The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-09-10
|SLUSH PROBEDUE
D.M'KELLAR
His Minority Report Forced
Senate Republicans to Con-
sent to Continuance.
10y JOHN D. ERwIN.)

Washington, ID. c., Sept. l0.--Now
that Gov. Cox's charges about a fifteen
milton dollar republican campaign
FUND nave been verified by the senate
the EFFORTS Of senate republicans to
block the probe are recalled.
Last spring Senator Borah intro
duced a resolution to examine into the
campaign expenditures In tho primary
| fight. Being strong johnson man, his
purpose was to see whether or not the
| Wood people were attempting to buy
the republican nomination, as was
being dtily Charged.
All Of the investigating resolutions
have to go before the committee OF five
that handles the financial expenditures
of the senate. This committee on ex-
penditures is composed OF the follow
| Ing senator's:
Calder, republican, chairman; Smoot
and France. republicans, and Jones and
Mcclellan democrats.
Mcclellan Aided Probe Bill.
Senator Mcclellan took a very active
hand In getting the original Borah res
outjon reported favorably from his
| committee and passed. The results Of
| the committees work in the primary
campaign was epochal. II practically
eliminated Gen. Wood and Gov. Low
den from the republican national con-
Ventlon because OF their excessive ex-
penditure of money.
However, that Investigation under
the terms of the Borah resolution, ex-
| PRED with the session, and thereupon
on June 3, just before the congress ad-
joufned, Senator Pomerene offered a
| resolution extending the powers of the
committee as follows:
"To investigate after the adjourn
ment Of the democratic national con-
vention and before the November cleo
ton, 1920, the receipts and expendi-
lures of the campaign conducted by,
and ON behalf of, or against the cleo
ton Of the several candidates for pres
idency and vice-presldency and the
United States senate"
Chairman Calder called the expendi-
lures committee of the senate together
and the republicans voted to report the
above resolution adversely. meaning
committee were opposed to any further
investigation OF campaign funds.
Mcclellan Urges Probe.
At the time Senator Mcclellan demo-
crat, made the following minority re-
port, Senator Jones, of New Mexico. be-
ing absent:
For the minority dissent from the
report Of the majority. II ever a senate
investigation has been fruitful of good
results, this investigation has been
fruitful Already 1t has been ascer-
tained that millions OF dollars in the ag-
greGate have been Used by various can
didates for nomination for the presi-
dancy.
The use Of these funds IN tho way
they have been, used 10 commonly
called a national scandal. II men
viii spend several millions for a
nomination for tho presidency, how
much Will be spent In tho actual
eIectlon7 Where Is the thing going
to stopf Are we going to permit
sthe presidency to be put up for saia
and bought by the candidate having
the most money! ! do not believe
~ any one will say we ought ITO do
that. Then we ought 70 continue
this Investigation.
IF we stop this now It will be equiv
alent to say that the senate Is perfectly
willing to establish the truth about the
campaign expenses of certain of the
contestants for the nomination, bat II
Is not willing to turn the light of day
upon the campaign expenses OF the sue
cessful candidates after they are nomi-
mated. Suppose one Of these candidates
who has used u half million or million
or more secures n nomination.: the de-
feat OF this resolution would be equiv
alent to saying to him We'll you have
bought your nomination, now 80 ahead
and buy your election. The senate will
not modest you Neither a nomination