Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-05-06

there will be bitter struggle for po-
litical supremacy between the Ware
and the Moore forces.
Has Never Seen Schmidt
Mr.. Roggenberger, whose name was
brought into the situation by reason Of
the similarity Of his name 20 the name
furnished by the mysterious stranger
to Schmidt, was seen ut his home.
"I have never seen Mr.. schmidt
never went TO see him and would not
know him II l were to meet him." he
said. ANY reports that have 1t that
j was the 60 between are just political
bunk The description given by Mr..
Schmidt of the man who went to see
him to get the bribc fits me in two
respects, but ] am more than six feet
tall. so that the medium height would
hardly apply TO me.
"I am not interested in furthering
any trolley projects, and the first
knew Of the bribery case was when I
read about the councilmapic meeting in
the newspapers tonight. have plenty
Of political enemies 10 the Ware camp,
and any efforts TO link my name up with
this case nre just political propaganda.
l had nothing to do with
Patton Scents Trick
Councilman Patton projected another
angle into the situation when he asked
IL 1t were possible that big interests
were trying to stampede and scare
Council into quick action on measures
affecting transit facilities; Councilman
Won Tagen, another member Of the in
vestigating committee. declined to dis
cpss any phase Of the matter on the
ground that he was II member of the
committee. Councilman Limeburncr.
who, IL was testified yesterday. called on
Mr.. Schmidt at the Bellevue Stratford
Hotel, declined to make any statement
this morning.
Discussing the Investigations, Mr..
Weglein said this morning: -.
"Somethius seems to tell me that IL
there were NJ going to be a primary
in week o, two this investigation
would never have been pulled off.
"Mr. Cox, the Ware councilman who
introduced the investigating resolution,
admitted to me that he had no facts to
work on. All that he has is a bunch
of rumors and the newspaper stories.
lie told me that himself.
Session Clears Council
80 far as Council is concerned. yes
terday afternoon s hearing cleared every
member completely. Mr.. Schmidt gave
the whole Council clean bill Of health.
Colley Baker. the newspaper reporter
called. could not name a bill that came
within his classification of pinch
bill.
"Of course, I am no mindreader. but
it's my impression that the coming of
the primary had a great deal to do with
the opening up of this investigation.
."And since the resolution only went
so far as an investigation of Council by
Council, ] look at the whole thing as a
fivver. We've gone as far as we can
20 under the resolution and l can't see
how any good is going to be done drag
ging It out.
a grand jury and 60 on investigating ad
lib. That's for the district attorney
or the police to do.
"As far as this man of mystery is
I don't know what to
think. I would not question Mr..
word.
but it Is entirely possible that the
man that visited him was not even con
nected with politics. He may have
been swindler who knew that Mr..
Schmidt had just come to Philadelphia
and thought him green and tried to
null one across on him.
but even II that Is not so, it is "a
case for the district attorney and not
for Council