Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-10-19
Goltra Helped
Pay Way Democrats
to Missouri Convention

St Louis, No, Oct 1S-Edward +.
Goltra, Democratic national commit
teeman from Missouri and hacker OF
Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer,
in the pre-convention campaign,
gave $41S9 toward the payment of
expenses of delegates attending the
state convention at Joplin. when
delegates 10 the Democratic Nation
al convention were chosen This
was brought out in testimony before
the Senate committee investigating
campaign expenditures. which re-
stunned its hearings here today.
Mr.. GoItrag told the committee he
gave % Democratic committeeman
in the city of ST. Louis $3.50 each.
Of the $4,000, he explained. $4l9S
came out Of his own pocket. Two
Democratic friends were each asked
TO give 81 Mr.. Goltra asserted. so
he could tell the committeeman the
fund was contributed by Demo-
Gratis" He did not want them to
feel under obligation to him. he said.
The committee decided to forego
examination of Breckenridge Long.
Democratic candidate for United
States senator from Missouri, after
Senator Spencer, his Republican OPP
ponent. protested it would not be
fair to Mr. Long. Chairman Ken
yon announced that all senatorial
campaigns would be investigated aft
,er the election Nov. 2.
Mr.. Long. who had been sub
poenaed. protested against being
picked out as the only senatorial
candidate to be called and declared
if would leave an impression that
there had been improper expendi-
lures in his campaign.
Senator Kenyon askd about Mr..
Goltra's part in having a fine Of
$4,000 assessed against the Hos
letter Bitters Company for fling
false tax returns. RENTED.
Mr.. Goltra explained he acted as
lawyer for the company at the re-
quest of his sister, Mrs Hostetter.
Senator Kenyon brought out Mr..
Goltra had never been admitted to
the bar and had practiced law only
since he became national commit
teeman.
Attorney General Palmer had
nothing to do with the remission of
the fine and Daniel c. Roper, col
lector of internal revenue, ordered
the $4,000 returned to Mr.. Hostel
ter, Mr. Goltra said. Mr.. Goltra de-
MED he had ever talked to Mr..
Palmer about the case. but later
qualified the statement and said he
had told the attorney general that he
had case in the department and
that if he could not get justice" he
was going to sue the collector"
Senator Kenyon asked about talks
Mr.. Goltra had with Mr.. Palmer
about politics.
He knew I was a warm admirer
of his" the witness said.
You were carrying this case
along at the same time you were
trying to get Palmer delegates ?"
Senator Kenyon asked. .r-
That's what you say" Mr.. Goltra |
retorted.
DO you know when this fine was
Il think it was in December Of |
last year."
Had you been talking up Mr..
Planners candidacy before that |
time?"
Yes. I had been urging Mr.. |
Palmer's candidacy for some time"
In May Of this time, after repay
ing the fine to Mrs. Hostetter the
government re-opened the case In an
effort to re-collect the 1852 900 Mr..
Goltra said. The case is still hang
ing fire, he said.
Did you talk to anyone in the
Department of Justice about this
strange procedure in re-opening the
case?" Senator Kenyon asked.
Il talked to everyone I could" Mr..
Goltra replied, naming several minor
officials Of the Department of
Justice.