Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-01-22

Washington, Jan. 21-Edward W.
Box, donor of the 100000 prize for a
world peace plan. repeatedly told the
senate propaganda investigating COM
mittee today that he regarded solely
as his own affair the amount of
money he has placed in a trust fund
to defray the expenses Of the con-
test.
After he had been examined less
than two hours, the hearing was ad-
journed and at a later session, the
committee directed Chairman Moses
&c write Mr.. Box that 1t was not pre-
pared to proceed with his examina-
ton tomorrow as had oeen planned.
THE committee adopts this course"
Chairman Moses wrote. because of
your refusal to answer certain Ques-
tons regarding the amount of the
money which has been expended by
you in organizing and carrying on
the work Of the so-calied American
Peace Award which questions the
committee believes to be. wholly pro-
per. pertinent and within the purview
of the resolution under which the
committee acts.
You are free to proceed to Florida
as you had desired-with the distinct
understanding, however, that the
committee. by request or subpoena,
will feel free to recall you Is a wit
ness at some later date"
Chairman Moses said the commit
tee would take up the examination of
Miss Esther Everett Lape, member
in charge of the policy committee Of
the award Wednesday as had been
planned. Mr.. Box testified today that
he had given her CHARGE of the work
Of organizing the award.
Chairman Moses and Senator Reed,
Democrat, Missouri, Doth "irreconcil-
abIes" in the Versailles treaty fight,
conducted much of the examination
of Mr. Box, but Senators Greene. Re-
publican. Vermont, and Caraway.
Democrat. Arkansas. Joined in the
efforts to elicit from Mr.. Box the
amount of money expended by him on
the award He declared he had fur
nished every penny for the expense.
Il don't see that the amount has
any lHltIcSI tllaii W sotisiS
curiosity" the witness said at one
point. ITS purely a personal mat
ter"
Mr.. Box told the committee that in
his own case and that of the Ameri-
can Peace Award he thought he was
within his rights to eXpendcncy
amount of money he chose.
II have decided to give over my life
and my money to aiding the Ameri-
can people," he said. I'm going to
give back to the American people
what they gave me. 1 don't think you
are entitled to kno wthc amount thus
expended"
Mr.. Box told the committee he did
not know the winner of his award
who wrote n plan for American CO.
operation with the League Of Nations.
He said he personally had selected
Elihu Root to serve on the jury which
made the award. but he was not ask
ed to approve the others.
The investigation Of the Box award.
was a subject Of senate debate during
the day, Senator Robinson. of Arkan-
sas, the Democratic leader. saying the
committee would fail of it's real pur-
pose il it permitted its attention to
be diverted to the BOX plan and
away from such instances of organic
ed propaganda as that in favor of the
Mellon tax plan and against the SOL
diers' bonus. Senator Reed. who Of
fered the resolution of inquiry. de-
c,ared the committee had no intten-
ton Of passing over more important
facts" and has gone into the Box
plan first because it was considered
so trivial we were certain it would be
speedily disposed Of"