who has been
on the stand two days, charged that
Morton F.. Lewis, attorney general or
New York, and Becker, misused their
official positions in making public IN
formation contained in afidavits Sc
cured by them under special war leg
islation. These affidavits referred to
alleged meetings of William Randolph
Hearst with Bolo Pasha, executed in
France as traitor, and former Ger
nan Ambassador Won Rernstorf.
Mr.. Becker denied the charge, say
ing that the afidavits made public
were not secured under the special
legislation. He said that certain dis
closures purporting to show assocla-
ton of Hearst and Bolo were made
public "for what frankly admit were
political purposes"
He justified this course on the
ground that their publication was in
the public interest.
The information under discussion
was given to New York newspapers
in August, September and October,
1917, when Becker was a candidate
for the Republican nomination for at
torney general of New York State,
and Attorney General Lewis was
candidate for the Republican nomi-
nation for governor against Charles
cross examination that Hearst was
considered a supporter Of Whitman
and Senator Reed sought to show that
Lewis and Becker intended to dam
age Whitman by attacking Hearst.
Senator Reed then read from a
New York newspaper Of July 81, 1917,
a story telling of Bolo Pasha's atten-
ton to metropolitan opera singer,
a Spanish woman, whose relations
with Bolo were declared by Becker
to be entirely blameless. In this story
was a letter from Bolo to the singer
MY friend, Mrs. Miliicent
Hearst" Mr.. Becker admitted having
given to the papers the statement
containing this letter.
'What was the purpose of giving
it out at this particular tine," in
quired Senator Reed.
cit was an interesting item OF news
which I thought the public would be
glad to read" Mr.. Becker replied,
smiling.
WAS there no purpose to connect
Hearst with Bolo?"
81 had regarded the purpose to show
the connection of Hearst with German
as more interesting to
the public than the disclosure OF
Rolo's attentions to the opera Singer,
Becker added, shouting to drown Sen
ator Reeds voice: II think 1t should
have been done a long time before
Senator King of Utah then asked:
did you attempt to prejudice the
public against Whitman by showing
his connection with Hearst"
Mr.. Becker replied: "It was Lewis
campaign which did this"
When the cross questioning was IN
terrupted by adjournment. to De re-
sumed tomorrow morning, Senator
Reed asked Becker to produce vouch-
ers showing expenditures incurred ps
State secret service agents in OBTAIN
ing dispositions in the invest1gatlons
of Bolo's activities in the Uniteo
States. The witness stated with neat
that he would do no such thing, as
they were confidential.
Throughout most Of the cross eS-
animation by Senator Reed, members
of the subcommittee in charge OF the
sat silent.