The sun., 1919-06-19
SAYS MARTENS
AIDED REVOLT
PLOTTERS HERE
Seized Papers Reveal POlit-
ical Activity, Asserts
Senator Lusk.
FINANCIERS SOUGHT
Committee To-day May
Learn Source of "Ambas-
sador's" $780, 100000.
WILL DIG TO BOTTOM
George Gordon Battle, Soviet
Counsel, Defends Aid Given
to Accused Russians.
WILL DIG TO BOTTOM


l.. A. Martens told the Lusk legisla-
tive committee he was here only to buy
machinery and material for the Soviet
Government Of Russia. but evidence
dug from the files taken in raid on
his offices goes to show his activities
were largely political. This developed
when the committee resumed yester-
day its hearings in the City Hall.
Summing up the facts brought out
by the reading into the record OF docu-
ments taken from the files OF the bu-
reau, Senator Clayton r. Lusk, chair
man Of the committee, said last night:
I'VE produced correspondence be-
tween the Martens organization and
radicals in this country who are work
ing for the overthrow of our Govern
ment, showing that they were In touch
with one another and that the radicals
who are looking to the establishment
OF soviets here received encouragement
from the Martens outfit.
Second, we showed that the Soviet
bureau to assist men in this country
| who are charged with seditious activities
against this Government.
"The question Is whether there Is
anything in either activity which would
establish traitorous plans on the part OF
anyone"
Sources of Money Sought.
/ Again to-day the committee will read
/ into the record further documents OBJ
tained in the raid tending to show what
| the bureau has been up TO. II ID ex-
pected that II will be able TO establish
who are the financial hackers and what
facts there are in regard to the $780,
/ 000, 900 fund which Mr. Martens is sup
posed to have for the purchase Of sup
plies.
Magistrate Brough refused yesterday
/ to vacate the search warrant under
which the documents OF the Soviet Blu
reau were seized. He denied the mo-
ton made by George Gordon Battle.
counsel for the Russian Soviet Bureau,
on the plea that the affidavit OF Clar-
ence L. Converse, one OF the operatives
OF the Lusk committee, on which the
warrant was issued, did not describe in
enough detail the matter that the raid
ers expected to get The Magistrate
ton that the entire proceeding be va
Gated on the ground that the search
warrant was improperly used and that
too much violence attended the taking
of the property. Briefs on this point
will be submitted both by Mr. Battle
and Attorney General Newton, repre-
senting the committee. and Magistrate
Brough will announce his decision Tues
day afternoon.
tween the opposing sides. Mr.. Battle will
go over the seized papers with the At
torney General tomorrow afternoon in
the Hotel Prince George. where the
committee has a special room Such
documents as the committee does not
want will be returned. Those of DIS
puted character will be taken before
Magistrate Brough. who will decide
whether they are to be returned or not
In n statement issued last night Mr.
Battle said that the activities of Mr.
Martens in arranging for the defence
OF Russian citizens in this country were
perfectly proper, inasrnuch as he repre-
sented the Soviet Government of Rus
sia. After referring to the fact that
although he (Mr Battle) had been per.
mitted 10 be at the hearing OF the Lusk
committee none OF the persons directly
connected with the bureau had been al
'oweI to be present Mr.. Battle con-
tinued
Some documents were put in evi.
dence which showed that Mr. Martens
and his associates were undertaking tc
assist In the defence of Russian citizens
who were under arrest and had nc
means to defend themselves with. Mr.
Martens claims to be representative OF
the Russian Soviet Republic As suct
il is his duty. as he believes, to assist
any Russidn citizen in the country who
IL unable, because of poverty. to detent
Nhimself, The ambassadors and minis
ters OF other countries frequently inter
vene to assist citizens Of their respect
i've nationalities who need legal aid
For instance. some years ago a number
: Of Italians were arrested under variou,
charges in New Orleans and the ItalaI
. Ambassador, as | recall II. interVeneC
in their behalf and retained counsel fol
/ them.
, There was also lorrespondence in
troduced before the committee in regar[
to the case OF a Russian citizen named
Iosseff, who had been connected will
the I. W. W. in Chicago. His attorne,
in Chicago, Otto Christanson. had writ
) ten TO Elizabeth Gurley Flynn in regarC
TO his bail on appeal, and she had sen
the letter TO Mr.. Martens. Also Losseffi
father had written to Mr. Nuorteva ask
ing him II he could not arrange to hav,
his son deported to Russia.
These are all activities with regar1
TO the protection of Russian citizens
; perfectly proper for the representative OF
a foreign Government, whether de factt
or de jure. Mr.. Martens and his asso
ciates state that there were no docu
ments in their Office which In any wa,
were illegal or could be used for AM
illegal purpose, and they ask the publ,
TO suspend judgment and TO decide. &C
; cording TO the documents and the wit
nesses as they will be produced befor,
the committee"
Remedial Laws Promised.
Writing to Mayor Hylan yesterday II
reply TO the formers offer OF assstanc,