The Washington times., 1920-09-01
und Charges Mark End of Present Political System Say Lawmakers

ostensibly news matter Democratic
and League OF Nations Advertisements
without the advertising credit line.
Mr.. White was unable to solve the
mystery as to who has put up the
money for the organization OF the
League OF Nations propaganda boiler
plates" He admitted, however. that
he had under Advisement the cir
cularization OF the plate story, Uncle
Sam OF Freedom Ridge" issued
free OF charge" TO country newspa-
pers by the Western Newspaper
Unin. This plate matter has been
paid for by somebody and newspapers
throughout the country have been In
ytted to accept II free.
COST ss0,oOs TO CIRCULATE.
Miles ii. McMiilen. Chicago. man
ager OF the newsplate distribution
agency. testified that the cireuiAriEa-
tion cost might approximate $50. 900.
Manager Mcmillan also had admit
ted that the paid-for plate was TO be
published in such a fashion that the
farmer and small town readers would
be unable TO guess that IL was po-
litlcAl propaganda or Advertising.
Senator Kenyon suggested that
such procedure was contrary 10 the
corrupt practice act which many
States have on their statute books.
He questioned Chairman White along
this line.
Mr.. White at nrst explained the
occasion for his interest In the
"Uncle Sam OF Freedoms Ridge" ar
ticle. He said:
"William Cochran. who has charge
OF the Democratic Bureau Of Public
ity. came to me. Oh, perhaps ten days
or two weeks ago. He brought this
article to me and asked me IL had
read II. said ] had. with very great
pleasure and instruction.
He asked. What do you think OF
the plan to circularize II In the coun-
try? l said l thought IT a very good
thing. Well he said. 4 would better
get" the price on IL
TOLD COST WOULD BE HIGH
II asked him how much II would
cost. He said. I don't know definite
ly. but think about $4,000. think
he based IL on $3.50 a paper. As rec
oliect 1t, he said $3.50 for the plates.
and on the basis OF. perhaps. 5000
papers 1t would cost something like
$4,000.
81 asked. you don't know definite
ly?' He said, no I said, you find
out He said then, could 1 go ahead
II IL Is not over sl5,OOO?' remark
ed that we didn't have $4,000 in the
treasury just then. but II he would
come around later and bring me the
exact figures would decide on II.
That Is all 1 know about it,"
AS TO ANONYMOUS "ADs."
Questioned by Senator Edge:
You are familiar. take II. as
Chairman OF the National Committee.
with the fact that in some OF the
States where 1t is your purpose to
have II accepted. they have a Corrupt
Practice Act, which requires very
definitely a line at the bottom OF any
advertisement reading something like
this: paid for by either an individ-
uaI, or by Democratic National Com
mittee," whatever 1t might be- Al
know that Is true in general political
Advertisements. This article appear
ed IN the Atlantic Monthly, I think.
in May or June. Doubleday PaGs
and Company PubiisheA II In . booh,
I think, vvhich sold fer 81 50 all over
Ne country.
"a. 1 am asking you what your
opinion is. II the Democratic Ma
tional Committee should send this
out, paying the Western Newspaper
Union so much per page-of course
they are paying for it---and IL goes
to a newspaper in State where the
Corrupt Practice act requires label
ing advertisements paid for by so
and So" is II your belief that the
name of him who paid for II should
not be placed on the ad. to comply
with the act?
A. would want to take that up
with an attorney. l very frankly
haven't thought OF It,
TELLS OF $4,000 DEAL
Senator Kenyon-Jf you could have
arranged for this $4,000 you were
willing to do IL? A. / was intending
to do Il.
Q. That would have gone TO Re-
publican papers as well As Demo-
cratic papers: A. suppose It
Q. Whoever read It in a Republi-
can paper wouldn't know 1t was a.
nanced by the Democratic committee
and wouldn't know 1t was part OF the
campaign. That 10 90. isn't IT. A.
suppose so.
O. SO farmer who might pick
up Uncle Sam OF Freedom Ridge"
and read it over In his Republican
paper wouldn't nave any idea tnat
the Democrats were paying for 1t.
would he?
A. No.
Q. Is that the kind Of campaign we
are going TO have7 DO you really
believe that Is an ethical kind!
A. No l said l haven't given the
word to send Il out.
Q. am just wondering how much
of that kind of business IL going
on in this country
A. I don't know. I read boiler
plate in the Republican and Demo-
cratic newspapers I am not a news
paer man and don't know what
boiler plate" IL, except that It's the
stuff that gets in the country papers.
NOT QUITE ETHICAL.
Q. You consider this kind OF thing
would not be ethical. A. 1 don't
think IL would.
q. Don't you think II might be a
good idea to have some remark 3
along that line so as to know who
is paying for that A. / can't quar-
rel with you on that at all.
BY Senator Edge:
q. Wouldn't it appear to you, as
4 business man. to be at least an