Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-23

0UUub 8tlu UDCoIl AAAVW INV
why he didn't "iook him up"
- it custom Of your company 70
employ some one for important work
without knowing who he is?" Robin
son demanded.
No, sir" Wakeman said, will,
flushed face, ut Is not our custom and
1t iS'not my custom as rule. l don't
/ guess l was just jazzed OF my feet
don't like TO make the acknowledge
ment, but that Is the fact.
Twelve Reports Receive.
Referring to the IL reports received
during the Geneva conference, Senator
Robinson asked how many of them
Wakeman had read. The latter de-
clared he had seen only two or three
of them and explained that some OF
them APPARENTLY had gone to the New
York Office instead of to his own Of
fee at Quincy, Mass. He said he
thought he had discussed some of these
reports with some one" when he found
out they were mot valuable" He was
OF the opinion at the time that per-
haps he could get something worth
while from Shearer orally later He said
that he had learned Of the full extent
OF Shearer'S reports only within the last
few weeks when they were found in
the New York files.
Senator Robinson read the captions
Of . number of the reports. including
the last, which was headed, WAS the
Geneva Conference q Failure?"
. Calling attention of the witness 10
the titles of the reports, Senator Robin
son pointed out that the whole subjec.
matter seemed to relate to the mer-
chant marine or naval armament dc
not these reports contain violent and
aggl essive alleged arguments against
Limitation of ornaments by the govern
ments?" asked the Senator.
The witness reply was evaSive. He
explained he hadn't read all of them,
but said that from those he has seen
he agreed with the Characterization OF
them AZ bunk"
WAS not the principal. apparently
the only subject matter OF these re-
ports the policies of the Geneva con-
ference, the probability of its failure
and the alleged foolishness and absurd
ity the conference being held?" asked
Robinson.
Wakeman replied. YES" and started
to explain his response, but he was
cut short by Senator Robinson, who
announced he didn't wish to enter into
any argument.
Disguised WIN REPORTS.
"If the purpose of sending Shearer
to Geneva was to report and not in
fluence the proceedings" persisted Rob-
inson, why didn't some one call halt
on the gentleman's activities since he
was violating your instructions and
policy"
Il don't think there is anything to
prove he was doing what he indicated
in the report" Wakeman said. Frankly
I was disguised with the reports"
Then why" demanded the Arkansas
Senator, IF you were disguised. as you
say you were. why didn't you let him
know? He was your man."
We'll. I hoped he would give us
something better before the thing was
over"
And you were willing to let him go
on with his disapproved activities in
the hope that you might get something
else later? I can't understand 1t. And
afterwards you. or your legal repre-
sentative. wrote a letter to him APP
proving Of his serviceSi"
This man was hired to do certain
work." Wakeman replied. When the
reports came in they showed something
else. They were disgusting to me. We
should have-I should have done some
thing about 1t, but didn't. thought
maybe We would get something from
him when he came back. Frankly,
had sent him there, and I hated TO
think my judgment had been so much
OF flop"
Failed to Inform Grace.
Wakeman told the committee he did
not inform President Grace about
Shearer's employment or subsequent
activities because he saw no reason to-
He said he was after certain piece
Of information" and If he got it. he
would be in a position to tell the COM
pany either that it should get out Of
the shipbuilding business or go ahead.
You don't keep things secret from
Mr. 0race?" Senator Robinson asked.
You didn't tell him that the reports
were bunk?"
Il never informed him about it at
all. He found it out from reporters.
He called me IN. and I told him the
whole story"
Wakeman said he first told Mr. Grace
about the employment of Shearer to
promote the merchant marine at the
time he was called in to tell about
Shearer'S work at Geneva.
Senator Allen asked the witness why
no one ever read Shearer's reports, If
the whole purpose Of employing him to
the company at Geneva was
to get reports. Wakeman explained he
was after definite information. and
Shearer was not supplying 1t.
Considered Claims Absurd.
Under examination by Senator Allen,
Wakeman testified that he considered
the claims made by Shearer that he
had been responsible for breaking down
the conference at Geneva and for
causing the United States to go ahead
with the cruiser building program "ab-
surd'
Did you know that Shearer went to
Geneva representing New York
tabloid" asked Senator Allen.
NO"
How did you expect Shearer to get in
to the inner circles at the conference?"
asked Senator Allen.
>"I didn't give it a thought" replied
the witness.
Senator Allen suggested that none Of
Shearer's claims as to what he had
done were more absurd than his en-
ployment for $4,000 by the shipbuild-
ing companies Ito do what you said he
was employed for"
"Ill agree to that" said the witness
shortly.
Mr.. Wakeman denied that his COM
pany had agreed to employ Shearer
after he had returned from Geneva for
any work at all.
Senator Allen wanted to know
whether the company had been inter-
ested in the payment of $1,000 to
Chaarer "to indilce William Rand0lnh
Hearst to become interested in Shearer's
trip to Geneva" Mr.. Wakeman said
NO.
Asked About Manner Of Payment.
Senator Allen suggested that Shearer
lad been sent to the conference as
plain observer, not a plain and fancy