The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-03-02
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tcsntinasd frsm Psss onsJ picture of Mir. McAdoo, but he flatly refused to pose and when the camera men undertook 10 snap" him as he left the building he successfully screened his face. Ducksteins In Chatting Mood Among the other witnesses present were Mir. and Mrs Duckstein; who chatted for some time with Assistant Attorney General Holland. who is ob- serving the investigation for the de- partment of justice by direction of President Coolidge.
 This was while the witnesses and spectators were waiting outside for the committee to finish its examination of telegram and telephone records. This wait lasted an hour and those listed as being under subpoena for the public hearing Tuesday.
 Adjournment until that time was taken, Chairman Lenroot said, because Senator Walsh, has an important matter before another senate commit tee on Monday.
 SisnerS Of Messages Questioned
 John F. Major and other employees ol EuNuIu ID. MCLed., puDliSher OI the Washington Post, were questioned by the oil committed today in its search for further details of the com munication between Washington and the Mclean cottage at Palm Beach during December and January. = It was Major who signed most of the telesrams to Mclean. He was questioned about these, but said the fala ha been destroyed.
 John J. Sturgeon, managing editor of the Post, said that he did not know what went over the wire or whether records were kept. His duty as chief { of tic news department of the paper. he explained, did not require him to be responsible for such arrangements
 Senator. Walsh asked for the iden- tity of the man who is over you all, and the witness said it was Mir. Me Lean. Senator Adams, democrat, Colorado ! asked if the wire to Palm Beach had any news uses. Mir. Sturgeon said it had none.
 Mir. Sturgeon had wired Mclean i mentioning $100,000 to A. E. Fall, and Senator Dill. democrat, Wash ington, asked about it. Mir. Mclean told me.of the loan," MT. Sturgeon said, and said that if anything came out we should print it like other news
 Confidential Man Testifies
 John F. Major then took the stand identifying himself as. confidential employe of Mir. Mclean" He said he had ordered the private wire installed.
 The wire connection had been made in the room where the other Post telegraph facilities were located Major explained there was a New York and Cincinnati wire already in- stalled.
 Don't hang back and make me question you" Senator Walsh urged him. Co ahead and tell us about this" HE
 T sent messages over the wire" Major replied, "and received them.'
 Where are the copies:" Walsh asked .:3
 They've been destroyed. They were destroyed every night"
 "Why1'
 "They were confidential messages between Mir. McLean's confidential employees and himself"
 Who did it?"
 Il did it.
 That's the way you handle your duties as confidential man."
 Yes, sir Major said k. w. Snithers, the White House wire chief, had been em- ployed to operate the wires Washing ton end.
 He was there from 6 D. m.," he said, until 9 D. m. sometimes; some times later"
 What does Smithers do at the White House?"
 II don't know other than to be telegraph operator" Alteration With Him | \Senator Walsh pressed for d reply as to what else Smithers did at the ! White House besides run the tele- graph wire there and theIe was an altercation when Major hesitated to reply The senator then asked who suggested the employment of Smithers The witness thought it was w. 0. | Duckstein, another of McLean's men.
 There are no copies of messa ges anywhere now which went over this Wire:"
 Nc, sir"
 What WAS the purpose of this wire?' TO keep Mir. Mclean ir touch with events here. and in Europe" ,
 Major said Mclean had such pri- vate wire in Palm Beach in previous seasons.
 What seemed to require the wire this year."
 T believe the telegraph company records last year will show that it cost more to get to Mir. Mclean over commercial wires the news that went into his paper than d private wire ! would cost
 Well, what connection has tilat:"
 Well, l imagine that tine private wire proved itself quicker and cheaper, and that Mr. Mclean could converse directly with hIS confidential cm- l plo!es.
 Got Digest Of News
 Major insisted 1t Was the custom to wire Mclean ali advance digest uf the news which weut into the Post.
 Did Mir. kan ever send or receive messages over tnis wire: Chairman Lenroot inquired.
 1 Tn answering that question you have to take into consideration that 1000 to lO0OU words q night went over the wire. but considering that, my best recollection is nor, Did you ever have any conversation KILLS ASTHMA GERMS