New Britain herald., 1924-02-15

Washington. Feb. 15.--Frank A. Nanderlip told the senate oil commit- tee today that he had no facts what ever to go on when he recently brought the name of President Hard- ing into the oil scandal. T don't even know the price the paper sold at" Nanderlip said. The current story was $550, ,00O."
 Knew Only Rumors. He regarded the rumors, hn said, as akin to the whispering campaign" that marked the last month Of inc Harding campaign in 1920.
 "T had full basis for what I said" he continued, that there were cur- rent rumors''
 '4 have never heard any intimation . tlat the ldoney was paid for the Star came from oil interests"
 Wanted To Get Tsuii,
 "i thought that my statements would bring us the truth and kin those rumors." You thought fl your public duty to broadcast rumors which if not true were a reflection on the dead?" ask ed Senator Lenroot
 'I thought it my patriotic duty 10 bring out the truth and thus scotch the rumors." was the reply.
 "I was lifelong friend of Mir. Harding. l wanted to clear his mem- ory That was my only purpose"
 Blames Newspapers
 Questioned about his statement that the committee had not dared to push the questioning of Albert B. Fall Nanderiip said it was an im- rression he got from the newspapers.
 The witness admitted he had not read in the newspapers that Fall had claimed constitutional immunity, al- though that story was published prominently by practically every pa- per in the country
 Won't Diyulge Names
 ''l would not care to do that" Nan- derlip said when asked for the names of some Of the persons who repeated the rumor to him. He said there were so many he could not remem- Der them all.
 Nanderlip said he had never heard of any million dollar slush fund" un- til he saw the headlines on il in the papers this morning.
 Walsh Denies Trouble
 Frank A. NaHderlip took the wit ness stand today as soon as the oil committee convened.
 Senator Walsh. democrat. Mon- tana. opened the proceedings by read ing a newspaper article declaring that members of the committee had forced Chairman Lenroot to subpoena the New York banker in spite of his un- willingness.
 T talked with Chairman T,enroot" Senator Walsh said. "and hc asked me what we ought 10 do about the Nan- deriip speech. l said that we ought t1 call him and find out what he knew about the matter There was no difference between us"
 Chairman LeHr0ot iud0rscd Senator Watsh's statement as Mir. Nanderlip camt to the stand. identifying himself .ss "a retired business man and bank er.r Chairman Ienroot read an ex- rrrpt s~Dm the Ossining speech as to "a certain Marion newspaper sold for sI5p,nnn tU two young men" under uircumstanros that constituted a .'challengc to Inc last administration"
 Mir Va1Icrlip then began 10 cN- pain that ''in the first instance" some rar"ts H1d misquotcd him
 Substantially. saiJ thrra aere rnmo-s coming from WasHuzto1 which went far beyoud ros~ip," He continued. "yan hratI v avaryaHera. 8baui fhie story.
 "I believed that out of ra@prrt to President HardlnEs memory tl'is scandal. for believe r seaHdai, should os roIBfg snEa3 at"
 He sad he considered it q pa tFiotir duty 10 bring tff thfuE te Ire surrarc. because it was knoan ia every newspaper offfre-
 No Legal information.
 Can you give his committee infor- nation or thc subject Q" Chairman Leuroot persisted
 "No. No legal information, Nan- 5erlip ansRered. "f have heard some Ihfues about r fu quarters which I rf speft. T'ea heard tha price was ; ssn. DOC for q sllare iB if with a con- sf5eratipu of sla.0Bs a year 10 hs psid To a contributing editor"