Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-12-01
COLLECTOR DAVIS
IS IN HOT WATER
Chief of Revenue Gatherers Ac-
cused of Soliciting Campaign
Contributions

Revenue Collector Zen Davis, of Lam
caster, who is the head of the internal
revenue system in this part of the
State and the stormy petrol of the
Democratic reorganization movement,
a staunch upholder of the bosses of
the Democratic machine in Pennsyl-
Vania, is to-day accused by the Phila-
delphia Public Ledger of gathering
shekels for Democratic campaigns in
manner which is held to be in de-
fiance of federal statutes. This pro-
cedure was always considered q very
serious matter by the Democratic ma
chine bosses when they heard of a
Republican doing it anywhere in the
United States. Just how the bosses
will regard Davis performance re-
mains to be seen.
The Ledger a couple of years ago
exposed some Democratic Vaccinations
in regard to post office appointments
in certain southern counties, notably
York, and opened The eyes of a good
many Democrats and independents as
to the sort OF State machine that had
been built up on the ruins of the
Guffey organization in the name of
reorganization"
Here are some extracts from the
Ledger's article of to-day:
Politicians in four counties, COM
prising the Ninth Pennsylvania Inter
nal Revenue Department-Yor orl, Ian
caster, Adams and Dauphin-learn
that a movement is on foot to have
annulled the appointment of Ben +.
Davis, the district revenue collector,
on the ground that he was active dur
ing the November election of city and
"a Fx~x
the county Democratic committee, of
which he is chairman. 1t is said that
many of the letters sent out from the
offices of the Democratic county COM
mittee, above the signature of Mr.. Da-
Wis, were directed to federal office
holders, of whom there are 400 in
Lancaster county. and that some of
the letters We're served upon these
federal officeholders at their places of
employment, in post offices, revenue
offices and other federal agencies. This
is declared to be in direct violation of
the federal act of 1909. the penalty for
which is @ fine of not more than $4,000
or three years Imprisonment, or both.
Steps have been taken to bring the
matter formally before William Fl.
Osborne, Commissioner of Internal
Revenue. at Washington, and TO have
the matter carried before Secretary OF
the Treasury McAdoo.
"The expense account of the Ian
caster county Democratic committee,
filed this afternoon, shows that the
sum of S505.79 was contributed for the
local November campaign. 1t shows
that Ben +. Davis, revenue collector,
contributed S21750 to the Democratic
county committee, of which he is
chairman. Listed also is the name of
OF +. +. Greenawalt, with q contri-
button of SIS. Local political leaders
drew attention to the fact that Greena-
walt, for many years a prominent State
labor leader. is now commissioner of
immigration at the Gloucester station,
opposite Philadelphia, drawing Il sal
ary from the government.
Collector Davis this afternoon
frankly admitted that letters had been
sent out by the Democratic county
committee, above his own written sig
nature, calling upon Democrats every
where throughout the county to con-
tribute toward the campaign fund.
Said Mr.. Davis: I'VE always send out
letters every election calling for sub
scriptions. They were sent out this
time to Democratic throughout the
country. These letters bore my
name. but | do not know Just whom
they were sent to. They were sent
out by the officers of the committee,
but l do not know whether they went
to federal officeholders or not. AL we
got was $500 AS county chairman |
signed the letters
Friends of Davis say that the sub
scriptions were not personally received
by him. but by other officers of the
county committee, and that there is
revenue collector. and Ben +. Davis.
revenue collector, and Ben +. Davis
Democratic county chairman. Po-
litical opponents contend, on the con-
trary. that Davis action in appendine
his name to such letters while occu-
pying a federal position is clearly a
violation of tn, Jaw.