Evening star., 1924-03-09
Continued from First Page.)

in the Senate, appeared voluntarily
and denied under oath three separate
stories told by Ira E.~Bennett, an edi-
torial writer for the Washington Post.
Major Testiles Again.
John F. Major, one of McLean's
agents. testified that Mclean and AL
bert b. Fall had discussed beforehand
what Fall should tell the committee
regarding the famous 100000 loan.
Z. S. Rochester. attached to the
Office of Attorney General Daugherty,
told the committee that his telegram
informing Mclean at Palm Beach CT
the impending inquiry into his bank
account in connection with the loan
was a purely personal message, and
hau no relevancy to his connection
with the Department Of Justice.
Francis I. Homer of Baltimore. a
legal adviser to Mclean, denied a
statement in one of the Mclean tele-
grams that he had Suggested quick
and easy access to the White House"
as one reason why the publisher
should nave a private telegraph wire
installed between the Office of the
Post here and his cottage at Palm
beach,
Curtis Twice on Stand.
Senator Curtis, the first member
OF the Senate to testify in the inquiry.
was on the stand twice, each time ar
MS own request. His first appearance
was to deny Benefits testimony that
he mad had conversation with Ben
nett Just before the celebrated "prin-
eipaf message was sent to Mclean.
Ihe second appearance of the SEN
ator was to contradict iatly two new
statements made by Bennett, who had
followed him in the witness chair.
having been called to make a further
explanation of his statement about
the principal telegram.
one story Senator Curtis denied
Was that he had told Bennett that he
mad suggested to President CooIid pe
soon after he had succeeded To the
presidency, that he should force At
torney General Daugherty to resign.
me otner story was that Senator
Surtls mad given advice to Mclean
Post should adopt with respect to the
pubiication of matter in connection
with the oil inquiry.
Bennett GriIled.
There was no cross-examination of
Senator Curtis. Bennett, however,
was grilled mercilesslv and had sew
eral sharp alterations with senators
and finally the situation reached the
stage where Senator Adams, demo-
crat, Colorado informed the witness
that he thought 1t utterly imma-
teriaP' what Bennett said.
Called as the first witness. Senator
Curtis gave to the committee sub
stantially the same statement he
made public Friday after Bennett
had left the witness stand. He said
Bennett and Major had called on him
to ask if he would ascertain whether
the committee would take a state
ment from Mclean and not require
him to come to Washington.
The Kansas senator said he sug-
senator and that in that connection
he mentioned either Senator Under
wood or Senator Robinson. Later, he
said, he asked Senator Underwood if
McLean's representatives had been to
see him and received the reply that
they had. but that Subpoenat for
Mclean already had been issued.
Saw Bennett Later.
IL do not remember of seeing Mr..
Bennett to talk with him again." Sen
ator Curtis said. until the day Sen
ator Norris made his speech"
January 80, the day after the 'prin-
cipal" message was sent. Senator
Norris in his address referred to one
of the members of the Mclean family,
and Senator Curtis told the committee
- that he had asked Senator Borah to
request Senator Norris to eliminate
the reference from the Record. and
that he himself had spoken to Senator
Norris on the subject Later on the
same day, Senator Curtis continued.
matter and was told that Senator
Norris would withdraw his remarks.
After Senator Norris had with
drawn his statement from the record,
the Arkansas senator continued. Ben
nett saw him again and thanked him.
That is my recollection of every
thing that occurred" Senator Curtis
said in concluding his statement, "and
Of my various conversations with Mr..
Bennett"
Denies Bennett Story.
Senator Curtis told the committee
Bennett on January 90, and upon his
second appearance he stated that he
had had none with him either on
January 2S or January q. These
dates were brought in, it was ex-
planned, because Bennett had stated
that he saw the senator a day or two
days before sending the 'principaf'
message.
DO you remember" asked Senator
Walsh, ever having had any talk
cal effect of the disclosures made by
the committee?"
II do not" was the response.
did Mr.. Bennett ever deliver to
you any message from Mr.. mclean!
He did not"
Bennett was recalled and told the
committee certainly" in response to
q question as to whether he wanted
to make any further statement re-
testimony of Senator Curtis. He then
said that Senator Curtis apparently
had forgotten entirely one conversa-
ton the witness had had with him
and probably two.
Urged to Tell Story.
The witness expressed reluctance
to relate the conversation to wnien
mittee he did not want to spread
any scandal" Senators Walsh and
Dill suggested that he should tell.
We'll, let me be compelled to re-
Of heat. Il will not do it unless
am compelled to do 80"
Bennett declared there was no de.
sire on his part to "evade anything,
that it was "to save others" that ne
ton. The committee voted that he
should tell.
The witness then stated that at
McLean's direction he had asked
Senator Curtis what the attitude or
the Post should be regarding the
oiI Investigation; whether 1t should
be non-commital" or should publish
"rumors and scandalous stuff" not
disclosed in the public hearings.
Says Opinion Given.