Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-10-04
PRESIDENT DENIES
He ORDERED PROBE
INTO BANKRUPTCY
Governor in Financial Diff
cuIties Would Hurt Party
Is Basis of Charges by
State Leader

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, oct. 2.-(BY
the Associated Press.) = Charges
made by men thoroughly familiar
with Governor Warren T. McCray's
financial affairs that the executive
had embezzled public funds led to
the call of the Republican state COM
mittee in indianapolis yesterday.
former Governor James p. Goodrich
declared in a statement to the Asso-
ciated Press today. The statement
was in reply to charge earlier IN
the day by John Norman, of Knox,
Ind. political adviser to Governor
McCray, that the meeting had been
ordered by President Coolidge at the
instigation of Mr. Goodrich.
Mr.. Goodrich denied emphatically
that he had ever discussed Mr.. Nc
Cray's financial situation with Pres
ident Coolidge and branded as abso-
1utely false" Mr. MoOrmans asser-
ton that the committee meeting was
ordered by the president ION the rep
resentation of myself that McCray 5
failure as a farmer would seriously
hamper the prospects of the Repub-
lican party among the farmer voters.
Mr.. Moorman's statement was
made at the governors office here
today following "a consultation with
the executive. Mr. Norman IS
chairman of the Thirteenth Indiana
2 district
''The committee meeting Monday,
said Mr.. Norman, really was or.
dered by President Calvin Coolidge
on the representation of James P.
Goodrich that McCray's failure as a
farmer would seriously hamper the
prospects of the Republican party
among the farmer voters. The pres
ident was made fully acquainted
with the situation in Indiana IL short
time ago when Goodrich, who has
been thoroughly familiar with the
governors plight, was entertained at
luncheon at the White House. 1t IS
patent that Postmaster General New
came to Indiana a the direct re-
quest of President Coolidge to look
into affairs, and this is borne out
by the fact that it was scarcely more
than twenty minutes after the post
master generals arrival that the
wheels were in motion to call the
state committee to out Governor M
Cray
Governor McCray was to be re
moved from office, to be branded as
q criminal, if possible. in order to
show to the whole country that he
was not a victim of agricultural de-
preston which might be traceable TO
the administration in power at Wash
ington."
Mr.. Norman also charged in his
statement that Clyde A. Walb, Re
publican state chairman, had told
him that before acceding to a re.
quest by Mr.. Norman for postpone
ment of the state committee meet
ing it would be necessary TO com
municate with Mr.. New, at Washing
ton. Later, without giving him Il
reply, Mr. Norman declared that
Chairman Walb had said that the
meeting would not be postponed.
The governor properly declined
to appear before the state commit
tee continued Mr. Norman, "be-
cause it was beneath the dignity of
@ governor of Indiana to submit his
\ personal misfortunes to a group Of
politicians who We're without proper
authority.
He has done all any mortal could
do to protect his creditors from loss,
turning over all of his property, his
wife evne waving her rights. That
is not the act of a crook
Postmaster General New. who re-
manned in Indianapolis today, when
told of Mr. Moorman's statement,
asserted there was not a word q
truth in the report that President
Coolidge had ordered the meeting.
Ut is an utterly reckless and alb
solTely baseless statement" declar-
ed Mr.. New. There isn't word of
truth in it. SO far as I know the
president did not even know there
was to be meeting of the Indiana
Republican committee. l came to
Indianapolis solely at the request Of
the state committee"
COOLIDGE SAYS CHARGES
ARE WITHOUT FOUNDATION
WASHINGTON, Oct. 2. = White
House officials declared positively
without foundation" today charges
made in Indianapolis by John Moor
man, close friend of Governor Nc
Cray, of Indiana, that the meeting
of the Indiana Republican state conf
mittee held yesterday to consider the
Indiana executives financial affairs
was by order of President Coolidge.
4 President Coolidge. it was said at
' the White House, is not concerning
himself with politics in any state
With reference 10 the further charge
made by Mr.. Norman that tire preSi-
dent ordered 6he meeting at the IN
stigation of former Governor Good
rich, it was declared that MI Good
rich had not calico on The president
or been in commu"iGation with nm
sincethe financial troubles of Gov
ernor McCray became generally
known.
Postmaster General New attended
yesterdays meeting of the state com-
mittee, but he did so. it was declared.
merely as an Indiana political leader.
and not as an emissary OF The preSi-
don't