New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-02-22
Work of Soviets Praised by
Writer Once Tried I'm
der the Espionage Law
Wife Attacks Committee
Naturalization of Women
aud Atrocities Denied:
Sisson Charges Doubted
Netc York Tribune
WushingtO,t Bureau

and speaker, who was on trisl in New
York some time ago for alleged dis
loval agitation under the espionage
act, and was for three months an en-
plove OF the Soviet government in
Petrograd, defended both himself and
Bolshevism in two-hour hearing be
tore the Ovcrman propaganda commit
tee to- day
He denied most of the charges that
have been brought against him, ex-
cept that of advocating revolutionary
socialism. and he gave glowing ac-
count OF various activities Of the So
viots. He was not asked about the
atrocities charged against the Boil
sheviki. since most of them are al
legged to have occurred after he left
Russia. He did not deny that the Boil
sheviI have suppressed all opposl-
ZION papers since that time, and prom
ised to produce copies Of such papers.
During the morning session his
wife. who writes under the name Of
Louise Bryant, completed her testi-
monv. She began by a general COM
olaint Of her treatment by the COM
fnittee. declaring she had been elect
ured" on her morals rather than ques-
toned by Senator Nelson and that the
whole attitude of the committee had
been discourteous.
When asked by Senator Overman
she refused to specify further on this
point, but charged there was an eff
Tort to prevent the pro-Bolshevlki
from telling their side of the story
She demanded that Reed, Albert Khys
Williams. Raymond Robins and others
he called Williams will testify to-
morrow and others have been called.
Sisson Documents Called Fakes
Miss Bryant, after her examination,
asked 10 make a statement. In this
she declared "the Sisson documents had
been gathered by Mr.. Robins and been
given 20 Mr.. Sisson as an example OF
+akerv.' She denied the stories OF the
naturalization of women, compared
the treatment of women in Russia with
that in the United States unfavoraoly
to America, and again denied charges
Of atrocities by the Bolsheviki. Against
testimony which has been given by
nanv witnesses her argument re-
ueatedly was that the conduct charged
was contrary to the principles or pro-
LESSONS of the Bolsheviki and, there
fore could not" be true.
Reed showed none Of the nervous
ness or temper which his wife had dis
PLAYED on the stand lie was through
out smiling, urbane, thoroughly at
come and obviously frank In his an
swers. He made no bones about his
extremely radical opinions, nor. the
rouble they have got him into.
I'm too disreputable to be asked to
sneak 1t the big meetings nowadays, "
he remarked, grnning, when asked If
ne had been at the Polls Theatre dem
orstration, which started the investl-
cation. 1--WE been indicted two or three
zines, and so forth. You see, | said
some things which Senator Johnson
has siuce repeated on the floor of the
Senate. Perhaps that's why they don't
press the trial I've told the District
Attorney I'd like to be tried, but he
doesn't seem Interested
Objects to Taking Oath
When Reed took the stand e.aske d
10 be permitted to make affirmation IN
stead Of an oatn, and Senator Wolcott,
who was presiding granted TINS after
some hesitation. Later IT appeared that
Reed had taken oath VIXEN applying for
passport, and Mr.. Wolcott took up
lhe matter again. Reed explained that
his scruples were not so strong al that
lime. that he objeced to swearing on
any particular book, and THAT he felt
his word should be good.
$50 it's more a matter of pride with
Won than anything else" suggested the
Senator. eve don't ask you to swear
on book here. Why not take oath and
DQl yourself Oh the same OdSib dS al
he other Witnesses" Reed agreed
and was sworn in.
Reed admitted that in spite OF the
oath he took when asking for q pass
port, ne had engaged in political &C
tivities in Russia, but said he did not
believe this violated his oath. That
mad been particularly intended to pre-
vent his representing American So
cialists at the Stockholm conference
-,
sia entirely unoMcalyl, not as rep
resentative OF any party or faction,
and his work in the Soviet propaganda
bureau had the approval Of American
officials
"My work in The bureau" he said,
was the gathering of information for
ne papers that were to be circulated
n the German lines, and the transla-
ION Of Soviet DEGREES and so forth into
English. I was only a small cog in
he machine, ard not responsible for
the output
Radek Blamed for Attack
Mr.; Humes, counsel for the commit
tee-he has been discharged from the
army and appeared today in cts
- produced copy o. paper put out
ny the bureau in which there was a
2 Vicious attack on President Wilson
~ ana the fourteen points
- .'Nf.tE government rad Qistrf
tuted the Wilson speech, Reed cx
planned, land Colonel Robins was YER,
anxious 20 get tho fourteen noints INF,
the German trenches in sometbin,
more tnan the form OF leaflets. So
fook them TO the editor Of the paper-
Radex-~end he made that thing out q
H. We didn't know about it til Alto
t appeared. II was without nv knowl
edge or consent"
The bureau, Reed said. publishe
daily for propaganda purposes. hal
million papers each in German. HIM
gar7an and Turkish and a quarter mil
non each in Bohemian and Bulgarian
Mr.. Reed described the fall OF III,
herensky regime, telling Of inter
ference by Bourgeois members Of tn.
cabinet in the liberal reforms thai
might nave saved IL and tfc CROWNS
power OF the Bolgheviki in the Soyiets
Inc final decision 70 take control va,
made al the All-Denocratic conference
partly financed by Coloael Thompson
Of the Red Cross. Less than score n,
men were killed in the reyolution 1s
zsid, ard later about twenty cadets
VINO joined Kerensky's counter-revo.
luton after having twice given tbe;,
paroles not 70 fight the Soviet Tn
revolution spread all over puxuis