The sun., 1919-08-27
MAURER IS TAKEN
OFF SAILING LINER
Labor Man and Ex-LegislatOr
in Old Age Pension Mis-
sion in England.
PASSPORT IS REVOKED
Washington Silent in Action
Which Includes a Com
paniOn, A. Epstein.

Three minutes before the Lapland of
the White Star Line sailed for Liver
pool yesterday agents of the customs In
telligence service boarded the ship ana
took James II. Maurer, chairman OF the
Pennsylvania Old Age Pension Com
mission, and A. Epstein. another member
of the body, to the Offices Of f. r. Nor
wood, deputy surveyor Of the port, where
their passports were confscated on or
ders from the State Department. No ex-
PLANTATION OF the customs agents actions
could be obtained from the local customs
officials and inquiry at the state De-
partment in Washington elected a state
ment from Secretary Lansing that ne
knew nothing of the matter. Other OF
ficials of the department refused 10 ois
cuss the case further than to say that
an inquiry into the matter would be
made and the facts made public later.
According to Maurers statement botn
men were provided with passports prop
erly vised by the British Consul-Gen-
eral at this port and were on their way
TO Europe to make study OF the oio
age pension systems In force there'
armed with a letter of Endorsement from
Gov. Sproul OF Pennsylvania and letters
of introduction to Premier Lloyd George
President Poincare and Leon Bourgeois,
former Premier OF France.
Was Radical Labor Leader.
Maurer won considerable notoriety
during 1915 and 1917 as a radical LABOR
leader. On February 4, 1917, he was
quoted in the newspapers as having
advocated a general strike as protent
against war with Germany In speech
delivered at a meeting Of Socialist
literary society at the Broad Street The
atre Philadelphia. On October OF the
same year, when he was president Oh
the Pennsylvania State Federation OF
Labor, Maurer addressed an open letter
to Samuel Gompers requesting informa-
ton as to the source OF the money ex-
pended by the American Alliance for
Labor and Democracy.
In an interview next day Mr.. Gompers
refused to answer or discuss Maurers
questions. saying: Il have no time 10
pay attention to the barking OF dogs at
my heels. will not demean myself by
giving attention to such scurrilous, base
less innuendos That man is doing all
he can to defeat and hinder a patriotic
labor movement. / can't take time TO
answer such letters. 1 have bigger
things to do"
Maurer left last night for Washington
in an effort to interest the Pennsylvania
delegation in Congress In this matter.
Epstein remained in this city In hopes
tnat the matter WOulu 10 W
allow the two men to sail on the Baltic
on Saturday. Both sent telegraps to
Gov. Sproul and to the other members
of the Old Age Pension Commission.
In state Legislature.
Maurer has been chairman of the Pen
sion Commission since its organization
two years ago, and has served eight sue
| cessive terms as president Of the State
Federation OF Labor. He also has served
three terms in the Legislature of Penn
| sylvania-
F.. r. Norwood, Deputy Surveyor or
| the Port, to whose ONCE Maurer and Ep-
! stein were taken from the liner. could
not be located last night and no one on
duty al the Custom House had any
knowledge of the matter.
Byron r Newton. Collector of the
| Port said that orders for the detention
/ Of Maurer and Epstein had come from
the State Department, and that II was
\ not unusual for the customs officials to
| be asked to handle cases OF such char
acter at the request of other departments
| of the Government without being advised
Of the reasons prompting such action.
| Under the espionage act, he said. the
collector OF the port and his assistants
are clothed with police power over the
piers and over all persons on outgoing
| and incoming Steamship He knew
| nothing of the reasons which prompted
the action OF the Washington authorities.
he declared