The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-09-09


tensIve drives for fundsin nifty -four
cities In the United states, Henry
N. Blair. chief "money petter" un.
der National Treasurer Fred w.
uphan,, testified before the senate
"siush fund" Inquiry here today.
This testimony by Blair and the
summonlns OF Charles Boesehen.
steln, democratic national commit.
nan from Illinois, to explain why
't had sent soliciting letters to civil
'erviee postmasters, featured the
opening session Of today's hearing.
Under vigorous cross examination
W senator James A. Reed, OF Mis-.
'curl, Blair admitted that the pIan 4
or an intensive money pettlnp
rive In flfty-four cities had been
evolved, but said that II had never
been carried out because state
ehalrmen In some states and several F..
city leaders objected to Il.
Form 101," which purports to be the
documentary proof of republican cam
paign plans for raising money, was sub
united to Blair by Senator Reed and the
witnesses admitted 1t was incomplete.
He was compelled to produce the COM
plete form which was put into the rec
ords as an exhibit. This form showed
limit OF $4,000 on contributions but
It was the plan outlined IN this form
which Blair said had not been adopted
~, Then IL Gov. Cox charges that the
republicans had plans for an intensive
campaign In hfty-one cities he was UNI
dertakings the case by three" said
Senator Reed. The witness admitted
this.
Cities Worked IntensiveIy.
! Among the cities listed by Blair as
being worked intensively were Chicago.
where the drive opened last night; New
York, Cincinnati Cleveland, Toledo.
Akron. Columbus, Detroit, indianapolis,
Fort Wayne. South Bend. Pittsburgh,
milwaukee,. San Francisco. Los Angeles
Denver Kansas City and st. Louis.
He said the drive was abandoned for
Minneapolis, st. Paul. Dallas. Houston
and number of other cities where the
opposition was too strong"
Blair explained that the plan was to
have campaign for the larger contri-
buttons early and to leave the matter of
getting smaller contributions to the lat
ter part of the campaign. His plans for
81 drive near the close of the cam
paign was abandoned, Blair said be-
cause Col. William Boyce Thompson,
chairman of the republican ways and
means committee would not stand for
he had control. ...,
FARMERS TESTIMONY
An attempt by Charles 5. Soc.
sehensteln, democratic national
coytimltteerran for Illinois. to so-.-
iieh campaign funds from pcstmas-
ters was presented to the senate
Wlillan, 8. Fariow, Of Aususts, M,
u developed that Mr.. Farlow had
volunteered his testimony and that
his evidence consisted OF five let
sSan, postmaster at Augusta. and
written statement from the lat.
I fer certifying that he had given the
NJ letters, TO Mr.. FarIow. ey
4 m Regular Drives
II Mr. Blair produced a copy OF that
Norm and when II was compared with
Nhe copy of the same form which Gov.
Cox had sent to the committee by Ed
mund Moore. his personal representa-
tive, the governors, copy was found to
he incomplete. An entire paragraph
which appeared in Mr.. Blairs copy
was omitted from that sent by the gov
ernor. The paragraph suggested that
$accepted. removing the $1,000 limit
liked. by Chairman Hays. The copy
furnished by the governor merely sug-
gestcd that contributions from $4,000
upward he received
while he planned drives in fifty-four
cities, Mr.. Blair said. II was found I'M
possible to carry out the program be-
cause of, local conditions In some
places. He mentioned Minneapolis, st.
Paul, Dallas. and Houston, as cities
where the drives were abandoned be-
cause Il was mot expedient' he said,
to start them. Our experience In At
lanta was not so encouraging he ex-
I'D IN Testimony
q, w. Mcclure. Georgia state cnair-
man, about the failure or the urive
there
"You did. though. contemplate organ
izing drives in ffty-four cities? Sem
ator Reed asked.
Yes sir"
80 II Gov. Cox or any other man
charges you had plans for organizing
in fftyone cities, he simply understated
didn't he
Yes sir ...-.
Mr.. Blair explained that the cam
paign plan was commonly useo LOT
money drives for hospitals, Y. M. Z. a.
buildings, and in war, drives ana that
ali his assistants had worked In such
activities and knew. Mr.. Blair uenied
that the question of city quotas was
discussed. The substitute for form lOl
was given out at this luncheon ne said'
hui no comics of 10l were present.
senator Reed finally obtained assent
10 rs,ropositions that the national ways
s-Snd means committee appointed the
state chairman then sent paid workers
10 aid these chairman and finally by
taking money raised BY those agencies
approved their acts.
Mr. Blair explained that the leaders
Of The Cleveland drive asked that they
he allowed 20 raise $s50,OOO as Una.
a citS's mart of the Ohio quota OF Sebo'oOo
with the proviso that II they went TO
sl0f 600 the difference would he applied
10 the purposes OF the county commit
tee In Cuyafroga county
Mr.. Blair said he DISCOURAGED uhoer-
writing OF city quotas and was then
asked 10 explain nash from me
Acid. In Aug. 16. bulletins which
stated; 49,. an
derwritten that elty's quota inc iu"
n mount 70 he delivered by sept.
~ consider that just bull sara MT
Blair. .,,.,," a.sr.a
the witness and the merriment hstea
untU senator Kenyon rapped TOR oFdet
senator Reed asked Blair about
luncheon At the Union League clun'
IN q Wnl n Hays. republican ma
tionai chairman, was present ana
smoke, the witness said FREQ W.
T'pham. the national treasurer was
host.
Preliminary OHts.
Blair testified that the hrst pan oI
the republicans had been kho~n ~
the preliminary gifts campaign ana lne
instruction 10 WAYS and means COM
rlitecs in the various states had been
- obtain contributions from indlvio
tusig ''who were able 20 contribute tlvo
49, 4 OO0" Later when the people
Mad become aroused on the issue ,,.
Hisir said the campaign for smaller
amounts was 10 be launched. This pop
ular campaign. he testified. IL on now.
"This camnairn" Blair said. Is 10