New Britain herald., 1926-10-26
BINGHAM PLAYED;
 PROBE IS ASKED
MiddletOVn Democrat Wants
 Reed to Investigate

James A. Reed of Missouri, chair man of the senatorial investigating committee, was last night asked by telegraph by leaders of the local democratic organization to investi- gate charges made by Lawyer George II. Bragdon, a registered republican, that he was told he could have an appointment to the prohibition en- enforcement unit If he agreed to prosecute only those Senator Hiram Bingham and State Central Commit teeman Wilson s. Reynolds wanted prosecuted.
 Mir. Bragdons charges were made in letter published in the Middle town Press" Saturday night. He said that the endorsement of Senator Bingham and the state central com mitteeman had been refused him but year later he had accepted the in- vitation of lawyers of the prohibit tion unit and thrown in" with them.
 Text of Telegram
 The following telegram. signed by Lawyer Leonard O. Ryan and Vim cent D. Lamb, chairman and vice. chairman respectively, of the demo- cratic town committee, was wired, they said. to Senator Reed at Kan sas City, Mo, last night: Attorney George II. Bragdon of this city, a registered republican now connected with the legal section Of the prohi- bition unit, has written a local news paper charging that he was offered the endorsement of United States Senator Hiram Bingham and of the local republican organization for his if he would agree to prosecute the ones they wanted pros ecuted and leave the others alone. By they he meant Senator Bingham and the local republican state cen- recently secured his desired appoint ment without the endorsement of Bingham or the local republican ma- chine. Can your senatorial investi- gating committee investigate this charge? Letter following by air mail gives charges more in detail. This letter addressed to you at Kan sas City"
 More by Mall
 Chairman Ryan said last night that the charges in full would be forwarded to Senator Reed by air mail tomorrow. MT. Ryan issued a copy of the telegram following a meeting of the Young Mems Demo- cratic club.
 MT Bragdon's letter was issued, he said "apropos of the invisible government" about which sundry pertinent comment has appeared"
 He said that soon after coming to in Ju of 19 5 he un- dertook to cffc a transfer from the legal division of the shipping board, with which he had been connected nearly six years. to the legal section of the prohibition unit. He ex- plained that in the government serv- ice, when a transfer is desired from one department to another, the en- dorsement of the respective senators is usually requested as a matter of courtesy and bestowed as a matter of comity."
 Indirect Reply
 Some time after writing to Sena- tor Bingham, he says in his letter, he was approached by a "well- known local business man. who, in the presence of a third person, , information as follows: That my letter to Senator Bingham | had been forwarded to the local | member of the state central com ! mittee: that they referring obvi- ously to the senator and the state central committeeman, were of opinion that I was too strong for the law meaning thereby | the prohibition law; and finally that | I could have the endorsement of | both gentlemen for the rather in- appointment I sought if 1 only I would do as they want you | to do. and prosecute the ones they want prosecuted and leave the Noth- CTS alone.'"
 MT. Bragdon claims that what he 1 was asked to do involved "a con spiracy with a United States sena- tor a state central committeeman of Connecticut and prominent | business man to do ex- actly what Harry Daugherty, late | attorney general for the United . States and Thomas Miller, late pro- perty custodian, were recently tried . for, viz, to defraud the United | States by depriving 1t of the honest l md unprejudiced services of a pub ic servant"