Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-10-19
TAFT STRONG FOR LEAGUE,
BUT WITH C. 0. P. LABEL
Correspondence Of League to En-
force Peace Is Given Out
mt st. Louis.
SENATE PRoBERs IN SESSION
Charge Made That Body Headed by
EX-President Violated Logan Act
by Negotiating With Govern
mcats of Foreign Countries.
JRv Associated Press. I


ST. LOUIS. MO, Oct. 1S.-Scores of
confidential letters from the files OF
the League TO Enforce Peace, OF
which William Howard Taft is presi-
dent. were introduced into the record
OF the Senate committee investigating 6
campaign expenses here late today.
Names OF number OF prominent New
York bankers were mentioned In the
correspondence.
d. II. Hunt, attorney tor the COM
mittec. who investigated the activi-
ties Of the league, reported that .'in
have violated the Logan act, passed
January 80, 1899. which prohibits
American citizens carrying on neso-
tiations with foreign governments or
their agents regarding disputes or
controversies without the permission
OF the United States. The act car
ries a penalty upon conviction, of
fines not more. than $1,000 and i'm
prisonment OF from six months to
three yoars. -
:. Hold. One-Day ses.ion.
The Senate committee met here to-
day to complete It's Investigation of
the pre-convcntion campaign in Mis-
souri, and adjourned TO meet again
some time after the election. Before
adjourning kilograms were dispatched
to the chairmen of the Republican and
Democratic National. Senatorial and
Congressional Committees. directing
tenn to file complete statements OF
their receipts, expenditures an d
pledges at Chicago on Thursday. Oc-
tober IS. THE reports will be made
public at that time.
The report of Mr. Hunts investiga-
tion of tho League TO Enforce Peace
proved the sensation OF the day. Doz-
ems OF confidential letters between
Mr.. Taft, George w. Wickcrsham.
Theodore Marburg and others were
given.
In his summary Mr.. Hunt says that
Herbert $. Houston testified before
the committee that he had talked
with Leon bourgeois. of France; Lord
Robert Cecil and David Lloyd George
in regard to the United States enter
ing the league of nations and that
Edward 4. Filene, of Boston, who has
been abroad on similar mission, is
now lin Germany on n mission to get
Germany into the league"
1.-The correspondence and data
which follow hear out the charge
which / am about to make" Mr.
Hunts report said. that this organ
ization has. through its officials. by
correspondence and conferences. talk
ed with various officials o. foreign
governments about getting this and
other countries into the league OF ma
tions peace treaty. all of which, in
n t.in1 Ia Of
Logan act"
Removes Personal Letters.
Mr.. Hunt also charged that Will
liam f. Short. secretary OF the
league. took from the files certain
letters between Mr.. Short and George
w. Wickcrsham. in which Mr.. Short
proposed campaign in the interest
of Governor Cox, and Mr.. Wickersham
agreed in part Mr. Short refused
to give up the letters, the report
states. on tho ground that they were
personal.
ter from Mr. Shorts files, addressed
to Mr.. Taft under the date of August
13. said:
Personally. find myself much in
clined to act with the Cox forces.
and am under the Impression that 4
good many OF those who. like my
self. have hitherto been Republicans.
are likely to take the same course.
Many others will support Harding.
Professor Irving Fishers
report furnished considerable reason
10 believe that Harding will yield
10 pressure as the canvass goes for
ward, hut his vacillation and lack of
principle do not commend him to
me-