The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1920-07-10
WOMAN is Chief
PALMER ACCUSER
Declares H. C. Of |. Workers
We're His Campaign Workers.
FAIR PRICE BOARD FARO;
Miss 5rueggeman Charges She Was
Dismissed From Job Because She
Was Republican.

st. Louis, July 1O-Charges thai
persons employed through the attor-
ney generals office Ostensibly to aid
in reducing the cost of living, really
were working to have \. Mitchell Pal
mer nominated for president at the
Democratic national convention were
made before the senate committee in
vestigating presidential campaign ex-
penditures by Miss Olivia Bruegge
man.
Miss Brueggemati formerly was ex-
ecutive secretary Of the Missouri Wo-
mons committee to reduce the high
cost of living
Miss Bruggeman said workers sup
posed TO address meetings on the high
cost Of living actually spoke only on
Palmer, telling what a fine man he
would be for president"
The workers frequently Travelled at
government eSlpense, she declared.
Il was dismissed from my Office be-
cause l was a Republican" she said.
Miss Brueggeman asserted that the
Missouri office did very little work on
the high cost Of living. She said that
after three months in office she was
dismissed and summoned to Washing,
ton, where she conferred with How
ard Figg, assistant attorney general
He previously had asked me-" Miss
Brueggeman continued, 'tO include
literature favorable to Palmer in the
H. c. L. literature sent out. The
H. c. L. office was purely a political
enterprise.
This literature ostensibly was H.
c. l. literature. but much of it was
not published This caused complaint
from Mr. Figg.
Miss Mary Scott drew 5000 a
month and was seldom in the office
more than two hours a day. Miss
Halsey Wilson was sent there by the
department of justice to speak on the
n. C. L. She addressed several meet
ings and did nothing but boost Palmer
for president.
"The only time Miss Wilson men
toned the H. c. l. was when she
said the way to reduce it was 'to elect
Palmer president
when talking to Mr. Figg at Wash
ingtOn | told him l did not know it
was a political organization, but that
it did not make any difference who
was boosted, Republicans had to have
some one to run against
Miss Brueggeman said she was nev-
er told she had to support the attor-
ney general for president, but that 1t
was made plain to her by Figg that
such support was desirable.
Senator Kenyon, who conducted the
questioning of Miss Brueggeman then
asked concerning efforts by the de-
partment of justice to reduce the liv-
ing cost
She said the fair price committees
were farces and that frequently a
merchant on such a committee would
fix the price on his own goods
Miss Brueggeman said there were
eighteen organizations similar to the
Missouri one in the country and that
she understood they all were run on
the same plan-"to support Palmer. -
The total cost of operating them
was probably more than 100000 a
year, she said.
Miss Mary Scott, mentioned by Miss
Brueggeman, then was called to the
stand. She said the principle object
of the bureau to reduce living cost
was to teach the people to do away
with nan essentials
She admitted charge by Miss
Brueggeman that she used government
money to go to the Democratic state
convention at Joplin. She said the
plan was to urge H. G. L. Legislation
at the convention.
Senator Kenyon asked if she hat
not attended the convention to "hurt
Reed and help Palmer"
PARTLY" she answered, but added
she also talked over the "H. c. L.
with women there.
Miss Scott said the government pait
her railway fare and allowed her S
day on her trips to the Joplin con
vention and the Republican cOnven
ton at Kansas City.
Delegates to the Missouri Demo
cratic convention which helped Gus
Senator James A. Reed from his ma
tional convention seat were supplied
expense money by two antagonist
factions, one favorable to Attorne!
General A. Mitchell Palmer, and th'
other to Governor Cox. according t.
witnesses before the committee.
Che cks signed by Edward F. Goltra
Democratic national committeeman
from Missouri. were given to delegate
to nay their expenses to the Demo
cratic state convention at Joplin, &C
cording to testimony given by mem
hers of the st. Louis Democrau