New Britain herald., 1924-01-21
BOX IS QUIzzED ON
 PEACE PRIZE OFFER
Senate Committee Hints at In.
 ternational Propaganda
SAYS HE PUT UP ALL CASH
Entire S1OO,OOO is His Money, Wit ness Says--TeIls Committee Total Amount He Has Spent Is Entir His Own Personal Affair.

 Box, donor of the s100.0o0 awar~ the best world peace plan, was called today before senate committee charged with Investigating propa- ganda designed to influence the &C., ton of congress and the governments foreign policy
 The purpose of the committee is to determine whether there is any re- lation between the Box award and organizations having for their pur- pose American adherence to the League of Nations. Examination of Mir. Box is in the hands of Senator Reed, democrat, Missouri, author of the resolution of inquiry and of sthe senate "Irreconcilables" on the league of nations.
 The cross questioning of MT. Box is expected to continue through to- morrow. After he leaves the stand Miss Esther Everett Lape, head of the policy committee of the Box award, will be called
 He Selected Root.
 Mir. Box told the committee that he personally selected Elihu Root to serve on the jury which made the award.
 "I did not give my approval to the other members" MT. Box said in re- ply to questions by Chairman Moses. "I was not asked to approve them"
 The witness said that cooperative agencies" had sent in the names of several hundred persons as eligible to | act as jurors.
 Doesn't Know Winner.
 Mir. Box said he did not know the | name of the winner of his award.
 Do you know his characteristics" asked Chairman Moses.
 No" said the witness.
 Couldn't you describe him in gem cral terms?" the chairman pursued amid laughter from the crowd which | packed the hearing room.
 Mr Box said he had "defrayed | every penny of the expense of the i award" He added that 100000 copies of the prize plan had been printed for distribution, but was un- able to say how many ballots had | been printed for the pablc vote o' the plan,
 Asked hos gi ich n"ee sas in hc trust fund ,hiln he created to de- fray expenses of the award, the wit ness replied:
 q prefer not to discuss that"
 "You are familiar with the sta tutes?" asked the chairman.
 "No. l am not" I
 Senator Moses then said it was his duty under the statutes to inquire whether an answer would tend to de- grade you"
 T decline to go into that" was the response.
 Is His Own Business
 Senator Reed, democrat, Missouri, ater pressed the same question and Mir. Box then said he did not think t would degrade me" He added hat he regarded the amount Of money in the trust fund as solely his ,wn business.
 Senator Greene. republican, Yer mont, asked 1T there might not be circumstances under which such und would prove something of a moral menace"
 No. not if rightly administered" vas the reply
 Mir. Box said he hoped to affect public opinion by his award, but de- Jared he never had seen any litera- ure issued by those in charge of the 1, ward urging persons to write to their , enators and representatives in sup ,ort of the prize peace plan. "You probably are the only man in , he United States who has not seen , l." said Senator Reed. The Missouri senator showed the , ritness several pieces of literature ent out by inc award organization nd other agencies. Among them was copy of a ballot sent out in the na- lonwide referendum. "Did you vote 2" asked Mir. Box. There was laugh from the spec ltors but the question went unan- wercd. t
 Calls It Propaganda Senator Reed referred to much of 1. he literature as propaganda" ' What is your definition Of propa- !, anda9" asked Mir. Box. "Oh. 1 don't care to go into that, esponded Senator Reed. "If you ont know what it Is. you ought not , be undertaking to regulate the af- airs Of the world"
 Senator Caraway. democrat. Arkan- ls later led the witness back to the ,Iestion of the amount of the trust md created by him with the Girard rust company Of Philadelphia, but tr. Box refused to slate t. $ "I don't see that the amount has ny interest further than 10 satisfy Iriosity. It's purely personal mat- IT,"
 Don't you think you have hurt Dur award by declining 10 say how |, Iuch you have expendedg" asked ,, snator Caraway. |.
 Trusts American People :, T do not" replied Mir Bok T Ii ust the American people and believe n icy trust me. and are not interested what I have spent. ib Applause which greeted this state z. snt drew a warming from Chairman oSes against further demonstrations. T don't think tho American people -e as much interested in what I have D sent as the committee is" a55ej the iiness n Senator Greene asked Mr. Eok if he B d not consider the law requiring sr lbiication Of campaign ezpsnses q ,od for the public. cs sI'nn not a candidate for office. di i'd the witness hi
 tconunusa on Third Pags1 ifo