Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-10-22
Committee to Probe
Continued from PAGE One)

succeed themselves, and whose sup
port by the Khan, the committee has
been told, caused a wholesale split
in the ranks of the hooded order.
A request that the committee visit
Indianapolis was made by Senator
Watson, who is in a hospital there
recovering from injuries received in
an automobile accident some weeks
ago. In a telegram to the Missouri
senator, Senator Watson declared that
false and slanderous" charges were
being made against him before the
committee ip Chicago and that since
he could not come here he thought it
only fair that the committee go to
him.
w. Lee Smith, present grand dragon
for the Khan in Indiana. who. the tes-
timony is, was appointed to office by
DR.. Hiram w. Evans, imperial wizard,
after the split in the. Khan over the
support of Watson, also is to be heard
at Indianapolis along with several
other witnesses.
While Senator Reed is pressing for
further information regarding the
Indiana situation, Senator McNary,
Republican, Oregon, another member
of the committee, will sit at Seattle
to hear testimony about charges that
large sums are being spent in Wash
ington state for the candidacy of A.
Scott Bullitt, Democrat, who is seek
ing election over Senator Wesley l..
Jones, Republican.
Samuel Sumner charged, and Bull
lit promptly denied, that a fund of
something like 100000 had been
raised by the Democrats. Bullitt de-
manded an investigation before cleo
ton and Senator consented, at the
urgent request of Senator Reed to
cancel his political speaking engage
ments and conduct the inquiry.
With witnesses passing before him
in fairly rapid order today, Senator
Reed ELECTED further testimony about
Khan political activity both in Indi-
ana and in Washington; inquired into
the campaign funds of the Republican
and Democratic organizations in Indi-
ana and heard conflicting testimony
about the extent of a propaganda cam
paign being conducted in that state
for the league of nations and the
world court.
Walter F. Bossert, former grand
dragon in Indiana, testified that
Evans asked for his resignation last
January after he had sought to get
out during the September before.
Bossert declared that he under
stood his resignation was desired
because he did not follow the policy
of lining the Klan up for poll tical
candidates. He also said it was It's
understanding that William F. ZLm-
brunn, counsel for the Khan, was
largely Instrumental in determining
the political policy of the organiza-
ton.
Testifying that he had introduced
Zumbrunn to Senator Watson, the
former grand dragon said the contest
of Senator Mayfield, Democrat, Tex
as was discussed at that time, but
he declared he knew of no under
standing or ARRANGEMENT" between
Watson and Zumbrunn regarding the
Mayfeld case.
Robert w. Lyons, who was secre-
tary to BosSert, said there bad been
some gossip in Washington to the eff
feet that if Senator Mayfield were
seated, Senator Watson would be as
sured of the political support of those
interested in seeing that the Texas
senator retained his senate place in
the contest brought by his Republi-
can opponent.
Lyons told the committee he took
the matter up with Everett sanders,
then congressman from Indiana,
and now secretary to President Coo
lidge. and was told that any such
statement was ridiculous. lie added
that Sanders told him the evidence
had been presented to the senate
committee and that irrespective of
Senator Watson's views the senate
would have to seat Mayf1eld because
the evidence was all in his favor.
Senator Mayfield has issued q
statement at Galveston characteriz-
ing as an absolute fabrication"
statements that Watson's influence
was sought in his contest.
r. Earl Peters, chairman of the
Indiana Democratic committee, said
his organization had taken in about
$4,000, and emphatically told Soma
tor Reed that his committee had no
utilization with the Khan. He said
he understood the Khan was fighting
his candidates.
A, Clyde Wall, chairman of the Re-
publican state central committee of
Indiana, was anable to give the COM
mittee any names of international
bankers" whom he told Senator Boz =
all, Republican, Idaho, were sending
money into the state to be used
against Watson and Robinson be-
| cause of their stand on the world