Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-10-28
Counter Charges Laid Before
Senate. Committee Probing
Campaign Funds = Declare
Coercion Being Used on La
Dor Unions-13 100000
Pamphlets Being Sent Out
by Labor Federation in In
terest of Independent Ticket

Washington, Oct. 27.-Through coun-
sci. the Republican National Commit
tee laid before the senate campaign
investigating committee today a
counter-charge of the expenditure of
enormous sums on behalf of the
and not accounted for through the
Independent National political organi-
cation.
Il Frank +. Walsh. counsel for Senator
author of~the charge of
the use of Republican "slush" fund in
this. campaign. said he would be glad
to have this matter aired, but he inter-
posed an objection to the interruption
to the present inquiry into the La
Toilette charges. saying that his wit
nesses already had been summoned
and should have priority" on the wit
ness stand.
The committee did not rule formally
on the issue, which was the subject
of an interchange between counsel, but
it did decide to conduct two inquiries
in Chicago, beginning Wednesday.
Chairman Borah and Senator Ship
stead, farmer-labor. Minnesota, will
leave tomorrow for Chicago. while
Senators Caraway. Arkansas, and Bay
ard. Delaware. Democrats. will con-
duct the Washington end of the In
vestigation.
Samuel Untermyer of New York, a
Democrat, who has been associated
with Mr.. Walsh in the hearings here.
will accompany Senator's Borah and
Shipstead to cross-question witnesses,
who will include William NJ. Butler,
chairman, and William V. Hodges.
treasurer. of the Republican national
committee, and probably the Republic
can state chairman of Illinois and
Ohio. Mr.. Walsh will remain here.
While in Chicago, Senators Borah
and Shipstead expect to make further
efforts to get at the truth of the cir
cumsantial and as yet secret sories
told by two Chicago men regarding
campaign expenditures. Counsel for
Senator LaFoliette have stated that
they did not want to take the respon-
sibility Of laying these stories before
the country until the committee had
followed up "leads" given by the two
men.
In presenting his counter-charge to
the investigators today. Weymouth
Kirkland, Chicago lawyer. did not go
into details other than to state that
the Republican National committee
had evidence Showing the coercion Of
labor unions with regard to how their
members shalt vote on November A."
Later he made reference incidentally
to the sending out of 100000 PAM
phlets by the American Federation of
Labor" on behalf of the Independent
presidential ticket.
Senator Caraway put into the record
a portion of letter written by Graf
ton d. Gushing. chairman Of the Re-
publican city committee at Boston. APP
pealing for additional funds with the
explanation that the Massachusetts
Coolidge campaign finance committee
would be unable to devote its funds to
the work in Massachusetts as the
money had been sent out for use in
doubtful western states.
Louis X. Liggett of Boston, Is chair
man of the Massachusetts, committee
and counsel for LaFollette has asked
that he be summoned. He and nearly
two score other witnesses may be
brought to Washington for examina-
ton within the next few days. A
formal request was made of the COM
mittee today that a subpoena issue for
W. L. Mellon, head Of the Republican
campaign fund committee in the Pitts
burgh district