The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1920-06-03
PROBE May
EXTEND TO
CAMPAIGNS s
Senator Pomerene Would
Authorize Senate Investi-
eating Committee to Extend
Inquiry to Summers S Politics
PALMER DENIES CHARGE
(By Associated PreSs)

WASHINGTON. June 3.-The SEN
ate was asked today by Senator Pom
creme, Democrat, to authorize the COM
mittee investigating pre-convention
political financing to extend its inquiry
to the presidential and senatorial CAM
paign which will end with the elec-
tions in November.
The names OF William Wrigley, Jr.,
and G. u. Shaffer. of Chicago, previ-
ously mentioned as heavy contribu-
tors to the Wood fund, were read off
the receipt books by the committee
this morning.
Senator Pomerene, Democrat, Ohio,
referred to payments of $4,000 to
Burtt himself. which are shown by
the books. The witness said they
were paid to the Ohio committee.
This was accounted for to the COM
mittee by A. A. Sprague, trea surer of
the national committee, when he was
here last week." Mr.. Burtt said.
Says They Had Meeting
c. H. Luell, of New York, was the
next witness. He told the committee
he was associated with the Wood cam
paign during the early days and un-
til the change in management, which
occurred in January. when John T..
King went out"
"The first plan was to raise a half
million dollars to finance national
campaign" he continued. There was
a meeting at the home of Ambrose
Mcneil, where General Wood, Robert
Cassatt and myself were present. 1t
was in the end of November, 1919"
WAS the meeting pre-arranged?
asked Senator Spencer. Republican, of
Missouri.
"Yes. Mr.. Cassatt was asked to un-
dertake the task" was the reply. Lat
er he definitely declined to take part,
and so far as l know did not take
part"
with only two witnesses of the sub
poenaed list remaining to be heard,
the committee expected to suspend
temporarily it's activities.
Just what the future policy Of the
company would be was in doubt fol-
lowing the action of Senator Edge, Re-
publican, of New Jersey, late yester-
day afternoon in announcing he would
seek release from further attendance
upon the sessions.
Says It's Useless Further.
Senator Edge took the position that
the committee already had accom-
plished what it had been instructed to
do; that it had brought out what the
approximate expenditures of the prin-
cipal candidates for the presidential
nomination had been and that further
proceedings simply would result in
'inquisitorial sessions"
One of the two witnesses to be heard
today was Warren Gregory, named as
the leader in the Herbert Hoover cam
paign in the California primary.
The contest in that state was be-
fore the committee at adjournment
Yesterday, the last witness being J. H.
Rossiter, one Of the supporters of Sen
ator Johnson. Mr.. Rossiter testified
to his knowledge about $125,000 had
been raised by the Johnson forces
for use in California.
Bitter Clash Features Hearing.
A clash between Attorney General
Palmer and Eugene C. Bonniwell Of
Philadelphia. who it was disclosed,
were political enemies of long stand
ing, enlivened the session.
Charges by Bonniwell of misuse of
federal power by Mr.. Palmer in his
Pennsylvania campaign were branded
as unqualifiedly false by the latter.
The attorney general appeared dur.
ing the luncheon recess after Mr.
Bonniwell had launched a broadside
of charges, including a sweeping as
sertion that the whole Palmer cam.
paign in Pennsylvania had been a
"ghastly and debasng degradation OF
law"
Mr.. Palmer, in opening his state
ment, said Bonniwell had employed
character assassination" methods
against him in Pennsylvania for years
and concluded it with the assertion
that in Pennsylvania Judge Bonni
wells word is not evidence of fact"