Evening star., 1924-04-29
Senators Engage in Heated
Argument and Witness
Leaves Without Testifying.
CALLED TO THROW LIGHT
ON HUSBANDS DEALINGS
Investigators Wrangle Over Who
Summoned Oil Mans
Widow Here.

Mrs. Jake l.. Hamon. widow of the
Oklahoma oil man and Republican
politician whose name has been link
ed with many unusual stories about
political financing in 1920, had a
feeting day in court today before the
Senate oil committee.
She was not asked a single cues
tion and was excused after a quarter
of an hour of waiting on the witness
stand while the committee Senators
wrangled and finally completely dis
agreed as to who was responsible for
her summons to Washington.
Called here from Chicago. Mrs
Hamon had been given an extension OF
time by the committee to enable her &c
go to Oklahoma and secure papers and
letters belonging to her dead husband
which were to tell at last the inside
story of his connection with the Re
publican party machinery and prove OF
shatter the dramatic story of how he
spent million dollars to nominate
Harding and in return was 10 have
been appointed Secretary of the
Interior.
Creates Sensation.
visible stir swept over the com.
NIT Att iOOills pdIhCu WIN a ~ u i'A
cluding many women, when she swept
up to the committee table dressed in a
flowing black gown and carrying II
her hand a single Gala lily. Another
witness was testifying about geoloE1
cal formations in the oil reserves, but
he was excused soon after she ap-
peared and the committee clerk call
ed her to the stand.
Then began one of the bitterest
personal rows that have characterized
the long and turbulent sessions of the
oil committee Senator Spencer. Re
publican, Missouri, objected before
hand to the admission of her testi-
mony, and Senator Walsh, Democrat
Montana, the committee prosecutor
replied that he bore with due hu-
initiation" the rebuke of the Missouri
senator. Mr.. Walsh added, however
that all responsibility for the visit
of Mrs. Hamon to Washington must
rest on Senator Stanfield, Republican
Oregon, who in turn retorted thai
Senator Walsh was not stating the
facts.
To Run Down Stories.
He only has mentioned her name
Senator Stanfield said, in suggesting
how the committee might run dowr
some of the senational stories told il
about Hamon by AL jennings anC
others.
Then there was a dead silence and
the committee chairman. finding thai
no senator wanted to ask a question
told the witness that her further
presence would not be required.
Immediately Mrs. Hamon had taker
her departure committee members in
dulged in another row over admis-
sion to the record of one of grouI
of kilograms bearing on the oil deaI
story.
Further Witnesses.
Referring to the recent testimony
of H. W. Ballard of Los Angeles. ir
which he stated that Harry Chandler
and William Randolph Hearst could
give information about a conspiracy
to control the Republican national
convention in 1920, Senator Stan
field announced that he had tele.
graphed the substance of Ballard's
and had their replies. The replies
deny knowledge of the matter and
have been published.
Senators Walsh and Adams. Demo.
crat, Colorado. objected to placing in
the record a telegram which Senator
Stanfield asserted showed Ballard had
a police record. They insisted if wit
neSses were to be called to impeach
Ballard the members of the com
mittee should have a chance to ex-
anime them and should not accept
hearsay evidence.
1t was decided finally to admit tc
the records the kilograms sent
Chandler and Hearst and their re.
plies, but to exclude those referring
to Ballard.
The committee then adjourned