Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-02-21
H|CHCOST Of KISSES
CHARGED TO TAYLOR
Valued at 100000 in Girls
Suit Against Penrose's
Former Aide
SAME RATE FOR HUGS

Washington. Feb. T.-I1ugs ant
kisses at 100000 each, the valu,
placed upon them by Miss Alma G
Smythe in her suit against Leighton G.
Taylor. former secretary to the late
Senator Penrose. set a new standard
even for senatorial circles.
Miss Smythes charges interested Off
cial and unofficial Washington. SO did
her suit. But the question that Is
asked here today Is not Are they
true;" but why did she pick on Tay :
lor?"
Her petition recites contacts with
numerous high and low officials-Sen- =
ators. Congressman, secretaries tc
Cabinet members. one or two Cabinet
members themselves, n Lieutenant COVER
nor and others.
Yet in bringing suit she picked out
Taylor. who. she alleges. barred her
way to Senator Pcnrosc. when she
sought 70 see the Senator about claim
she was pressing against the Republi- :
can National Committee.
Taylor refused today to make any
statement about the suit, or the Incl .
dents leading up TO it. He retained
member of the National Legislative
Committee of the American Legion, as
his lawyer. Mr.. Taylor said he was
looking into the facts and might have
statement later in the day.
Meanwhile friends of Secretary Tay-
lor, who has been employed by the PEN
rose estate since the death of the Penn.
sylvania Senator. are saying the suit
and charges are alike preposterous.
Miss Smythe's Story
Miss Smythe's own story appears to-
day in greater detail than she gave 1t
in the petition filed, yesterday in the
District Of Columbia Supreme Court.
o. 1t seems she came here from Penn
sylvania early last spring. She told
those on whom she called that she
sought to collect sum approximating
$50 900 from the Republican national
organization. According to her story,
she had made arrangements to deliver
speeches and do propaganda work for
the presidential campaign. To do this.
she had resigned a lucrative position in
South America-or with South Amer
lean firm. The speeches were prepared.
She put in lot of time in prepara-
tion for her political activities. For
some reason she was never used by
the National Committee and her serv-
ices were dispensed with--still accord
ing to her own story-on short notice.
She sought out Postmaster General
Will Hays. who had been chairman of
the National Committee. Hays told her
TO see Penrose and have her claim veri- =
fed.
Says Taylor Forced Attentions
At that point. she says. Taylor. as
Pcnrose's secretary. blocked her plans
and forced his attentions on her.
BY various devices she sought access
to Penrose. She besieged members OF
the Pennsylvania congressional delega
ton for a personal Introduction to the
Senator. They all referred her to Tay
lOr. And she never got any farther.
Senator Penrose-through Taylor
declined to see her. He did not know
her. knew nothing Of her complaint. NJ
knowledge of the validity of her claim
Never at any time. it appears. did Mis-,
Smythe come in contact with PenrOse
Taylor's intervention and refusal tt
permit her to see PenrOse apparently in
furiatcd her. and. SO Taylor's friend.
say, some interesting details may come
out If the case ever comes to trial.
So far as can be learned here, Mis-,
Smythe never established n residence ir
Pennsylvania. Her home is said tC
have been in Wheeling. w. Va. Sh,
has married sister living in Frank
lin, Pa. whose family is reputed to bt
very wealthy.
Taylor's Quiet Life
Leighton G. Taylor since the Sen
ator's death, has remained here much
of the time to clean up some personal
affairs for the estate. For many years
he has lived mOdcstly in an old fash
ioned house near the Capitol. where he
was employed. His mother and sister re-
side with him.
lie has lived quietly. He has no,
figured in the man about town" class
He seldom goes out socially. During
the life Of the Senator Taylor was nt
his command most of the time-by
night as we'll as day.
Some Of those whom Miss Smythe in
terviewed last spring and summer said
today she was rambling in her con :
versations. at times incoherent and in
clined to be threatening and trouble
some.
At least one Congressman refused to
sponsor her when she sought his in :
huence to see Penrose.
Secret Service men We're ooking up
her record today. They were particu
larry interested in her calls at the White
House, Department Of Justice and on
various high Government officials.