New Britain herald., 1923-11-13
Blames Failure Of Veter-
ans Bureau on "Politics
and Sawyer" Friend Of
Late President.
Claims There Is a Gigantic
Conspiracy of Perjury
and Suppression of Facts
To Destroy Him.

Washington. Nov. 13.--"A conspir-
acy TO encompass my destruction by
means of perjury, suborination OF
perjury and the suppression of ma
terial facts and documents" was
charged by Charles r. Forbes, for
mer director of the Veterans bureau,
in testimony today before the SEN
ate veterans committee.
Absolute Denial
Taking the stand in his own de-
Tense before crowded committee
room. the former director entered a
general, sweeping and absolute de-
nal" of charges made by other wit
nesses rejecting upon his honesty.
The denial was directed, the witness
said, against every charge, statement,
ipnuendo and inslnuation which in
any manner whatsoever reflects upon
lac honesty and integrity of my Of
iicial or personal conduct while I oc-
cupicd the office of director of war
risk insurance or director of the vet
erans' bureau"
Hits At Sawyer
Most of the deficiencies In the ad-
ministration of the laws providing
for relief TO disabled veterans, he de-
clarcd, had been due to politics and
Sawyer" He was referring TO briga-
dier General Charles Il. Sawyer, per-
sonai friend and physician of Presi-
dent Harding.
Denies His Dismissal.
Forbes then fiatly denied the state
Ia IN
DR. sawyer, that he was dismissed by
President Harding for insubordina-
ticp IN connection with the sale of
Surplus property al Perryvllle, Md.
Long before the president finally
decided 10 issue his second temporary
order stopping the delivery OF goods
a. TeiryVilie," the former director
saih ! frankly told the president
that | could not continue TO serve if
General sawyer was TO continue IN
my oince. and IL became simply a
choice bptween Sawyer and myself,
and rrticyed the president of any
poisinlD Embarrassment by rendering
ms Resignation"
Invites Questions.
A. the outset Forbes read pre-
pa rea statement In which he earnest
~ requested the committee members
r. question him most searchingly as
tu all matters within the scope Of the
inssFtigation and Of the testimony
heretofore given and which he was to
give.
II feel that 7 cannot refrain from
expressing TO the committee at this
time" Forbes said. my growing be-
lief, finally resulting IN conviction on
my part. which ] expected by the
testimony nj disinterestcd witnesses
to establish, that an attempt has been
made to mislead this committee, and
that a conspiracy has been on foot,
the purpose of which is TO encompass
my destruction by means Of perjury.
attempted subornation of perjury, and
suppression Of material facts and doc
unents bearing not only upon my per-
sonal conduct as director Of the Vet
erans' bureau, but also upon the Of
ficiai conduct of the affairs of the
bureau by myself and my subordi-
mates.
II deny generally. and shall here
after deny specifically and in detail.
the utterly false and groundless
charges Of official and personal me-
glect, dishonesty, graft. liquor drink
Ing. loose conduct, and any and every
other derliction of duty, of1icial or
personal, which has been aseribed to
me either by the witnesses Mortimer
and williams and others, or charged
against me by the counsel of this
committee.
Il do not mean that my administra-
tion was blameless; ! do not deny its
imperfections; I do not seek to shift
any responsibilities to others, dead or
alive: but I do assert that 7 have not
consciously been guilty Of any wrong
doing either by act or neglect.
II feel IL is only proper 10 state that
did not seek this position. I arm
rank TO say that while ] have never
1een particularly active as a politi-
ian, although always a republican,
set when the present administration
came into office was ambitious, on
account Of my experience. to become a
member of the shipping board. which
ambition ! communicated to the late
president, who had been my political
and personal friend for many years.
Talks With Harding
President Harding frankly advised
me that il was impossible for him to
crafty my ambition: and he ultimate
ly rendered to me the position OF di-
rector of war risk insurance. ! ac-
cepted the position with much mis-
giving. with the expressed desire on
my part that ! might retire from the
Office at the end of year.
When ] first met Colonel Choi- ]
meley Jones, (the retiring DIRECTOR
he said TO me. Colonel Forbes. you
are coming into job that viii ir1ng
you only grief and sorrow. J have
done everything within my power 10
build up this institution and make II
really worth while. IT is politically
stagnant and ] do not believe that you
OF any other man will ever BE- s,ie 10