Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1919-06-27
MITCHELL PALMER
ANSWERS CRITICS
Tells Senate Committee Sale Of
Alien Property Was
Square. la
TURNS, ON HIS AccUsERs
Declares He Is Glad II Yankees Made
Money at Foes Expense-says
the Law Was Strictly
Observed. /.

Washington, June pa. Mitchell
Palmer attorney general Of the United
States, appeared before the senate ju-
diciary subcommittee. He vigorously
defended himself against the accusa-
tion that while he was alien property
custodian he sold the Bosch Magnetic
company, said to be worth $16,000,00O,
for$4. 100000
The allegations against Mr.. Palmer
were made by Merton E. Lewis, former
attorney general OF New York state,
OF behalf of Harvey I. Andrews, a
large stockholder in the Bosch Mag
neto company, when 1t was seized by
the alien property custodian as Ger
man concerE.
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 a recess appoint
ment until the senate confirms or re-
jects his nomination.
Mr.. Palmer declared he followed the
law in the sale of the Bosch Magnetic
company and he did not approve the
sale until il was passed on by his ad-
visory board, consisting of Cleveland
II. Dodge, Otto I. Barnard, Ralph
Stone, George L. Ingraham and Alex
Griswold. Jr. The attorney general
contended S4,15O,00O was reasonable
price at the time the plant was sold
and expressed his qualification. If
some American bueyers made money
at the expense Of the German owners.
The hearing was punctuated by sew
aral sharp tits between Mr.. Palmer
and Senator Erelinghuysen 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.
Yes" 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 I'm the financial district and
ask them If they did not have some
thing ON Mitchell Palmer. Your de-
tectives called on unsuccessful bidders.
tits true, you make no charges, but
you have handled these charges in the
newspapers. II is difficult for me to
see the difference between that and
actually preferring charges"
Mr.. Palmer's statement was dellv-
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 I'll. 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" t u.
'Tn selling the Bosch plant.y said
Mr.. Palmer, II sold 1t so as to use
my power to strike blow at the Ger
mans MFR. Lewis says we ought to
have delayed the sale for a better mar
ket--for q time when Industrial con-
dItions would be more settled. was
not going to hunt the best market to
put millions In the treasury for loi
Of Germans to hire lawyers and come
and fight for after the war. We did
aot name the date when they declared
wnr ON u.s. Why should l wait for the
best market7 They started the war
And advertised this property for sale
while the war was still on. Mr.. Lewis
charges some one made money out Of
this sale. am glad some Americans
made money out Of this property"
Mr.. Palmer strongly resented th'
charge that he favored his friends II
making saTpe