The Washington times., 1912-08-05
GRILL, Of ST.LOU|S,
RECOMMENDED FOR
SEAT CATL|N LOST
Committee Reports Unseat-
ing Of Man Whose Father
Spent Thousands.

The House Committee on Elections,
No. 2, filed today report recommend
Ing the unseating of Congressman
Theron Catlin, Of the Eleventh Missouri
district, and the seating In his stead
Of aPtrick Gill, Of st. Louis. Young Mr..
Catlin's father and brother. 1t appears.
spent too much money in the campaign
and the committee holds the election
invalid.
Mr.. Catlin is a Republican and the
contestant Is Democrat. The Re
publican members Of the Election Com
mittee obtained consent to file q dis
senting report. which will declare that
Mr.. actin rs entitled to his seat.
Congressman Catlin is prominent
socially in washington and st. Louis
and additional interest in the contest
proceedings grew out Of the fact that
his engagement to Miss Laura Merriam,
OF this city, has been announced.
II the House adopts the report Of the
Elections Committee, Mr.. Catlin Will
marry as a private citizen, rather than
national legislator.
Family Spent Freely. .
The committee declares Mr.. Catlip's q
election invalid because Of the alleged
violation of the Missouri corrupt prao-
tices act. Under the Missouri law Mp
Catlin was entitled to spend $662. The
candidate held himself within the linn
1t, but the committee says his father
and brother expended in his behalf
more than $4,000 and that the candi-
date must have known OF this expendi"
ture.
Mr.. Catlin says he had no knowledge
Of the generosity of members OF his
family, and in this he was borne out
After asserting that the candidate
himself spent only $611, the committee
report continues:
''But a proper consideration Of the
testimony in this case compels us 70
conclude that, through the agency OF
others for whose acts he Is unques-
tionably responsible, he expended 2
greater sum by thousands than that
which he Is allowed to expend under
the law.
sIo, 500 Expenditure.
Daniel N. Kirby, a successful and
skillful legal practitioned, of st. Louis,
was enlisted in the cause of Mr.. Cat
lin. According to the Record. he was
a friend of the family and expert
enced in politics.
He admits having expended $lo,ooo,
the whole Of which vast sum was sup
piled by Daniel Catlin and Daniel *.
Catlin, father and brother, respectively.
OF the contestee, with the exception OF
$3.50 contributed by one Chester II. Kern,
described as a friend OF Theron T..
Catlin.'
"The excuse relied upon by the con-
testee to save himself from the conse-
quences of his failure to include In his
made by Kirby was that he had no
knowledge Of any money being expended
in his behalf. But he must have been
aware that money in large amounts was
being disbursed for. his beneht.
Campaign Methods. &.
The contested, Catlin, made thor
ough personal canvass Of his district.
He visited various places where money
was expended, in the company of the
committeeman Of each particular ward
Of some political worker. He went to
saloons, social clubs. and other places
where drinks and refreshments were or
dered in his name and the charges were
pain by the person accompanying him.
These persons were In most instances
financially unable to make such pay
ments out of their own means. In one
instance the bill TO rthese refreshments
amounted to $45, for which sum he re-
imbursed Hank Weeks on that night"
The committee also refers to the en-
ployment OF "a press agent at a salary
who worked in Catlins behalf.
The report cites that Catlin failed to
file a statement setting forth his ex-
penditures. although the law requires
him to make reports of money expended
Ito the best of his knowledge and be-
lief by any other person In his behalf"
...- Gill Gets Seat, rs
The Democratic members of the COM
mittee find that as the next highest
candidate. Patrick GILL, a former men,
ber Of the House, is entitled to Cat
Inns seat.
Testimony Of. Catlin's family before
the committee was to the effect that
the father and brother of the wealthy
young politician spend money in his be-
half without the knowledge Of the can
didate, and without any idea of evading
the law.
After charging that a "brazen and
defiant fraud was committed in GER
tain portions Of the district" the COM
mittee calls attention to the fact that
2,000 unnaturalized residents were
registered and voted during the cleo
tion. 1t adds:
"The contestee admits that this num-
ber of unauthorized persons did cast
their ballots but that these votes were
cast for the contestant GILL"