San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-04-17
WHEELERW0ULD
mot INTERVENE
WITNESS SAYS
Geologist Declares Sena-
t. tor Refused Repeat
IL ed Requests.
PROBE GETS TO WORK
Inquiry Into Indictment Of
Montanan Speeds
H,ss. Activities.
PROBE GETS TO WORK

Washington, ID. G.. April 17.-Cut-
ting at once to the heart of the whole
controversy, the special Senate COM
mittee investigating the Montana
charges against Senator Wheeler,
opened its hearings today, with testi-
mony bearing directly on the extent
7 of his activities in Washington in con-
ncction with cases which his Montana
clients were interested.
From Gordon Campbell, geologist,
who said he had employed ting sena-
tor in 1922, to represent him in the
state courts. the committee received
copies of two sets of kilograms pass
ing between him and Wheeler. one
purporting to show that Wheeler had
been advised that the government
could not intervene in Campbclfs be-
half in land proceedings against him.
and the other indicating that the sena-
tor had arranged for Campbell to con-
fer with Solicitor Booth of the Inter
Tor Department regarding 1.-The Lin
coin permit
Campbell. who was indicted with
Wheeler in Montana, insisted this did
not constitute Senator Wheeler's zap
pearance, before the Interior Depart
ment on behalf of his client as charged
in the indictment On the advice OF
Solicitor Booth, the witness said, he
had hired his own Washington Mt
Storney TO handle land eases here. He
insisted that Senator Wheeler had told
him he could not handle such cases
BECAUSE of his election TO the Sena.e'
Former Representative Thomas
Stout of Lewiston. Mont, was the
first witness called to the stand.
Stout Is First Witness.
Stout testified that he had been
editor and publisher OF the Daily
Democrat-News of Lewistown fol
nineteen years and that he had known
Senator Wheeler "quiet intimately
Tor a number of years. Stout also
said he had talked with Gordon
Campbell in December. 1922. about
Campbell's employment of Senator
Wheeler.
Campbell did not know Wheeler
Stout said. and be volunteered TO SEE
wheeler about his being retained
The case involved was receivershill
natter in the state district court.
When he saw Wheeler. Stout said
he latter advised him that he could
not represent Campbell except before
state courts.
Stout said he had had no further
connection with the matter but knew
hat Wheeler had appeared for Camp
bell in state court cases.
The witness said his conversation
NTH Campbell about the employment
IL Senator Wheeler took place in De-
|cmber. 1922. a month after Wheeler
HAS elected 10 the Senate.
The litigation related TO an effort
q throw Campbell info receivership
lie himself. Stout said, was not in
crested lin any way" in the COM
Fany. He also said the fee Wheeler
sked to represent Campbell was said
o be $4,000 a year.
Stout thought John Nj. Cooper. now
{ Los Angeles. might have been with
i'm at the time of his conversation
-ith Wheeler in Butte. but he was
lot sure.
Campbell Next Witness.
Chairman Borah told Stout that his
testimony that Wheeler had raised
he question of his inability TO rep
esent Campbell in state courts was
very IMPORTANT" part of commit
ee's record. Stout reiterated his
tatement that such was the fact. "DC
on know anything about the extent
nd number of cases Campbell had
h the courts in Montana asked
enator Borah..
No. except that he had great
cal of litigation.
Gordon Campbell. indicted with
Wheeler. followed Stout on the stand
nd waived all immunity.
Campbell began his testimony by
pying he was geologist and telling
L. nf tha MN