The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1920-06-17
Senate Inquiry DiscIoses Some
Big Campaign Funds, but No
Real Scandal.
GUESSES AS TO ITS EFFECT
Gompers Tells Labor Its Election Duty
-Profiteers Get Several Blows
\ President Wants to Accept
American Mandate, but
Congress Is Opposed.
BY EDWARD w. PIcKARD.

Senator Borah certainly started
something when he brought about the
senate investigation of the pre-conven-
tion expenses of the various presiden-
tial candidates. According to the gen.
orally accepted theory, the inquiry was
inter ded by its promoters to help the
candidacy Of Senator Hiram john
son. At this writing 1t is not easy to
say whom it has most helped and
whom most hurt. Some political ex-
perts who profess TO have no bias as
sert that so far as the Republican side
of it is concerned, the investigation
presages the nomination of some dark
horse, or possibly of Senator Knox,
who is not exactly dark, though not an
open candidate for the honor. The
idea of those prophets is that the
facts elected by the senate committee
eliminate all of the active aspirants
except perhaps Johnson, and that the
party leaders will never consent to
the nomination of the Californian.
However, in this matter every man can
be his own prophet, and his personal
predictions probably will govern his
forecast.
Governor Lowden's managers were
the first to be heard, and in accord
with their assertions that they had
nothing to conceal they stated that
the Lowden fund was something over
100000, of which the governor and
his wife had contributed 1919, 159.
Other contributions ranged from $500
downward. Nothing very startling or
shocking in that. The Poindexter,
Johnson and Hoover funds were each
found to be less than 100000 and
Senator Sutherland's was only $473.
Harding's is $107,704. Then the big
noise came with the questioning of
Colonel Proctor, head of the Wood or
ganization. He admitted without hes
itation that fund of more than
$1,000,000 had been raised to finance
the generals campaign, and stated
that he himself had advanced" $780,
600 of this. He confessed his expec-
tation of getting this back was not
strong, and that he was ready to adj
vance more If it were needed. Other
liberal contributors to the Wood fund,
said Proctor, were Col. Ambrose
Mcneil of New York, William Wrigley,
Jr., and Col. II. M. Byllesby.
Doctor Buffers candidacy, it was
learned, has been financed to the ex-
tent of $40.550.
Naturally the committee did not
overlook the Democratic candidates,
and 1t brought out facts that, accord
ing to the political sharps mentioned
above, wiped out the chances Of Attor-
ney General Palmer. Questioned by
Chairman Kenyon, former Congressman
G. c. Carlin, Palmer's manager, adj
mitted that both he and J. Bruce Ster-
ling, the Palmer manager of Pennsyl-
vania, were attorneys for steel inter-
ests charged with evasion of paying in
come taxes. The latter represents the
Crucible Steel company, which the
government compelled to pay $9O00,-
600, and the former is the attorney
for Herbert Dupuy, connected with
the steel concern, who, with HIS wife,
was charged with being about $780,
900 short in income tax paid. Mr..
Carlin said the largest contributors to
Palmer's $4,000 fund were J. NJ.
Guffy of Pennsylvania and J. Harry
Coyington, who as counsel under Pal
mer when the latter was alien prop
erty custodian, received fees so large
as to cause public comment
Walker w. Wick, representing Ed
wards, denied Sndignant,y that there
had been any deal with liquor inter-
ests to support or finance the cam