Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-05
CONTEMPT WR|TS +.
LOOM IN FUND QUIZ
insult and Others Face Cita-
tions for Defying Senate in
Illinois Probe.
By the A ssociated Press

By the Associated Press.
CHICAGO, August 5.-Frank L.
Smith. Republican Senatorial nominee
in Illinois. today told the Senate cam
paign funds committee that during the
recent primary campaign he under
stood" that Samuel insult, Chicago
public utilities magnate, had contrib
uted funds TO his candidacy.
ut was common talk in the cam
paign." Smith told Chairman Reed.
In fact, ii became an issue in the
campaign and charges were made by
opponents"
did you deny it?" Reed asked.
In a speech at Springfield during
the campaign, | said that If one who
had paid S3S 900 900 in reduced rates
to the public wanted to contribute TO
my campaign i saw no reason why
he should not do So"
Smith, the chairman of the Illinois
Commerce Commission, which controls
rates on public utilities in the State
said he had no definite information
from Allen F. Moore. his campaign
manager, that insult had actually con
tributed to his campaign fund. The
testimony is that the utilities execu-
tive gave $125.000 directly and spent
S32 ,925.19 for propaganda against the
World Court. which benefited Smiths
candidacy.
Probe May End Today.
Out of the investigation. which the
committee expects to conclude today,
will come two and possibly three cita-
tons to the Senate for contempt of
that body.
Samuel insult. who largely financed
the senatorial campaign of George E.
Brennan, the successful Democratic
candidate, and reputedly of Smith.
Republican, will be cited for refusing
to tell about other contributions to
the Illinois campaign.
\ Robert f. Grove, States attorney,
also may be cited because of his re
fusal to tell whether he received a
contribution from insult for use in
the campaign in Cook County. Both
| Grove and insult took the position
that the committee was empowered to
| inquire only into direct contributions
to the senatorial campaign.
| Thomas Cunningham, clerk of the
Court OF General Sessions at Phila-
delphia, was the third witness to defy
| the committee here. He refused 10
| tell the source of $5o,0 he contrib
uted to the successful senatorial can
| didacy OF William S. Ware in the May
primary in Pennsylvania.
Sinclair Case Compared
| Should the Senate hold that the
| committee was not overstepptng its
authority I'm the questions directed
to the witnesses, the procedure would
! be to certify the cases TO the District
of Columbia Supreme Court for trial
on contempt charges.
That was done in the case OF Harry
| F. Sinclair, who refused to testify
| further in the Teapot Dome inquiry
and whose case still is awaiting trial.
Only three witnesses remained To
be examined today. They we're Frank
| l.. Smith who has filed a statement
| with the committee denying that he
| obligated himself in the campaign;
George +. Stafford, superintendent %
the Anti.Saloon League, and Morris
Eller. a rowe-Barrett leader and Re
publican boss of the twentieth ward
in Chicago.
In going into irregularities In the
recent primary in Cook County the
committee late yesterday heard a
rather amazing story from Judge Ed
mund X. Jarecki of the Cook County
Court. whose investigation had led to
the indictment of more than 100 per-
sons.
The judge told Of complaints that
| gunner shot up one polling place
| after election judges had refused TO
let an illegally cast ballot go into
1 the box; that at another gunner took
charge Of the count of the ballots,
and that at other places workers and
election officials at the polls were in,
Inundated by gunner
Asked If he thought the people OF
Cook County had a chance TO honestly
express their Judgment in the last
| primary, Judge Jarecki said they did
| in some districts and in others they
| did not.