Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-23
DECISION TO EMPLOY SHEARER
BAD MOVE, WAKEMAN ADMITS

York ONCE. He submitted copies OK all
these reports to the committee. Under
questioning by Senator Shortridge the
witness testified that his company mao
eminent in March, 1927. but had no
contracts to build for other powers at
that time. He said that he had taken
an interest in the outcome OF the con-
ference and added:
IT hoped the powers would make an
agreement which would preclude this
country's ever being at war again.
was not personally interested in the en-,
largement or reduction Of our naval
forces. That was a matter to be taken
care Of by our Government"
The witness said that in a business
way he thought the company was in
terested In the outcome OF the confer
ence.
Asks About Shearef'S Duties.
Senator Shortridge asked II 1t were
part of Shearer's duties to assist IN
bringing about an agreement at the
Geneva conference?
NO" said the witness.
"Or was 1t Shearer's duty to break
up. the conference?" asked senator
Shortridge.
Absolutely not-such a thing was
never discussed" said Mr.. Wakeman. :.
WAS he to play the part OF spy and
get information he was not entitled to?'
asked the chairman.
The witness said no.
Senator Shortridge wanted to know
then what Shearer was expected 70 get
that the newspaper reporters could not
get at the conference.
He impressed me with his ability,
said Mr.. Wakeman. Ito report from the
conference a different point OF view
than would be given by the papers. .
"Did he show you that he represented
any newspapers" Senator shortridse
asked.
witness.
How did he put It over on you?"
asked the Senator. And then some
laughter in the committee room.
L don't know" replied Mr.. Wake
man, somewhat ruefully.
"supersalesmanship. expect" Il
don't like to make that acknowledge
ment that he put 1t over on us, but ne
certainly did"
Did you think that $4,000 was a
fair and reasonable sum to pay Shearer
for this work." asked Senator Short
ridge. .
'At that time. yes" said the witness.
IT must have done so or ! would not
have agreed to It,"
Did it occur to you that there were
newspaper men who might have been
employed for much less to report to
you?" asked Senator Shortridge.
No"
Describes Meeting With Shearer.
wakeman described to the committee
his meeting with Shearer in the New
1Na nf hn RnthlAhAF1 H0mnAnv
after the Geneva conference. He said
that, acting on the suggestion OF the
other parties interested in hiring
Shearer. he decided he had better see
him and have talk.
"Shearer was anxious to 60 to Wash
ington and represent US there" the
witness stated. Il told him / wouldn't
agree to that"
why did you tell him that?" the
chairman asked.
Because 1 had read some of the re-
ports sent back by him and written
to him in the interview and I reached
the conclusion he was not the type
of man We should have representing us
in Washington. We didn't need any rep
resentative in Washington. He. talked
with me for 10 or Is minutes and made
some rather wild statements. got
rather fed up on the whole thing and
that"
Wakeman said that after this inter-
view with 6hearer he told his associates
of the two other shipbuilding companies
that so far as he was concerned he
was through with Shearer. The New
York interview with Shearer took place
late in october Of 1927.
Senator Robinson took up the oues-
tioning and brought out that Wakeman
haA knav ftn he chfnhnj1din0 hiIcinAkS
since 1899, first with the Newport News
Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co.. later
with the New York Shipbuilding Co.
and finally with the Fore River plant
of the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corpo-
ration. AS vice president since 1925
of the Bethlehem Co. he has had full
charge of all operations on the East
Coast, he said.
The witness told the committee that
before Attorney Hunter sent the letter
inviting the ShipbuilderS to the New
York conference with Shearer q discus
sion of the matter had taken place
among Mr.. Bardo. Mr.. Palen, possibly
Mr. Hunter and Wakeman.
Going back to the employment OF
Shearer in 1925 in connection with
merchant marine publicity, Wakemah
admitted to the committee that Shearer
had performed that service satisfactorily,
but was not clear as to just what the
scope Of Shearer's activities was. He
buted $4,000 to Shearer for his mer-
chant marine promotion work.
Wakeman said that Shearer'S later
engagement In connection with the
four-da transatlantic liner project of
the Trans-Oceanic Co. was not handled
by himself, but that he understands
the Bethlehem company contributed
$4,000 toward a fund raised by ship
builders to further the project. The
Transatlantic plans were formulated
after the Geneva conference.
Senate Robinson manifested great
curiosity as to just how Shearer pre-
vailed upon the three ship companies
to send him to Geneva, and wanted to
know exactly what Shearer talked about
at the New York conference which re-
suited in his employment.
Discussed Sea Power.
Wakeman said that Shearer discussed
sea power in general way and went
over the general situation regarding
the merchant marine and the Navy.
Shearer's apparent knowledge of these
subjects deeply impressed him, the wit
ness explained.
Didn't Shearer at that conference
talk about the need for q greater
naval establishments" asked Senator
Robinson.
"Oh, I don't think that was gone
into" replied the shipbuilder
How did he impress you that he
would be of value to your company at
Geneva? Just how did he make such
an impression upon you?"
Wakeman could not explain how the
was created, but said he
thought 1t would be good thing to
employ Shearer and agreed with the
others to do so.
Il thought I could get hold Of GER
tain information not in the press" the
witness said. You see, our company
was building battleship and had the
airplane carrier Lexington under con-