The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-05-22

y
convincing way, that when he b
Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana, h
Smith in the Hotel Commodore,
in New York, by Attorney 70
line, partner to Thos. Fielder,
Daugherty's aid in the notorious
Morse pardon affair. He reached
a "gentlemen's agreement" with
Jess Smith.
To Keep Out Of Can.
Wheeler, Brookhart, Moses and
Jones took turns in questioning this
amazing witness while he recited the
story of his payment Of between
$3.50, 600 and 100000 to Daugherty's
pal, for permits and protection" in
defiance of the law. He said he never
inquired whether Smith split the
money with the attorney general, but
he made the payments under the dis
|tinct understanding that Smith was
"close to the attorney general" and
would furnish him permits for re-
moval of his whisky for distribution
to the bootleggers of the middle west.
Moreover, Smith was under agree
ment to keep him and his gang out of
jail Indeed, they were to be saved
from any prosecutions by the prohi-
bition unit.
Smith Went Underground.
His first payment to Jess Smith,
said Remus, was $4,000, in $1,000
bills. All payments were in cash
He offered to give the committee his
cancelled checks and stubs, showing
that he had cashed checks and had
marked ~. S." on many of them as a
record of the use to which the cash
was put.
He was double-crossed or unfortu-
nate-he was not sure which-when
Smith died after getting $4,000 from
him to secure pardon after his pro-
lection had failed and Remus had
been sentenced to prison. Even when
his conviction had been appealed,
Smith assured him that Daugherty
would cause a pardon to be signed by
the president, and he would never see
the prison doors. Zoline, Felder's as
sociate. became Remus' chief coun-
sci, and he counted upon freedom
from any interference by the law.
What did you pay Jess Smith
for?" was the question repeatedly
asked by Senator Wheeler.
'To keep me out Of the penitentiary
Ito keep the boys QUITO use his in
fluence with the attorney general. :.
The money paid him was all covered
by our contract. He was to render
all possible assistance in the depart
ment, where / had not the least doubt
of his influence. He told me the at
torney general would do everything
he could in the premises, when finally
/ was convicted"
So many were the points on which
Remus withheld detailed data, that
Wheeler finally asked him if it were
not a fact that he was afraid to testi-
fly freely, for fear of further prosecu-
lions.
Remus answered that anyone in his |
position would be afraid. He COM
planned that-far from having had a J
gentleman's treatment in prison, he
was locked up alongside group of
negroes, and that he had lost %
pounds of his generous weight.
What Remus' testimony indicated |
vas what the earlier testimony of
more than a score Of witnesses had |
around Harry Daugherty |
were group including Zoline,
Fielder, Bill Orr, Jess Smith, Howard |
and others-who grew
rich by taking protection and per
NIT" money from the millionaires of
the whisky ring. The enforcement of
the dry law had been stopped in
office. Prohibition had
never been enforced because the gov
eminent had not tried to enforce it.
And on the vast profits OF this cor
ruption the political machinery back
of the Harding Coolidge administra-
ton had been reinforced.