New-York tribune., 1920-05-07
Senate Inquiry
Into Campaign!
FundsProposed
Rorah Resolution Asks
investigation Includ e
Contesting Delegations
From Southern States
Ou;ck Action Promised
Johnson Men Hope to Have
Committee Hear Charges
p Before the Convention

.. m. Tr;oune's Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, May 6.--Investiga-
.;.n NV The Senate into the campaign
.xnenditures of Presidential candidates
srd "the promise or use of patronage
.nd the providing of funds for setting
m contesting delegations" to the Re-
nrbl;can> National Convention in the
sonth was demanded in the Senate to-
kdsv by Senator Borah, of Idaho.
Senator Borah, who is the principal
,urnorter in the Senate of the candi-
6acy of Senator Hiram w. Johnson, of
California, introduced resolution
nroviding for the proposed investiga-
finn. 1t was referred to the Commit.
,ee on Privileges and Elections, and
Senator Borah was assured that it
would be acted upon without delay.
The move is aimed at the alleged use
of enormous funds by the campaign
forces OF Major General Leonard Wood,
and at Frank H. Hitchcock, one of the
Wood managers, under whose direction,
have been started in more than one
hundred districts in the South. Senator
Borah declared he did not consult Sem
s+or Johnson before presenting the res
olution.
The Johnson followers in the Sen
Aste hope to have the investigating
= ommittee instructed, in case the res
G 4ution is adopted by the Senate, to sit
I'm Chicago while the Republican Ma
tional Committee IS deciding the con-
tests.
Attacks Situation in South
Discussing the purpose of his reso-
luton, Senator Bofah said:
"The resolution is broad enough to
cover all matters relating to pre-con-
vention campaign expenditures and
practices. But there is one feature Of
the investigation, which deals with a
Long standing evil that is up to the
Republican party to eliminate, and
that is the Southern situation. If the
Northen Republicans would let the
Southern Republicans alone | believe
they could and would build up in the
South a strong and influential party
organization-a most highly desirable
thing. 1t might not soon become a
majority party, but strong, respect
able minority party would be whole
some for the South as we'll as the
North.
'I have had many letters from the
South in the last few months, es-
pecially from the young men, urging
that the carpet-bag politicians of the
North stay away and let them alone
and give them an opportunity to build
up respectable organization. But the
delegate hunters go South, and with
Federal patronage and money, demor-
alize the whole situation. l have sat
upon two committees on credentials
at national conventions and the condi-
tions revealed are simply intolerable.
Conditions Declared Worse Now.
81 am informed by chairman of the
Republican State Central Committee of
8 Southern state and by numerous let
ters that the situation at present is
much worse than it has ever been. This
part of the resolution has been in
serted by reason of an appeal from
Southern Republicans, some of whom l
know to be men of great respectability.
l feel sure We will be able at Chicago
to get the real facts as to how this
work Is carried on and as to how here
after to prevent it. All the facts will
come out in these contests.
The subcommittee of the Committee e
on Privileges and Elections, if | had
my way about it, would sit at Chicago
during the days of the convention.
There Is only one way to stop such
things and that is to stop them by tax
ing hold of the situation at the point
Where 1t is most vulnerable"