The New York herald., 1921-01-09
LOCKWOOD QUEST
IN SERIOUS DANGER
G. o. p. Leaders to Confer To-
day on Growing Opposition
to Committees Work.
BIG BUSINESS ACCUSED
Three Criminal Cases in Build
ing HOldup to Get Fed
eral Action.
BIG BUSINESS ACCUSED

With underground opposition to the
Lockwood committee resolution grow
ing stronger daily in its efforts to de-
lay its passage and Illustrate the plans
Of the investigating body for an in
quiry into financial institutions, at
was said last night that there would
be an important conference here to-
day Of Republican State leaders and
Lockwood committee counsel in an at
tempt to adjust the matter.
Among those who may attend are
Gov. Nathan T.. Miller, Senator Clay
ton r. Lusk, Republican floor leader Of
the upper house; Senator Charles c.
Lockwood, chairman of the Lockwood
| committee; Samuel Untermyer, chief
counsel to the committee, and Samuel
A. Berger and Leonard NJ. Wallstein,
two of his associate counsel
Persons in close touch with the affairs
OF the committee were certain these
men would get together either this
monfng or afternoon for the purpose
| OF discussing the situation in regard to
the committee resolutions, and the pres
ence of Senator Lusk was considered
of the greatest Importance because of
his reported opposition TO the measures
as they now stand.
! Unless some definite agreement is
reached concerning the resolution It
promises to remain becalmed in a sea
of technicalities for at least week
and half to come. while the expenses
OF the committee, amounting to about
$500 a week, will continue to run and
while masses of evidence piled up by
the committee investigators concerning
Illegal combinations wait yainly for its
passage. .
| As matters now stand the resolution
awaits the organization of the Senate
Finance Committee. which is scheduled
to begin life on Wednesday. There is
little or no likelihood of the resolution
getting back to the Legislature then be-
fore next week. Should II then pass the
| upper house IL may again be sent to
committee by one dissenting vote in the
| Assembly. and John J. OConnor. who
Is appearing as one of the legal adj
visers Of Robert p. Brindell. the in
dicted labor czar, and who has engaged
in several heated court tits with Mr..
Untermyer over the Lockwood commit
tees affairs. Is member of the AS
| semoly.
| Counsel for the committee have re-
ceived information that a very vigorous
/ fight is being conducted under cover"
against the extension OF the commit
/ tees powers. and they blame this fight
upon big business" groups. the mem
bers of which feel they might be at
tackled.
In connection with the arrangements
of William Rand and Isidore J. Kresel
for an extensive Federal investigation
along the lines which the Lockwood
committee has been following It was
stated yesterday that three distinct
cases of what is regarded as criminal
violation on a large scale are already
| in their hands. The evidence regard
| ing these alleged violations already has
been uncovered by the Lockwood COM
mittee Investigators and many details
relating to them have been made public
at the recent hearings of the commit
tee, so that the Federal Investigators
may save considerable time and labor
by picking the matter up where 1t
stands.
Whatever action these special Fed
eraI prosecutors take, IL is virtually
certain II will not be in the nature of
civil dissolution suits similar to the one
which Attorney General Palmer started
| auainst the cement combine eighteen
months ago and which has developed
uofhinR