Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1920-07-10
SAYS H. C. |. BUREAUS DOOMED PAL MFR FOR THE NOMINATION Department of Justice Off ces Used Politically, Wit
 nesses Say $50 CHECKS GIVEN
 ST. LOUIS DELEGATES Palmer Supporter Remembered Each One, and One of Cox's Hackers Also Distributed Some Mon,-
 ey, Claim

St. Louis, July 9.-Questioning of a dozen witnesses by the senate com- mittee Investigating campaign ex- penditures today resulted in charges that high cost of living bureaus established by the department of justice were "political enterprises" ;" used primarily to "bring about the nomination of Attorney General Pal mer for president by the democratic national convention.'
 Witnesses also declared that Ed ward F. Goltra, democratic national committeeman from Missouri. dis tributed $50 checks to St. Louis del egates to the state convention which was instrumental in the ousting of Senator James Reed of Missouri from his national convention seat Goltra was declared by witnesses to be a supporter of Palmer, but few also admitted receiving expense money from Toney Stuevers, a local capi- talist, said to have been supporter of Governor Cox.
 The charges against the attorney general and the department of just ice were made by Miss Olivia Brueg- geman,, formerly executive secretary of the Missouri women's high cost of living bureau, who declared she "was dismissed because she was a republi- can."
 Mrs. John R. Leighty, chairman of the bureau, and Miss, Mary Scott, it's publicity director, partly contra dicted Miss Brueggeman's testimony, declaring that while it's representa- tives had attended state democratic and republican conventions partly at government expense, they did so to organize counties in the anti-high cost of living campaign.
 Questioned by Senator Kenyon, they admitted that "no counties were organized at these conventions" and that they also talked politics with the women there.
 Miss Brueggeman, answering ques- tions without hesitation, told the committee that workers employed by the department of justice to edu- cate the people in lowering living costs, confined their speeches to "boosting Palmer and generally the only time living costs were mention ed were when the speakers would, explain that election of Palmer to the presidency would mean lower prices.'
 "We were asked to include Palmer publicity matter in our 'hcl' public ity, and to use it in such way that it would not be quickly detected as a boost for him for president. This was done. Such publicity was fre- quently mailed to 219 Missouri pa- pers."
 "1t was used by only a few, how ever, and this caused an investigation by Howard Flagg, an assistant attor- ney general. It then came out that was republican and was dismissed. Mrs. Frank Hayes, former chairman of the bureau, also was dismissed be- cause she was republican.
 "When our representatives attended the state conventions, the government paid the railroad fare and allowed them $4 a day extra. They went ap- parently to organize counties, but in reality to boost Palmer for president" !"
 Miss Brueggeman said there were IS 'hep bureaus in the country run at cost of at least $10O,O00 a year, and that she understood they also were used to advocate Palmer's can didacy.
 The statements concerning Goltra were made by democratic city com mitteemen, who were delegates to the state convention. They declared that they "were for Reed" and "against Palmer" but accepted the money from Goltra under the supposition that it had been raised among the democrats. Their expenses always had been paid to conventions, they said.