The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-07-28
VIERECK'S FORTUNE
PLACED AT 100000
Becker Says He Made It All
Out Of Pro- Germanism and
Labor Bureau.
ASSERTS LOYALTY TO U. s.
Chemnitz Paper in 1915 Told
Of "Evening Mail" Purchase
by German Interests.

George Sylvester Viereck has made
the world war the means Of acquiring
a fortune Of 100000, 1t was asserted
by Alfred L. Becker. Deputy State At
torney General, yesterday. 1t is charged
that viereck kept that sum for himself
out Of the $500, 900 he received from Won
Bernstorff and others as leader OF
German propagandists before the United
states became a belligerent and as the
director Of Agricultural Labor Relief, an
organization to befriend enemy aliens
since this country entered the war
against Germany.
Mr.. Becker has a transcript Of
'yiereck's accounts in the Seamen's
Bank for Savings, the Equitable Trust
Company and the Corn Exchange Bank.
These records show deposits to his
credit, which, with securities held in his
own and In his wife's name, give him
assets worth over 100000.
viereck until he attained fame as the
leading German publicist in this coun-
try had been known as a poet and
writer Of limited income. The Deputy
Attorney-Genera says that he raised
the money with which he founded the
Fdtherldnd a few days after the Euro
pean war began by subscriptions and
that the first check he received was
one of $1,000 from Won Bernstorff.
The agricultural labor relief came
under scrutiny for the first time when
viereck was summoned to the office OF
the Deputy Attorney-General to tell
what he knew about DR.. Edward A
Rumely and the affairs OF the Evening
MAJ. AS a result Of the inquiry Mr..
Becker charges that the labor relief
bureau was formed by Viereck for his
own profit after the flow of German
money through Won Bernstorff, Dumba,
Dr. Heinrich f. Albert and other pay
masters for propaganda purposes had
been stopped by theentry Of the United
States into the war.
Aliens Got Little Help.
II is alleged that very little OF the
$4,000 that the organization collected
from pro-Germans or sympathetic Amer
leans was devoted to the relief OF in
digent enemy aliens. 1t went to COL
lectors. who were paid commissions of
from 20 to 40 per cent. and to Viereck.
who got his share. according to the
testimony of one Of his confidential en-
ployees, by presenting to himself a SAL
ary<of $500 a month as the editor and
manager of Vierecks American Weekly,
the successor OF FatherIdnd, and by ad-
vertising the relief bureau in the weekly
on four or five pages each week at the
rate Of 800 a page. To advertise the
labor bureau has been principal rea-
son for the existence Of the weekly.
The bureau 10 still In operation, but II
has no collectors now.
During the examination Of this en-
ployee. testimony was given which made
It appear that i'll feeling was aroused
IN 10y dir hax.a Of he
large sums which Viereck obtained. The
witness was questioned to her
reasons for stating that German money
purchased the Evening Mail through DR.
Rumely. = .sFFs'
How do you know that7' was asked
Ibid you take any letters from Mr.
viereck that gave you that information?
Can you place any particular CONVERSE
ton with Dr. Albert or any one?"
Il never heard Albert say so. but
Mr. Viereck has said in my presence
that the German Government paid a
million and a quarter for an evening
paper like the Mail and were stung and
then referred to the little money that
they gave him and he said II they could
do that they ought not mind the loss
of the few measly thousands they gave
him."
When Viereck was questioned by Mr..
Becker he objected to discussing what
he termed irrelevant matter.
Il was under the impression was 10
be asked about DR.. Rumely. not about
myself" he objected. This dialogue fol-
lowed:
1T is interesting to learn about your
self. I have heard 80 much about you
1t is not too late to inquire what you
have done to prove your Americanisn
since we entered the war"
In the first place. the moment II
started. addressed the President.
put myself at his disposal"
Did he answer"
at got a nice letter from Mr.. Tumulty
At the same time started the Agricul-
tural Labor Relief. had a lot of riice
letters from papers all over the United
States. / might have gone into NUM-
ton plants, but l preferred to serve my
country in another way. that Is by help
ing to solve the labor problem and the
enemy alien problem. There were many
enemy aliens who were out of work and
thought the best thing was to try &c
put them on farms, II possible"
How much did you raise for that pur-
poser?
II do not think 50 much. Maybe $780,.
900. probably little more"
How much employment did you OBJ
tain?"
81 do not know, maybe 5000"
"Five thousand people placed?"
eyes"
"That is justified by accountants fig
ures, l take IT."
Il think it Is absolutely correct maybe
1880"
Viereck Signed Agents. Cards.
According to Mr.. Becker Viereck''
agents travelled all over the country so
Letting funds for maintenance OF tn,
Agricultural Labor Relief. These agents
carried identification cards bearing theii
photographs The cards set forth thai
the bearer was a duly authorized agen
of Viereck's American Weekly ana tbs
Agricultural and Industrial Labor Relief
and was signed by Viereck. A card II
the Deputy Attorney-General's posses
sion was dated January 23, 1918.
The agents appealed to persons o
whose sentiments they were uncertain
In behalf of the alleged suffering
enemy aliens in America. To pro-Ger
mans they are said to have appealed
frankly for funds to be devoted to tn
good of the fatherland. The individ
ual contributions ranged from IS Il
$500. Mr.. Becker bases his estimate
of total receipts of 100000 on state
ments made to him by collectors.
Viereck's bearing in long exam
ination that began early one evening
and lasted until 4 o'clock in the fol
lowing morning was one of belief II
the utter futilty OF the investigation
you haven't anything on me-" h