Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-01-23
REPUBLICANS IN ROW
OVER CAMPAIGN FUND
Move to Reorganize National
Congressional Committee
/ Expected
OLD CHARGES REVIVED
Complaint Of Excessive Commits
sions to Collectors Cause
of Rebellion
OLD CHARGES REVIVED
wAsHINGToN. Jan. %

WASltlNIlON, Jan 70.
Efforts TO dislodge the present con-
trolling faction of the Republican Ma
tIonal Congressional Committee are ex-
nected tonight at tho joint conference of
the Republican members Of the Senate
and the House of Representatives based
on charges that cEorbitant rates OF COM
mission have been paid to collectors of
the campaign fund.
The matter was first brought 20 light
BY a Philadelphia morning newspaper.
necesstating an investigation Of veiled
charges made against Congressman II.
w. Austin, Of Tennessee. treasurer of the
committee. Congressman George $
Graham, of Philadelphia. was chairman
of the committee and compelled the pub
Usher of the allegations to retraCt many
of then charges. lie submitted a re-
port commencing Mr.. Austin and Chair
man Frank =. Woods for their worl, iu
collecting campaign contributions, triple
the amount Of those collected by any
former committees.
Congressman William H. Mckinley
former chairman Of the finance COM
mittee Of the congressional committee
has during the last week circulated a
pamphlet among Republican members
making similar charges to those made i'm
the newspaper publication. In letter
to his cole gucs Congressman Austin
answers them as follows:
"Afr. Mckinley had several oppurtuui-
ties to appear before an investigating
committee, composed Of our disintcrested
colleagues Messrs. Graham. of peuusyl.
vania: Tilson. Fess. EsCh and Steeucr-
son. lie did not face me before this
honest, competent and impartial COM
mlttee with his complaints and charges
In their report | was unanimously vim
dlcated. ! inclose copy of the re-
ports
"I carried out in good faith a con-
tract made 10y Mr.. Mckinley. my pre-
decessor as chairman OF the Finance
Committee. with Messrs. Conner and
Hudburg, and now he recommends that
be sued for executing said contract.
In justice to Frank Woods. | think
I should say that when he took charge
as Mr.. MClNinley'S successor the Demo-
cratic majority of the House was 15i
The treasury Of the committee was
empty While thc Democrats carried tho
country last year the House is now
virtually a tie; the Woods committee
raised S3SO.O0O. Mckinley Gworc he.
fore the Clapp committee tho largest
amount he raised was $4,000. Nc
Klnley left an empty treasury. The
present committee has a handsome bal
ance in bank. 1t aided. in the last cam
paign, 1OS districts in which fifteen
Republicans succeeded fifteen Democrats
and did effective work in four States
where six Republicans succeeded Demo-
cratic Senators. Sixteen million pieces
Of campaign literature were issued and
many able speakers sent out. In filling
vacancies in New Hampshire, Indiana
Connecticut and Massachusetts the com.
mttee has rendered splendid service
II think it unfair to attempt to i'm,
jure and discrcdit Frank Woods and
the congressional committee. lie should
not be discrcdited by his colleagues for
doing his duty, for making good, fol
rendering a great party service"