Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1919-06-26
SALE FAIR, PALMER
SAYS TO ACCUsERs
He's Glad if Yanks Made Money
at Foes Expense.
BEFORE SENATE CO:-''ITTEE
Attorney General Turns on His Crit
les Over Alien Property Sale Con-
troversy-DecIares Law Was
Strictly Observed.

w
Palmer attorney general of the United
States, appeared before the senate jul
dietary subcommittee. He vigorously
defended himself against the accusa-
ton that while he was alien property
, cu.::n.i.n he sold the Bosch Magnetic
company, said to be worth $l6,OOO,OOO,
for$4, 10000
The allegations against Mr.. Palmer
were made by Merton E. Lewis, former
attorney general of New York state,
on behalf of Harvey T. Andrews,
large stakeholder in the Bosch Mag
neto company, when it was seized by
the alien property custodian as Ger
man concern
Confirmation of Mr.. Palmer's nomi-
nation as attorney general is being
held up by the senate pending the out
come of the investigation, but he will
continue to act under recess appoint
ment until the senate confirms or re-
jects his nomination.
Says He Observed the Law.
Mr. Palmer declared he followed the
law in the sale of the Bosch Magnetic
company and he did not approve the
sale until it was passed on by his adj
visory board, consisting Of Cleveland
II. Dodge, Otto T. Barnard, Ralph
Stone, George L. Ingraham and Alex
Griswold, Jr. The attorney general
contended $4,15O,OO0 was reasonable
price at the time the plant was sold
and expressed his qualification, II
some American bueyers made money
at the expense Of the German owners.
The hearing was punctuated by sew
eral sharp tits between Mr.. Palmer
and Senator Frelinghuysen OF New
Jersey, at whose suggestion Mr.. Pal
mer's nomination was held up.
Senator Frelinghuysen explained to
the committee that he had not brought
formal charges against Mr.. Palmer.
but that he only transmitted informa-
ton furnished to him by others.
Sought "Something on Palmer"
eyes," snapped Mr.. Palmer. "You
make no charges, but you have gone
to New York and you have gone to see
detectives and you have had them go
to people in the financial district and
ask them if they did not have some
thing on Mitchell Palmer. Your de-
tectives called on unsuccessful bidders.
"It's true, you make no charges, but
you have banded these charges in the
newspapers. It is difficult for me to
see the difference between. that and
actually preferring charges"
Mr.. Palmer's statement was deliv-
cred with considerable heat and Great
ed excitement in the hearing room.
Mr.. Palmer said the sale had the
unanimous approval of his advisory
committee, without which he never ap-
proved a sale, adding to Mr.. Lewis:
"When you accuse me of selling
out my government you accuse Otto
Barnard, Cleveland Fl. Dodge, Ralph
Stone and the other members OF my
advisory committee, all experts and
outstanding American citizens, Of sell
ing out their government. That's
what you do"
Sale Blow at Germans. :.
"In selling the Bosch plant" said
Mr.. Palmer, II sold it so as to use
nv power to strike blow at the Ger.
| mans. Mr.. Lewis says we ought to
have delayed the sale for better mar.
ket-for a time when Industrial con.
ditions would be more settled. I was
not going to hunt the best market to
put millions in the treasury for lot
of Germans to hire lawyers and come
and fight for after the war. We did
not name the date when they declared
war on u.s. Why should wait for the
best market? They started the war.
And I advertised this property for sale
while the war was still on. Mr.. Lewis
charges some one made money out Of
this sale. l am glad some Americans
made money out Of this property"
Mr.. Palmer strongly resented the
charge that he favored his friends in
making sales.