The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1926-06-25
NEWS REVIEW OF
CURRENT |! EVENTS
Politics in Pennsylvania as
Revealed to the Senate
Committee of Inquiry.
BY EDWARD w. PIcKARp

by EDWARD w. PIcKARD
nISGUsT rather than astonish-
~ ment was the emotion generally
aroused by the revelation of political
corruption made before the senate
committee investigating the recent
Pennsylvania primary contest. Though
the total Of money expended in the
campaign for the Republican sena-
torfal nomination and other offices was
extraordinarily round figures ST.
O00,O00-the fact that political condi-
lions In the Keystone state were rot
ten was not news"
Congressman William s. Ware, who
defeated Senator Pepper and Governor
Pinchot for the nomination, told the
committee the expenses of his organ
ization were nearly 100000; but he
insisted only fraction of this should
be charged up to his own candidacy.
/ The remaindr, he said, was expended
in the interest Of the candidates. Of
Beidleman fer governor, James for
lieutenant governor, Ward for secre-
tary of internal affairs, and Of scores
of congressman, state legislators and
state, county and precinct committee
men constituting the Ware organiza-
ton, and considerable proportion
of the 5000 candidates for all offices
in that primary. For himself itswas
necessary to carry on gigantic let
ter-writing campaign because the
newspapers of the state were all
against him and would give him no
publicity.
According to other witnesses, the
Pepper-Fisher campaign, which was
backed by the Melons, cost in the
neighborhood of $1,100,O00; the main
purpose in that fight being to retain
the leadership in the state Republican
organization for Secretary of the
Treasury Mellon. That gentleman
said in an interview that he thought
the committee would find all the ex-
penditures were legitimate and essen
tial in the circumstances. Huge sums
were paid out to watchers" employed
in great numbers, but Mr., Mellon said
these watchers were legalized under
the Pennsylvania law. The sources of
the funds interested the committee
very much. Senator. Reed, chairman.
inquired especially into the $307. 575
contribution made by Joseph r. Grun-
dy, president of the Pennsylvania
Manufacturers association, and the
$4,000 note signed Jointly by Grundy
and Folwell. seeking to compel the lat
ter to admit that they confidently ex-
pect that note, at least, to be fully re-
paid. 1t was obvious to observers that
the senator suspected that the Penn
sylvania Manufacturers association
would reimburse Grundy and Folwell.
Mayor Kline of Pittsburgh was an
embarrassed and angry witness. He
was questioned concerning a speech
In which he was quoted as threaten
ing city employees with discharge If
they did not deliver their wards and
precincts to Pepper. At first he
strenuously denied the accuracy of
the report, but when it appeared that
the account of the speech was tran
scribed from stenographic reports,
Kline admitted he might have said
some of the things attributed to him.
Harry A. Mackey, city treasurer Of
Philadelphia and chairman Of the
Ware campaign committee. entertained
and enlightened the committee with
his frank testimony, but he denied
that any of the contenders in the pri-
mary had spent penny to buy votes
or that there was any debauchery of
the ballot box In Pennsylvania. He
asserted that Vare's candidacy was a
mere incident in the whole campaign
and that every cent of $5960G0 or
more that was spent for the ticket
would have been spent If the senator
ship had not been at stake at all.
Wayne B. Wheeler, general counsel
Of the Anti-Saloon league, having
stated publicly that liquor dealers and
vets generally had made large con-
tributions to the Ware campaign fund,
was promptly subpoenaed by the COM
mittee. Reed then had a chance to
examine Wheeler concerning the
leagues pay roll in congress and its
political activities generally. The
names of many senators and repre-
sentatives who are paid for dry
speeches were revealed.