The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-03-23
SINCLAIR BALKS
AT DISCLOSING
FUND RECORDS

and then the case would have to be
fought out in the courts.
Aside from the dramatic refusal of
&inclear to answer questions and the
testimony of Hays, there were fire.
quent wrangles among the members of
the committee and a sharp passage be-
tween Senator Walsh and Martin w.
Littleton of Scounsel for Sinclear. at
the conclusion of which Chairman Ladd
Informed Littleton that it was his opin-
Ion that counsel went beyond his rights,
both yesterday and today, in his state
nents.,
Reads Written Statement
Having lost determined fight to
keep off the witness stand, Sinclair
took the chair. in front of the committee
without being sworn. as the oath had
been administered before. He produced
written statement and proceeded to
read it. He then leaned back in his
chair to await the pleasure of the com
mittee
Senator Walsh Immediately began
the questioning. asking about the con-
tract which Sinclair entered into with
]. Leo Stack, Denver oil operator.
aud Frederick G. Bonfils, publisher of
the Denver Post. relating to the pur-
chase of claims in Teapot Dome.
The New York oil magnate conferred
hastily with Mr.. Littleton, who sat be-
side him, and then said:
II decline to answer on advice of
counsel and on the same grounds"
Senator Walsh expounded questions
on number of other subjects and re-
ceived the same answer.
Hays Is Called
There was, general stir in the crowd
and afcraninHfof necks as Will ii. Hays
was called. lie moved from out of the
crowd at one. side of the room. stood
while the oath was administered and
then identified himself as an attor-
ney-atSlaw and one time chairman of
the republican, national committee.
Throughout, his examination, the for
mer Postmaster General was cool and
collected and frequently emphasized his
replies to questions by striking the ia
BILE in front of him with the forefinger
OF his right hand.
Asked to tell the committee about
. statement before another Senate COM
mittee that certain bonds of the Sin
clair Consolidated Oil company had
been delivered to him to wine out the
republican committee deficit, Hays said /:
Il can not tell you about that, be-
cause 1t is not true. That story is as
false IN content as it is libelous in pur-
pose. Realty it isn't true-well that
i the fact about it,
What were you going to say" asked
Senator Walsh.
think that is all, / can not tell
about that, because it is not So"
News Story Recalled
Senator Walsh then turned to a
statement published yesterday in the
New York Times in which it was pre-
1icted that Hays would testify that
Sinclair had made the gift of stock. and
Hays said he. did not know the source
of that storyss
Asked if he, would be surprised if
the Information came from his office
Hays said he would and that it could
act have been obtained from anybody
who pretended to know the facts, 'be-
cause it is not true
After Hays had identified Joseph
OsNeiii of his New York office staff,
Senator Walsh asked if he would be
surprised to know O'Neill had told the
story to the Times. Hs
Well he could not have told it with
6ii6wledge of the facts" Hays said.
because there aren't any such facts
SeuatoE w dISH Then asked hays TO
Il what Sinclair did have to do with
aking up the-deficit of the republican,
committee. The former Postmaster Gem
efal said be assumed the committee
would consider general discussion of
campaign contributions to be irrele-
want, as he would, and then started a
long discussion on the subject.
Walsh Presses Question
The former national committee chair
man reminded the committee that he
had been disassociated from the COM
mittee for years and that he did not
have the records. Senator Walsh press
ed the question:
MY information is Hays said,
that the total. amount in 1918, 1919
and 1920 campaigns, including the def
icit, that could possibly have been given
BY Mr.. Sinclair was. not over SIS, 900.
How much was given to make up
the deficit!" asked Senator Walsh.
Il do not know" Hays responded.
Senator Walsh was persistent and
-