Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-01-15
SENATOR THOMAS
SM|THL|AR
Calls Story About Bernstorff
Arranging to Buy Papers
Support Untrue.
BELIEVES MAN FoReER

Senator Thomas of Colorado, ap-
pearing today before the Senate judi
ciary committee on German propa-
ganda. declared that the testimony
given yesterday by Austin ]. Smith
that an arrangement was made with
former German Ambassador Bern
storn to purchase the support Of the
Pueblo tcoil Chieftain for the Ger
man cause m 1915 was untrue,
Calls Smith Liar.
.aThis man Smith is an unsuccessful
bIackmailer, an unmitigated liar and
a man believe to be a forger," said
Senator Thomas.
Senator Thomas said that he is
personally acquainted with l. N.
Stevens and Alva Swain, mentioned
by Smith as having directed him to
arrange for publication OF pro-Ger-
man articles in the entertain ana oe-
clared them to be men of high stand
ing. He believed that the story told
by Smith was concocted by him or
some one for him in furthering a
scheme to purchase his silence.
IT believe that Smith is a liar and
T saw it deliberately with due regard
for the consequences" said Senator
Thomas.
Heard Report in 1915.
In October, 1916, a business man of
Denver, whose name he did not mem
ton. told him confidentally, Senator
Thomas said. that Smith was in pos
session of information of a sensa-
tional character dealing with pay
ments to "a newspaper of southern
Colorado"
shortly after that Smith came to my
office and said he had been connected
with the editorial department of the
Pueblo Chieftain," said Senator Thomas.
and that while there a telegram was
received from Count Bernstorn.
"Smith said he would. be willing to
get possession of 1t If it would be of use
to the government. He said he had been
a democrat and that part of his business
was to aid the democratic party in the
state campaign.
nav Smiths expenses to Washington,
but that he never heard from him for
some time after that.
Smith Visited Him in D. c.
Smith visited him in his Office in
washington, Senator Thomas said. in
March, 1917, and said he couldn't get
the state Department to act on the
alleged information he had. He said
he then told Smith that he didn't want
to have any more to do with 1t.
Smith said he ought to be COM
pensated and ! told him I wouldn't
pay him anything and wouldnt
recommend that any one else pay him
ANYTHING" Senator Thomas said. land
| told him I believed that his whole
scheme was a blackmail."
Accuses Colorado Publication.
That the Pueblo (Colorado) Chief
tain was subsidized by German agents
and aided in German propaganda In
this country was the assertion maze
by Austin J. Smith of Los Angeles,
who said he was formerly advertis-
ing and circulation manager of the
Pueblo paper, before the Senate COM
mittee Investigating German propa-
ganda yesterday.
He told the committee that an
agreement was made with Count Won
Bernstorff, former German ambassa-
dor by which the paper was to re-
ceive $4,000 in monthly installments.
for which it was to publish articles
favorable to Germany. This was In
1915, he said.
Under the alleged agreement. Smith
testified, the money was to be paid
in installments, with the privilege
of renewal. provided the paper fol-
lowed the instructions of DR.. kuert
Ziegler, consul at Denver The wit
ness told the committee of several
trips he made to Washington and
New York to meet Bernstorffr and of
instructions he said Alva A. Swain
and I. N. Stevens, his superiors with
the Chieftain, gave him in September.
1915. for starting a campaign to OBJ
tain subscriptions from German
Americans. The motion of Mai Humes,
that the record of the cross-examina-
ton of Alfred l., Becker of New
york be expunged as irrelevant, was
withdrawn.
The committee decided to ask Gov
Smith of New York to send to Wash
ington certain papers dealing with
an investigation of WiIliarf, Randolph
Hearsts alleged association with for
mer German Ambassador Bernstorff
and Bolo Pasha, with the understand
ing that the papers will be submitted
to Attorney General Gregory, so he
can separate those which the Depart
ment of Justice regards as OF q con-
fdential nature.