New Britain herald., 1914-07-28
MURPHY BLAMED FOR ! ATTACK ON KEITH
Defeat of. '1ammany Candidate"
 led to Charges.

New Yofk, July 2s.-Henry p. Keith. President Wilson's nominee for collector of internal revenue for Long Island and Staten Island, made pub- lie yesterday affidavits from himser and five other men contradicting charges filed with the senate com mittee on finance by ex-State Senator James L. Long that Keith sold to Paul F. W. Lindner l. nomination for supervisor of the town of Hemp stead last year.
 The .affidavits intimate that the in- fluence: of Charles F. Murphy and James B. Gaffney is strong in Nassau county and say that defeat of the Murphy candidate for supervisor, Harry McChord, is responsible for the anti-Keith fight.
 In his affidavit Henry S. Orr, chair man of the town committee of Hemp stead. says that Gaffney sent for him and asked him to support McChord, which he refused to do. He says that McChord was backed by ex-Sen- ator Long and George F. Spinney, deputy clerk of general sessions, "as agents of Charles F. Murphy" But fourteen members of the committee voted for Lindner and only seven for McChord Orr says that mo- body paid any money and that the Wilson democrats of Long Island ap- prove of the selection of Keith for internal revenue collector "as proper recognition of his great services in the democratic party and his con- sistent opposition to Murphy and the icorrupting influence of Tammany in New York state politics"
 s Explains His Campaign Fund.
 Tn his own affidavit Keith says that campaign contributions which he re- ceived were banked to the credit of his wife and were checked by her as his agent for legitimate campaign expenses. Explaining why no sworn statement of campaign expenses was made. Keith says Town Clerk Gil- bert told. Mrs. Keith it was not cus- tomAry for town committee to hle "a, statement. Speaking as a lawyer Keith says he believes the law does not require such a statement.
 .4The reason for the filing of these charges is plain," Keith continues. ..With other Wilson democrats l drove James H. Long out of political life and supported Thomas H. O'Keefe for senator, who was elected and who at Albany. refused to obey the com mand of Murphy and vote for the impeachment of Sulzer."
 He also says that Surrogate John J. Graham of Nassau county asked him t6 call about July this year. In this interview, says Geith. the Sur fogate told him his nomination by President Wilson was being held up H H~:<I <IS no1 opponents, had asked the surrogate to say that if Keith would promise not to use the patronage of his office against them their opposition would cease and they could bring about his nomination. Keith says he refused to < give this pledge.
 T Tn his affidavit Paul F. w. Lindner recites the circumstances of his elec- tfon as supervisor by the town com fhittee of Hampstead His defeated opponent he calls Tammany Candi- date McChord. Lindner swears that he was the voluntary choice of four teen of the Hampstead town com fnitteemen. and that he never paid Keith or anybody else cent for the siomination.
 Traces Origin of Checks.
 In the charges against Keith sent to Washington it is said that Lindner gave him three checks to pay for his nomination. These checks, says Lind rler. in his affidavit, were given to him for his campaign voluntarily by c. L.. Hines, William Karm and Frank Schlosser. He received them long af- ter his nomination and by arrange inent with Jacob Daub, treasurer of the democratic town committee, turned them over to Keith, who had been designated as Daub's agent in handling campaign funds. Lindner says that he filed a sworn statement of his personal Campaign accounts, but that the makers of the three checks in question understood that their con- tributions were for the town commit tee.
 By way of corroboration, Jacob Daub, treasurer of the democratic town committee of Hampstead, says that he authorized Keith, as state committeeman, to collect and dis burse campaign money for the cleo tion of supervisor Daub says he was uninfuenced by Keith in voting for Lindner as the democratic nom s inee!
 ' Vote Was Uncontrolled.
 x Maximilian F. Becker, crier of tht Nassau county court of records. i another member of the Hampstead town committee who sWears that hi vote for Lndner was uncontrolled.
 Keith says. he has started suits fo conspiracy. and libel against Long ant Spinney,
 R Keith has commenced action fo a5O. coo for defamation of characte 1gainst B. N.s Berlson, president o i. &he fviilage of Rockville Center; for &7er State Senator Long of Oyster Ba. and George F. Spinney of Rockville