The sun., 1919-02-07
NOT PRO.BRITISH,
SAYS TIMES OWNER
Adolph S. Ochs Says His News
paper Is for America
First.
O'LEARY GRILLS EDITOR
Attempts to Show That Lord
Eorthcliffe Influenced New
York Newspaper.

ANe
Adolph s. Ochs, owner and publisher
OF the New York Times, and representa-
tives Of the owners OF half a dozen news
papers In the South and West we're In
court yesterday at the trial Of Jeremiah
A,OLeary prepared to refute statements
IN o'Leary's ma gazine Bull to the effect
that their publications were controlled
by Lord Northciffe or by any British
interests.
Under a vigorous cross-exsmnation
BY o'Leary himself Mr.. ochs denied that
at any time since he controlled the Time,
British influence had affected It's edit
torial policy In any degree. He asserted
emphatically that In every instance III
which there was a controversy involving
British and American interests his news
paper took the American side. He de-
MED that he had ever discussed the
policy OF the Times with Lord North
clifYe, and declared on the contrary that
IN August, 1914. Lord Northclifre and the
publishers Of the Times had had se-l-
Gus disagreement and that there had
been no exchanges between them since
At the conclusion of Mr. oche's ex-
animation the Government called Rich
ard Hooker. publisher Of the Spring. eld
Republican, another newspaper that had
been assailed by OLeary as being under
British control. Counsel for OLeary
objected to a continuance OF this line OF
testimony. The Government abandoned
e. This will shorten the time the Gov
eminent will consume In presenting It's
case possibly by couple Of days. The
Government was prepared 10 call repre-
eentatives from the Denver Post, Provi-
dence journal, New Orleans Times
Picaylne. Philadelphia Public Ledger
Detroit Free Press and the baltimore
SEN.
ochs and the Panama Canal.
The Governments examination OF Mr.
oehs was short In reply 10 questions
from James W. Osborne I'd the pub
Usher stated that he was president o.
the New York Times Company. and that
ne owned 81 per cent. OF the capital
stock OF the company. that was divided
IN 10000 shares OF a par value of 800.
He said that Lord Northcliffe owned
none OF the stock and that II was owned
entirely by Americans.
O'Leary began his cross-ex animation
by getting from the witness the state
torial policy OF the paper His ques-
lions following were as to whether the
New York Times had opposed the poi
fey OF free tolls through the Panama
Canal. An objection by the Government
Drought from O'Lesry a statement that
ne proposed to show that the Times had
been consistently pro- British in its pol
Icy; that 1t opposed President Tafts
proposal for free tolls for American
coastvise shipping through the Panama
Canal. that 1t opposed the fortihcatior
OF the canal and the establishment Of
M American merchant marine. The
Court instructed him to proceed.
OLeary asked the witness II he re
membored an editorial printed In hi
newspaper on January 22. 1916, attrtbut
.ng atrocities In the sinking of the
steamship Baralong TO American citi
Gems, which. ne said, actually were com
rnitted by British marines Mr.. ochs
said that he did not remember the edi'
torlal In question.
Q. Did you ever meet Lord North
c!iffe? A. Frequently.
9. Were you present at banquet a
the Hotel Walton in Philadelphia in 1879:
when Lord Northcline made a speech
A. was not.
Q. You owned the Philadelphia LEDGE
and the Chattanooga Tfmesf A. Yes.
@ Did you ever talk with Lord North
cliffe on the policy OF your newspapers
A. Never In my life.
OLeary then esta blished from the wit
ness that he had met Lord Northcliff
for the first time ten or fifteen years ago
that he had seen him frequently sine
that time whenever the witness wa
abroad or Lord NorthcIifYc in this coun
try. and that the last time the two me
vas In April, 1914
DO you mean to say that you met tn
greatest newspaper man in England an,
did not discuss the policy OF the New
York Times with h!m?" OLeary asked
tained on the ground tina. the ques
ton had already been answered
Coming back to the subject of tn
Panama Canal Mr.. Ochs said that h
thought his paper had opposed Mr.. Taft
policy for free tolls for American ship
ping and also opposed a policy of for
tihcation OF the canal. He said he didn'
know whether England opposed thes
same policies or not. Mr.. Ochs did no
remember what attitude his paper too
on the seizure OF the American vessel
Hooking, tennessee and Dacia.
over the objections OF the Gov
eminent on the ground that tn
evidence was immaterial O'Lear
pleaded that he had to go Into the mat
tar OF the editorial policy OF the Time
in order to prove that the policy OF hi
magazine Ball was not only justifie
but necessary.
G. Do you read all the editorials 4
your paper7 A. No.
Q. Do you remember President VIII
Fons notes to England protestin
against her interference with our trad
ard commerce on the high seas? \
] have a general knowledge Of them.
9. Did your paper approve OF them
A I think SO.
Q. Did your paper since war bega
ever make 2 serious protest agains
Englsnd's policy on the high seas? A
7 think so.
C. Did you protest against the seizur
OF American mails by the British? A
think 80.
Break with Lord yorthcline.
@. You remember when Englan
mined the North Sea and served motto
Upon American shippers that she ha
done so? Did you protest against that
A The columns OF the Times will spea
for themselves.
Q. When and where did you NEE
ord Northcife last? A was in Lor
don in April. 1914.
q. How long? a. Three or four day!
q. You and Lord Northcl,fte met IRE
aIently. A, I think I saw him eac
time I was In London.
q, When was the last time besor
that? 4. A year or two before.