Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-06-21
PALMER MAKES BITTER
REPLY TO HIS ACCusERs
Attorncy.GencraI Claims Criticism
Originates With Friends Of
Germany.
HEARING DEVELOPS WRANGLES
Lawyer Admits He Made Errors
In His Report to Senate Com.
mittec Probe May Be
Dropped.
HEARING DEVELOPS wRANGLEs
fBv Associated Press.1


WASHINGTON. June 2O.-Attorney-
General Palmer. at the first public
nearing In the fight to prevent con-
hrmation by the Senate of his appoint
lnent. turned sharply today upon his
accusers and boldly charged that they
were aligned with German interests
In concerted attempt to discredit his
administration as alien property Gus
tod!an.
During the year and a half he was
IN charge OF the Office. MIR. Palmer de-
cared he had been denounced by every
enemy alien and every friend and at
.ofney OF every enemy alien in this
country. and that in Berlin he was
characterized as the official American
pdckpocket" Every friend OF the
1p;ooo Aliens whose property had been
because his organization had seized
enemy property and captured the Ger
man industrial army in the United
states IL would be shown. he told the
committee. that the part ocular charges
iodSed aga INST him were not based on
the ground that he had sold enemy
pants pa AT TOO low a price, but that he
turned them TO profitable account.
F'iyr-IIour Session.
For nearly i've hours the Senate
judiciary subcommittee, conducting an
open Inquiry at the rcques, Of the
| attorney was in a continual
snarl For two hours crowd that
was kept on edge by the tense feeling
breaking out at intervals, witnessed
the remarkable spectacle of AN At
torncy-Gcnera Of the United States
defending his record and slashing at
his enemies before Senate committee
meeting sitting on his fitness 10 sit
in the Cabinet.
The bitter feeling that broke out al
the beginning remained TO the end the
meeting closing abruptly and in dts
order. with the announcement by Chair
man Dillingham; that another session
would be held tomorrow TO determine
further procedure and summon wit
nesses asked for by the compla!nants.
There was a strong belief at the Capt.
tol tonight that no further hearings
of consequence would bc held and
that the committee would recommend
confirmation OF Sir. palmcr's nomina-
ton.
Signs OF Bl,tcrnesx.
Tho first evidence OF bitterness was
displayed a, the very outset when
Sc nator Walsh. Democrat. of Montana
e shared 2 Msr,qn r. lewis formsry
deceiv!ng the committee last week
Through failure TO quote all OF the sec
tions OF the law bearing on the right
enemy property. MIR Lewis. who is
counsel FOR Harvey r. Andrews. the
principal complainant. frankly stated
that he had been in error. and that he
had come prepared 10 offer his
apologies. Senator Walsh retorted
that. while he accepted the statement
without reservation, MIR. Lewis should
rcalize that the committee thereafter
:oulG not rely on anything ne said.
Frequently during tho presentation
by Mr.. Lewis OF documentary evidence
he clashed with Mr.. Palmer, and no
.fort apparently Was made by either
o conceal his feeling OF hostility. Dur
ng his long and at times dramatic re-
,tal, the Attorney General stood with
hair dishevcled. perspiring. while his
voice. thrown TO high pitch. reached far
1own the corridors.
Clashes with Senator.
It was near the close OF the session
and after the Acknowledgement had
given the committee some account Of
kud-cws' connection with the Bosch
Magnetic Company plant AZ Springfield.
Mass.. that he came 10 an open breach
with Senator FerlinEhuysen Republic
AN. OF New Jersey. leader in the fight
o prevent confirmation OF his nominal
ion. sir. Palmer was proceeding to
AXE UP charges as TO The alleged plac-
ng OF friends in positions where they
hight profit by the sale OF enemy
property, and had just stated that
hese charges were made by Senator
'relinghuysen and others when the
tenator jumped to his feet. For an
instant he and tho Attorney General
slared at each other.
Eenator shouted. II am a Senator OF
he United States, and demand that
k1r. Palmer answer criticisms of his
administration. brought before the com
nittec, in a proper way"
The Attorney-Gencral snapped back
hat he was not trying 10 bluff any
,ody. However he added, II will an
wcr and leave Mr.. Frelinghuysen's
ame out OF it,"
When Mr. Palmer concluded his two
our statement. Senator Frclinghuysen
old the committee that if il decided
go into the investigation OF the
T. lien property custodian's office. he
would present witnesses in support of
hargcs against his administration.
Complaints had come to him from some
his constituents, he said.