New-York tribune., 1920-08-30
Representat tive Good
Charges Political Levies
Are Made, Violating
Corrupt Practices Act
Meredith Accused
InPlot With Marsh
Hays Ready to Refute
Fund Story Before Sen
ate Committee To-day
Special Dispatch to The Tribune

Specinl Dispatch to The Tribune
CHICAGO, Aug. 29.-Charges that
Democratic Office holders had violated
the corrupt practices act by levying
political assessments on Federal en-
poyees is the latest sensation brought
forward tonight on the eve of the
opening of the campaign fund inquiry
by the Senate subcommittee.
These charges were made by Repre-
sentative James W. Good, chairman of
the House Appropriations Committee,
who said he could prove that E. T.
Meredith. Secretary of Agriculture,
and Wilbur Marsh, treasurer of the
Democratic National Committee, be-
came directors of the Iowa Club, which
was organized specifically for the pur-
pose of obtaining money from Federal
employees in secret.
While Mr. Goods charges were being
discussed in political circles here Will
H Hays, chairman, and Fred W. Upham,
treasurer of the Republican National
Committee, were hard at work gather
nu data regarding the committees
campaign collections and expenditures
!uL PlSotIloLlOi lO-DuOIIO" D6IOI0 t0c
Senate investigating committee when
it reconvenes here.
1t was indicated that Mr.. Hays and
Mr. upham would present complete in
formation to the Senate committee in
refutatlon of the charges of Governor
Cox that large sums had been de-
manded, collected and spent by the
national committee.
According to Representative Good,
one postmaster, woman, had been
directed by this club to contribute
per cent of her salary to the cam
palgn fund of the Democratic party.
i He said that there were many others
who had been called upon to donate
equal amounts
He gave quotation from "cne Of
their own letters" the original of
which will be presented to the Senate
subcommittee, he asserted, "written
on their stationery bearing their names
as directors"
Will Give Senator'S Facts
Representative Good said if the
amount from such vast number was
fotaed by "the Cox method of COM
I putaton,' the Democrats would have
an annual campaign fund of something
Ike s27,000,000. He based his calcu-
Il 'N"OHS, dSNOluiUS 10 MS statement,
4 upon the assumption that there were
4 100000 Federal employees with an ag-
1 gregate salary of S90O.00O,00O year
Mr.. Good expressed his desire to go
cefore the committee and bare the
iscts." He was seconded in this to-
night by Representative Fred A. Brit
zen, who made an equally sensational
Gharge that S97, 900 appropriated by the
british government to its embassy in
Washington ostensibly for "entertain-
ment purposes" had found it's way into
me Democratic campaign fund.
Z Governor Cox knows or ought to
Know that it is a violation of the cor
fupt practices act to solicit campaign
contributions from a Federal officer
I" employee reads the statement
4 Appealed to Postmasters
Notwithstanding this, the illegal
M ,uo organized by Mr.. Marsh and Mr..
Meredith. now Secretary of Agricul-
wre. wrote letters to postmasters
sohcitlng campaign contributions. Here
ia quotation from one of their own
ssters, the original of which will be
furnished the Senate committee, writ
4 Na on stationery bearing their names
q as directors:
a 1. Feope who owe US excuse the debt
saying they can't make ends meet
Sa account of the war. They don't get
with this to their grocer, and mas
aaen as the game of politics is one of
s.s %e largest businesses in the United
SsS!es' Ss1:t.' lnasmuch as we are running
I yvnucs IN Iowa on business basis,
mey should not try that line of argu-
"sne on US. But they do, and it
Ups US going night and day in order
"get the funds to run on.
s,, besides this we have great many
"ei .nings to look after We are look
tos aiser your interests in Washing
we are gathering information
Continued on uaos threat