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"American troops withdrawn from Mexico.
" . I
ASHINGTOX, D. C., May 22.--The administration is be-
tween the devil and the deep sea about Mexico. The Cath-
olic problem is furnishing the one and the Phelps, Dodge, Guggen-
heim interests are at the other end of the dilemma, The former.
from the Pope down. are violently exercised over the recognition of
Carranza, who represents the anti-Catliolic element of Mexico, as
previously explained. The big American copper interests, working
the Greene-Cananea. the Moctazuma and other large copper mines
in Mexico, have not been slow in making the discovery that if we
send an army into Mexico to restore order, and in this way engage
in a real war to pacify our neighbor republic, the big American
copper interests will be shut oft’ from supplying copper to the Allies
and forego the enormous profits they are now making, and, possibly
interfere with the ability of the British-French-Russian coalition
from prosecuting the war.
Copper ordinarily sells for 8 cents a pound. The Allics are pay-
ing around 27 cents a pound, a difference of nearly 20 cents on every
pound of copper shipped to the Allies. These interestsare not dis-
posed to let Uncle Sam intervene in Mexico, and hence the eternal
hauling and pulling, the working at cross-purposes which character-
izes our Mexican policy. The thinking element of the country may
want intervention, but the great copper interests, the Phelps-Dodge
concern and the Guggenheims don't want any interference with their
plans of coining millions out of the supplies of copper sent across
the ocea.n to the Allies.
Phelps, Dodge & Co. own the Greene-Cananea mine, which is
about 45 miles across the border in Mexico. They are paying Gov-
crnor Callas, governor of Sonora, $60,000 a month to protect their
property. For this reason the administration is, continually inter-
fering with General Funston, and for this reason, too, wants the
The early slogan.
“Villa, dead or alive,” has been completely abandoned. Americans
have been ordered out of Mexico, but one day the order goes out to
do something and tomorrow a countermanding order is sent, accord-
ing to the direct influences operating on the minds of those who are
conducting the campaign. At this writing Mexico is causing the
administration far more concern than Germany, although any mo-
ment the German issue may be revived to divert attention from
Mexico. It is to the interest of the big copper concerns to keep
Germany in the foreground that their business may not be inter-
fered with. "‘ "‘ “ "‘
The Hon. Augustus P. Gardner, member of the House from
Massachusetts, and son-in-law of Senator Lodge, has strangely sub-
sided since his memorable attack on the German Americans and his
frequent outbursts of righteous indignation at the policy of the
Germans during the war. And the reason is not far to seek. Gard-
ner has been convicted out of his own mouth of being a patriot of
the Col. Sellers’ stripe, who always shouted “for the old flag and a
small appropriation." The Hon. Augustus Gardner, in other words,
is interested in war contracts and his loud-mouthed patriotism has
a string to it.
The unpalatable truth came out in a committee hearing, the pro-
ceedings of which have since been printed. but in such small quan-
tities that it is diliicult to secure a copy. The revelations came out
in the hearing of the Committee on Rules charged with the consid.
eration of House Resolution No. 7"‘to inquire into the organization,
membership, expenditures, receipts and sources thereof of the Navy
League, Labor's National Peace Council, the National Securitv
League and the American Defense Society.” r i
The hearing took place on January 19. Representative Taveniier,
of Illinois, who has made two important speeches exposing the
workings of the Navy League and other similar organizations, was
one of the witnesses examined. Present, also, was Representative
Gardner, who was examined and made to admit that he owned stock
in a munition company and that his near relatives continue to be
interested in the sale of munitions. On page 12 of the committee
proceedings, known as “The Peace Propaganda Investigation,” the
facts are printed as follows:
MR. TAvt.V.x'i:iz: I believe that an investigation would reveal
TI-IE’ FATHERLAND
W Behind. (2% Scenes az‘ f.[e
Special Cuneapbndence of THE. FATHERLAND.)
Capital
that the Navy League originated at 23 TVall Street, in the oflicc
of . P. Mor an & Co.
TIRE CIIAIEMANI You mean to say that in your resolution
you will charge that members of Congress and Senators own
stock in munition tratiicking concerns?
MR. TAVENNER! There was on invcsliga-lion in 1914-1915 by
a committee of the Unitcd State Senate into lobbies, and two
members of the Senate tcxtificd imdcr oath that they owned
stock in such concerns; other: that their relative: owned stock.
THE CIIAIRMAN: You want to broaden this resolution?
MR. TAYENNER: Yes, sir. I want to broaden this resolution
to take in everything, because I realize that nothing would be
gained by the public if we investigated only the unimportant
part.
MR. CHIPPERFIELDI
the Senate?
Mn, TAVENNER1 Yes, sir; they are Senators now.
MR. GARDNER: Did you ask what the stock was they owned?
Mk. TAVENNER2 Yes. sir; the stock was that of the General
Electric Co. and the‘ United States Steel Corporation. The
General Electric Co. had drawn down two and one half million
dollars’ worth of contracts from the Navy Department, receiv-
ing orders every year, and it is reported in the Standard Car-
]>orotion Service Report: as having profited largely from the
European war, and it is so reported in the lVall Street Journal
and in Financial America. They all have it down as a war
trader. I think the orders from the United States government
were received during the time Senators held stock. If not, let
usdascltlsrtgin wltien they bought the stock, how long they held it,
an a a out i .
MR. GARDNER: But the other orders?
Mk. TAVENNER2 From these various countries?
IUR. GARDNER: Yes. '
MR. TAVENNER: I would not be surprised if there had been
some withdrawals since the European war.
MR. GARDNER: The General Electric Company is in my
county. I sold out my stock. [NOTE--JAN. 22, 1916-] am a
Iritrtcg of certain trust: containing General Electric shores. My
’It'lft? 1.: a small beneficiary and my niorricd daughter is a sub-
stantial bencficiary.]
MR. Avi:NNi:R: Did you sell out your stock before the
General Electric received contracts from the Navy Department?
MR. GARDNER! I never heard until this minute of any con-
tracts with the Navy Department. That is the trouble; a man
makes investments and he cannot get into everything. but I got
rid of my General Electric Co. stock when I found out that they
had contracts to make munitions.
MR. TAVENNER: I would like to ask you what relation George
Peabody Gardner is to you?
iltlk GARDNER: He is. a first cousin.
‘IR. TAVENNER: He is a director in the General Electric Co.,
which is a J. P. Morgan concern; is not that correct?
MIL GARDNER: Yes.
. MR. TAVENNERZ ‘You have called these matters to the atten-
tion of the Committee on Naval Affairs and Military Affairs
and asked them to make an inquiry?
MR. GARDNER! No,‘ because I thought the proper way to do
this would be by a special joint committee of Congress.
Are those Senators present members of
One interesting feature of the hearing is the insertion, evidently
by Gardner himself. of the statement that he disposed of his General
Electric stock on January 22. The hearing was held on January 19
and his statements taken in connection with the inserted line, indi-
Catf 3 Strange state of mental confusion on the part of the witness.
It is furthermore interesting to record that the General Electric
C0ml’a"y 1'35 3 $69,000,000 contract for war munitions, in which
Mr. Gardner’s wife and his married daughter are “beneficiaries,"
the latter “substantially.” Also that he holds an unnamed quantitf
of this stock “in trust"-for whom?
I! is understood, and openly stated here, that Mr. Gardner’!
f‘”]'”'l"'l“W; 50110107 Lodge, is also a -xtocklioldcr in Central
Electric, and that this can be mbslaritioted by his own tutimony 5"
the lobby inziestigatiort.
These facts are regarded as throwing a glaring light on the causes
Olrerating in determining the Senator from Massachusetts and his
son-in-law to become the most belligerent members of either H0059
in denouncing Germany and advocating measures to have the United
States enter the war on the side of the Allies.
Early in the winter Mr. Gardner made his famous speech on till‘
subject which at the time created a sensation and brought RBPY"
sentative Cooper to his feet. It caused him to hurl back the retort