The Washington times., 1920-11-19
WORK Of SPIES
VICTIM THINKS
Intruders Ignore vaIuabIes, But
Go Through All His Pri-
vate Papers.
OTHER OFFICES VISITED, TOO
Files of Congressman Oliver
Looted, ard VIM. A. 0ldtield's
Windows Forced.

What is DelleVeQ 10 De uetplS-
laid political plot against Congress
man John Miller Baer Of North Da-
kota, first Representative to be elect
ed by the Nonpartisan League, came
to light this morning when it was
discovered intruders had broken into
his office in the House Office build
ing, ransacking the file case and
desk.
OTHER OFFICES VISITED.
| At the same time 1t was discovered
that some person or persons had ran
sacked the office Of Congressman
william b. Oliver Of Alabama. Putty
was removed from the window OF the
office of Congressman William A. Old
field of Arkansas. but the invaders
evidently were frightened on before
they could enter the room.
Every indication points to the fact
that robbery was not the motive. Sew
eral pairs OF shoes. suits of clothing.
and raincoats in the offices were un-
touched.
SeyeraI notes singing with bitt,-
sarcasm were found lying In vario's
places in Congressman Baer's offic,
A pen and ink sketch Of Baer, execnt
!! ed by no mean artist. was lying on
the legislators desk. Beneath 1t was
the following note:
Thought we would leave your
picture
Another note, found on the wash
stand. read:
"Who said was sick?"
II. ID. Macarthur. secretary to Con-
gressman Baer, Ii convinced that the
depreciation was caused by political
enemies of the Congressman.
He said that the big interests
were after the scalp of the .Nonparti-
san League and all 1t represented!
He declared that the headquarters
Of the league In St. Paul, Minn., hnd
heen honeycombed with spies, who
ments In possession Of offices Of the
league.
Congressman Baer's mail has been
tampered with a number of times re-
Gently, Macarthur said. Sometimes he
failed to receive letters he knew had
been addressed to him. At other times
the letters bore evidences of being
opened.
MAIL TAMPERED WITH.
Macarthur also alleged that the Cop-
i gressmans private filing case, con
tanning his personal correspondence.
had been tanpered with. Sometimes.
he said, when looking for a letter he
knew was in a certain folder he failed
to find 1t. The letter, he declared.
would turn UP in another part of the
case perhaps a week later.
Macarthur Is OF the opinion that the
entry into Congressman divers office
was a stall" to make il appear as IL
1t were the work OF sneak thieves.
Two months ago the office of Cou-
gressman Huddleston of Alabama, an
opponent OF the Wilson Administra-
ton. was entered and the contents
of the desk and file cases ransacked.
Huddleston was accused by President
Wilson OF being "disloyaP' during
the war. The President urged his de
feat, but Huddleston was returned to
Congress.
Congressman Baer occupies room
500. Congressman Oldfield room 50t.
and Congressman oliver room h05.
The intruders entered in the period
between Sis o'clock last night Ini
o'clock this morning.
At 5:15 last night, II. d. Macarthur,
secretary to Congressman Baer, LETT
the office. At this morning he was
called up on the telephone by a chsI-
woman, who said she found the pluc"
in a topsy-turvy condition when she
entered the office to clean II.
The police of the Fifth precinct
were notified. and Sergt. II. h. Palm'r
took charge of the investigation. An
effort to record a number of fingcI
prints was made.
The intruders entered the Offices
from a small veranda outside the
rooms. Entrance to the veranda was
made through wash room. The
window panes were removed and the
fasteners unlocked.
ENTRY Is EASY.
Officials at the House Offlce build
ing this afternoon pointed out that H.
would be n comparatively easy task
for vandals TO enter the building.
They stated that the building Is open
until midnight.
Congressman Baer Is tho first rep
resentative elected to Congress re.
ceiving the Endorsement of the Ma
tional Non Partisan Lague OF North
Dakota. He Is a cartoonist OF ability
and prior TO his election to Congress
IN 1917 was engaged In art work on
various newspapers.
In 1918 he was reelected on the
Republican ticket, receiving ma
jority or 3,OlT. At the recent cleo
tion. he was defeated for "a third
term. lilo is chairman OF the Com
mittce on Expenditures in tho AHri-