New-York tribune., 1920-09-12
Employees i'm Revenue OF.
flee i'm Aberdeen, S. d.,
Tell How Assessment of
$40 Each Was Levied
Kenyon Denounces'
Act as ''InfamOuss'
Inquiry Is Adjourned to
September %; Cox Not
To Be Called to Stand

CHICAGO, Sept. 11.-How girl
employees of the internal revenue
Office at Aberdeen, S. D., were asked
to contribute $40 each to a Demo-
cratic campaign fund was told to
the Senate committee investigating
campaign expenditures to-day.
After hearing how the hard work.
ing girls had been induced to make
the contributions, Senator Kenyon,
chairman Of the committee, said
such solicitation of funds from girl
employees of the government was
"worse in it's infamy" than the rails.
ing of, thousands of dollars from
men outside of government circles.
II agree with you, Senator" Sen.
ator Reed said, shat to levy in any
way political assessment upon
girl working for the government ID
absolutely inexcusable."
The committee to-day wound UP a
two weeks inquiry into charges by
Governor Cox that the Republican
party was seeking s15,ooo,OO0 fund.
The sessions here also developed testi-
mony bearing upon charges that the
democratic party solicited and accepted
unlimited amounts from other contrib
utors.
The committee will meet agaiA on
September %, in either Washington or
New York, Chairman Kenyon being ems
powered to choose the city. Senator
Kenyon said that IL Washington was
selected the witnesses who -sssseat 9tss
have been heard at Pittsburgh would
be called to the capital. The committee,
mad planned meeting in Pittsburgh
to investigate reports that PennsvIS
vanla liquor interests were helping 20
finance the Democratic campaign.
To-day's hearing was conducted BY
Chairman Kenyon, Republican, ana
Senators Reed and Pomerene, Demo-,
crsts. Senator'S Spencer and Edge, Re-
publicans. were absent, the latter nav
ing left Chicago last night after isau-
ing statement Goriding the Cox
charges.
Refusal to summon Governor Cox
as witness before the committee was :
announced to-day by Senator Kenyon.
He gave out telegram received from
demanding that the Democratic prcsi-
dental nominee be subpnnaed
Senator Kenyon's reply was to the
effect that Edmond H. Moore had ap-
peared before the committee as a per- &.
sonal representative of the Ohio
executive and the committee con-
sidercd that sufficient.
Senator Kenyon said the telegram
from Mr.. Munsey was typical of
hundreds received by him and other
members ofs the committee, and that
the publ. announce.-ent of the Mum
sey message was made in the hope that,
1t might serve as an answer to other
kilograms and letters which might be-
in prospect.
Asked to Call at Hotel
Miss Eunice Coyne, a newspaper re-
porter in Aberdeen and Miss Jessie
Burchard, of Minneapolis, a clerk in
the Aberdeen internal revenue COL
lector's Office. told of the Democratic
effort to raise money from girl clerks.
Miss Burchard said she had willingly
donated $40 from her salary Of Sl20 a
month after receiving letter from a
Democratic campaign fund raiser, re-
questing her to can at his hotel and
"arrange this matter" About a dozen
of the girl clerks went to the hotel,
she testified, and subscribed $40 each
at that time
A copy of the letter said to have been
received by the girls was presented By
Miss Coyne.
The letter said: "The Democratic
National Committee is raising in this
state fund for campaign expenses and
those who are partaking in the benefits
of Office are asked to assistp You are
cordially requested to sfange this
NV ffor b,
Hotel, room 2l3, during the next three
days"
Miss Coyne said some of the letters
were delayed because they bore in
sufficient postage, and that the girls
had TO pay one cent on them when they
were delivered.
They had even to pay postage in
getting duns from the Democrats, did
they?' Senator Kenyon commented.
Miss Coyne said she understood the
girls who were asked to contribute
were all dependent upon their sl2o a
month salaries; that uiost of them were
living away from home and. because
rent and living costs were high la
Aberdeen. she did not believe they
could afford IT,"
"B.ackjaeking" Defined
A newspaper story written by Miss
Coyne referred to the money raising
among the gi,ls as "blackjacking," and
Senator Reed requested an explanations
of the term. Miss Coyne said 1t wxs q
newspaper word, synonymous with
blackmgii. ~
"You would have used stronger
word ii you had thought of it?" SeRa.
tor Kenyon commented.
"If there is any word too strong TO
be used for this episode do not think
the English language contains il"
Miss Jessie Burchard did not agree
with Miss Ceyne's conclusion that the
girls were unwilling contributors. and
denied that they were afraid Of losing
their jobs if they did NOT contribute. ',
"You think, them" Senator KenyoA
asked, "that the girls all contributed
out Of their enthusiasm for the Demo-
cratic cause?"
81 do"
ESQ there WA jaA . spontaaeosd
outburst Of enthusiastic Z" -,
Evidently" i