Explanation of why Senator William Alden Smith of Michigan, chairman of the senate committee named to investigate the Titanic disaster, hurried to New York Thursday night to begin the inquiry was made today when it became known that a wireless message sent by J. Bruce Ismay, president of the International Mercantile Marine company, to Vice President Franklin of the White Star line, asking that the Cedric be stopped to take Mr. Ismay and survivors of the Titanic crew on board, was interceded by a government boat and sent to Washington.
Senator Smith is quoted today as saying he had understood in Washington that such messages had been exchanged and that this was one of the reasons the investigation had been started without any loss of time.
Chcago Daily Journal, Saturday, April 20, 1912, p. 1, c. 5: [Associated Press Telegram] New York, April 20
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