New-York tribune., 1920-07-10
Declares u. S.
Paid Paln1er's
Campaign Aids
Woman Tells Senate Fund
Inquiry That Persons En-
ployed to Fight Living
Cost Worked for Votes
Democratic Money Plenty
Missourians Got Checks
to Boost for Attorney
General and Gov. Cox

ST. LOUIS, July 9.--Questioning Of
a dozen witnesses by the Senate COM
mittee investigating campaign expen-
ditures to-day resulted in charges that
high cost of living bureaus established
by the Department of Justice were
political enterprises" used primarily
to "bring about the nomination of At
torney General A. Mitchell Palmer for
President by the Democratic National
Convention"
$3.50 Checks Distributed
Witnesses also declared that Edward
F. Goltra, Democratic National Com
mitteeman from Missouri, distributed
$3.50 checks to St. Louis delegates to
the state convention, which was instru-
mental in the ousting of Senator James
Reed, of Missouri, from his national
convention seat. Goltra was declared
by witnesses to be supporter of
Palmer, but few also admitted re-
ceiving expense money from A. C.
Stuevers, a local capitalist, said to
have been q supporter of Governor
Cox.
The charges against the Attorney
General and the Department Of Jus
tice were made by Miss Olivia
Brueggeman, former executive secre-
tary of the Missouri Women's High
Cost of Living Bureau, who declared
she twas dismissed because I was a
Republican"
Talked Politics With Women
Mrs. John R. Leighty, chairman of
the bureau, and Miss Mary Scott, it's
publicity director, partly contradicted
Miss Brueggeman's testimony. declar,,
ing that, while its representatives had
attended state Democratic and Repub-
lican conventions partly at government
expense, they did so to organize coun-
ties in the anti-high-cost-o of living
campaign.
Questioned by Senator Kenyon, they
admitted that "no counties were or
ganized at these conventions" and that
they also talked politics with the wom-
en- there.
Miss Brueggeman, answering ques-
tions without hesitation, told the COM
mittee that workers employed by the
Department of Justice to educate the
people in lowering living costs con-
and generally the only time living costs
were mentioned was when the speak
ers would explain that Election of
Palmer to the Presidency would mean
lower prices"
Publicity Boosted Palmer
eve were asked to include Palmer
publicity matter in our high cost of
living publicity and to use it in such q
way that it would not be quickly de-
tected as boost for him for President
This xuoo dana C11nb p,th1iNifu MO q
frequently mailed to 219 Missouri
papers.
"It was used by only q few, how
ever, and this caused an investigation
by Howard Figg, an Assistant Attorney
General. 1t then came out that was
Republican and l was dismissed. Mrs
Frank Hayes, former chairman of the
bureau, also was dismissed because she
was Republican.
when our representatives attended
the state conventions the government
paid their railroad fare and allowed 50
a day extra. They went apparently tc
boost Palmer for President"
Bureaus Cost 100000 Year
Miss Brueggeman said there were
eighteen high cost of living bureaus
in the country, run at a cost Of al
least 100000 year." and that she un-
derstood they also were used to advo'
cate Palmer's candidacy.
Miss Scott denied that any publicity
matter in support Of the Attorney Gen.
erals candidacy had been sent out from
the bureau. Senator Kenyon asked he,
questions so fast that at times she
seemed on the verge of breaking down
Before God, Senator, we were justi.
fed in using government money to at.