Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1924-04-29
OlLCOMMITTEE
HOLDS STORMY
SESSION TODAY
Hearing Results in Personal
Row When Widow Of Jake
Hamon is Called; Witness
Excused
(By The Associated Pre- =

WASHINGTON. April a9-Mrs. Jake
J.. lIamon. widow of the Oklahoma oil
man and republican politician whose
name has been linked with many unusual
stories about political financing in 1870.
had a flcetng day i'm cour; today before
tie senate oil committee.
She was nj asked single question
and was excused after quarter of nm
houi 4 Naiting on The witness stand
while the committee senators wrangled
and finally completely disagreed ~ u
who was responsible for her summons
to Washington.
Called here from Chicago Mrs. IIn.noh
had been given an extension of time b.
the committee 10 enable her 10 60 10
Oklahoma and - ure papers and letters
belonging to her dead husband which
were TO tell AT the last the inside story
Of his connection with the republican
party machinery and prove or shaticr
the dramatic story of how he spent a
million dollars to nominate Harding and
in return was to have been appointed
secretary of the interior.
A visible stir swept over the COM
mitee room, packed with a crowd in
Guiding many women. when she swept
up 20 the committee table dressed in Il
flowing black dress and carrying in her
hans, single lily. Another witness was
teStifying about geological formations in
the oil reserves. but he was excused
soon after she appeared and the com
mittee clerk called her to the stand
Then began one Of the bittereSt per.
sonal rows that has characterized the
long and turbulent sessions OF the oil
committee. Senator Spencer, rcpubIi-
can. Missouri. objected beforehand to
the admission Of her testimony, and
Senator Walsh. democrat. Montana. the
committee prosecutor. replied that he
bore with due humiliation" the rebuke
Of the Missouri senator. Mr. Walsh
added. however. that all responsibility
for the visit If Mrs. IIamon to Washing
ton must rest on Senator Stanfield. re-
publican. Oregon. who in turn rctorted
that Senator Walsh was not stating
the facts.
lie only had mentioned her name.
Se,ptor Sianfield said in suggesting how
the committee might ram down some If
the sensational stories told II about
IIamon by Al Jennings and others.
Then there was a dead silence and the
committee chairman. finding that no
senator wanted 10 ask question, told
the witness that her further fresence
would not he required.
Immediately Mrs. lIamon had taken
her departure. committee members in
dulged IN another row over admission 10
the record Of on. of a group of teie-
grams bearing on the oil deal story.
Rcfc -ring to the recent testimony oi
Ballard Of Los Angeles in which he
stated that Harry Chandler and William
Randolph Hearst could give information
about a conspiracy" to control the re-
publican national convention in 1870
Senator Stanfild announced that he haa
telegrauhcd the substance Of Ballard
statement Ia Chandler and Hearst and
had their replies. The replies deny
knowledge If the matter ana have been
published.
Senator Walsh and Adams democrat,
Colorado. objected 10 placing in ia. irt-
ord a telegram which senator : infic.d
asserted showed BaIla.d : p.licc re,oid.
They inSitcd ii WITNESSES were 10 be
called TO impeach Ballard. the members
of the committee should sav. chnncc
to examine them and shos,J 10; accept
hearsay evidence.
1t WAS de idcd finally :" admit 10 the
records the telegramS sen, Chandler and
Hearst and their replies. Int to exclude
those referring TO Ballard.