New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-06-05
Gregory Says Statements
by Johnson Supporters
About $500, 600 Outlay
Are Grossly Excessive
Food Chiefs Fight
Run by His Friends
Ssebbins Throws Light
on Contributions Made
10 the " ood Campaign

WASHINGTON, June 4. Warren
Gregory, president of the Hoover Re
publican Club of California, testified
tonight before the Senate committee
investigating preconvention Presiden-
tial campaign expenditures that the
total cost of the Hoover primary fight
in California and in other Pacific
Coast states was SS3.21072.
Mr.. Gregory characterized as ridicu-
lous the statements made recently be-
fore the committee that the Hoover
expenses in California far exceeded
Johnson's. He explained that mas
much as the two California offices were
headquarters for the whole Western
division, the amount actually expended
in California would be considerably
less than the figure he gave
Alexander McCabe, treasurer of the
Johnson organization in California,
testified last Saturday that the Hoover
forces had spent at least 100000 in
California, or "eight or nine times as
much as the johnson supporters. On
the same day the committee heard tes-
timony that a 100000 "slush" fund
had suddenl y been put into the cam
palgn in behalf of Johnson in Cali
lfornia at the last minute.
100000 Grossly Excessive
"Mr. McCabe's statement that he be-
lleved those expenses would exceed
$30oO0o, said Gregory, "was a grossly
excessive estimate. The total expense
incurred in California, including the
San Francisco and Los Angeles Offices.
OF the whole Western division and all
local Offices, was sS3,21O.72. The
amount expended for other Pacific
Coast states makes the total in Cali
lorna considerably less.
~ thls sum very considerable
portion was expended by reason of the
Calltornla law, which required state
vide organization which could select
delegates pledged to Mr. Hoover. who
Vas not and would not be an active
candidate. This law provides that the
Secretary of State must ACE upon a
ballot delegates selected by such an
organization, although such delegates
had not been atfirmative,y chosen or
approved by the candidate
ne remaining expresses were in
Cured in the mailing o: circulars and
letters which were necessary in order
to get the facts before the public. A
great majority of the newspapers in
California were active in behalf of the
candidacy of Senator Johnson, while
many editors had been appointed to
office by Johnson and further num-
Der, being on his delega alton, would not
publish the facts for the Hoover peo-
pie. We were compelled to resort to
paid advertisements and circulars to
attempt to meet the great Johnson
publicity and huge billboard campaign
which extended all over the state. The
State of California has more than
100000 voters and the mailing of one
letter TO each voter cost approx
imately $4,000"
Mr.. Gregory declared Hoover's cam
paign was not financed by any single
individual, and that the largest con-
tribution was for $4,000, from life
long friend Of Hoover He said there
to the fund, the bulk of them made
up of contributions under $lO0 each
Almost all of the workers in behalf
of Hoover were volunteers, Gregory
said
The total expenditure in all South
orn California. having register of
voters of about 100000. amounted to
only S35 O00." explained Gregory. "The
statement made by one of the Johnson
managers that there were thousands
of paid workers in Los Angeles is
ridiculous.'
Gregory told how friends of Hoover
without solicitation from him, went
ahead and organized the movement in
his behalf.
"Mr. Hoover never expressly or by
implication took any part in this organ
ization, nor did the club throughout
the campaign have any connection with
Mr.. Hoover" asserted Gregory. "What-
Continued PAGE thresl