San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-22
HAYS DENIES STORY.
Says Sinclair Did Not Give Oil Stock
SHARES TO g. 0. p.

Washington. ID. C.. March g.
After failing finally to induce Harry
F.: Sinclair TO testify before it. the
OIL committee today received from VIII
ii. Hays. flat denial of the story
that Sinclair had contributed a large
batch of oil stocks to wipe out the
deficit in the Republican party treas
ury after the 1920 campaign.
Sinclair refused to testify after
the committee had, voted uHsaimoasl,
to override the objections of his at
torneys. Despite the committees posi.
ton. he said. he must reserve what.
ever evidence he has for the courts
The committees only recourse now i.
to certify him TO the Senate for con.
tempt, but members indicated that no
such step will be taken.
Hays followed the oil operator and
Teapot Dome lessee Immediately on
the witness stand.
DO y0U know the witness who lust
left the stand:' asked Senator Walsh.
the committee prosecutor.
Yes, sir, eight or ten years" re-
piled Hays.
1T has been testified to before an
other committee" went on Senator
Walsh, that Mr.. Sinclair gave certain
stock to wipe out a deficit of the Re
publican national committee. Tell
us about it,
Il can't tell you about it." re-
turned Hays. 1t is not true
You saw a statement in the New
York Times that YOU would testify
to such donation:"
HAYS Denies Story.
Yes, but that story is untrue. 1t
is false"
Hays said he had no idea as TO the
source of The Times statement.
Would it surprise you TO know
that that information came from your
Officer asked Senator Walsh.
1T could not have come from
there was the reply, las it is not a
fact"
Hays identified Joe O'Neil. a for
mer newSpaperman. as an employe of
his office. Asked if O'Neil had not
given the statement to The Times.
HAYS said he could not have done so
as there was no basis for the story
please tell us. what Mr.. Sinclair
had to do with making up the deficit"
said Senator Walsh.
II assume it is not the purpose OF
the committee 10 go into campaign
contributions Hays returned. Il
assume the committee considers that
irrelevant as I do. Besides, I am not
the source of information row."
Gave Not Over $4,000.
The witness then began a long
statement about the general subject
of campaign contributions. Senator
Stanfield. Republican. Oregon. oh
jected. saying that this question is
immaterial and Irrelevant" but Sena-
tor Walsh insisted the question he had
put was relevant. There was a long
wrangle. Senator Stanfield's motion
finally was voted down six TO four.
Senator Stanfield then called Hays
attention to the law of contempt to in
dictate to him that he did not have to
answer irrelevant questions. The for
mer postmaster general and Republi-
can national chairman said he die. not
desire to decline 10 answer any qlles-
tions: that be would state again that
the story about Sinclair giving $4,000
shares of stock was false.
II could only give my best judg-
ment." Hays said. as 10 ,Sinclair's con-
tribution. MY judgment is that it
did not exceed $4,000
Information has come TO Senator
Walsh Of Montana, the oil committee
prosecutor that a book relating to ''oil
deals at the Republican national con-
vention at Chicago in 1870 was at one
time put into print and thel suppress
ed,