The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-06-29
III .'''QIS LABOR
a. T MFR
SEX = IRE
Asks HOw MucM Walker
and Harrington Got
lspseIaI to The paIIy w0rkerl

WASHINGTON, June ~. - q want
to know how much money was given
to John Walker and Frank harrington,
the men who are said to have handled
the labor vote In Illinois," Senator
caraway Of Arkansas said on the floor
Of the senate yesterday while demand
ing an Investigation of the Illinois
primaries race between Col. Frank
L. Smith, who won the senatorial NOM
ination and Senator VIM. Mckinley,
who was defeated.
John H. Walker is the president of
the Illinois Federation of Labor. Frank
harrington is the president of the Hi
nois Mine Workers. Union They both
supported Smith.
Spent s3,ooo,ooo.
Senator Caraway demanded that the
slush fund committee turn its atten-
ton to Illinois. He said that Samuel
insult, Chicago traction magnate, gave
100000 to the campaign of Col. Frank
L. Smith. Caraway charged that Smith
spent S2,000,000 to get elected, while
Senator Mckinley spent $1,O00,OOO on
his campaign.
RepIete With Fraud.
1.-THE Illinois campaign was replete
with fraud, corruption and the buying
of votes" Caraway said. ut is openly
charged that being chairman Of the
utilities commission, Col. Smith re-
ceived enormous contributions from
the heads of public utilities in the
state"
Turning to Chicago, Caraway con-
tinued, Recently the mayor Of Chi
cago appeared before a senate COM
mittee to defend the reputation of his
city against the charges of corruption
and crime made by Chicago citizens
of influence, some of whom were in
public office.
Some rumors that have come to
my ears have led me to believe that
the conditions in Chicago have their
root and foundation in the political
practices that prevail there.
Il have made some investigation
of the political methods and prac-
tees that exist in Illinois, and if my
information is correct this body ought
to be advised of the facts and take
cognizance accordingly.
Reviews Some History.
II was somewhat impressed with
the Illinois situation in 1920 when
Frank o. Lowden was governor, with
fine and high type of business or
ganization about him. Opposed to him
was Big Bill Thompson, then mayor
Of Chicago. and bunch of profession
al politicians, including Len Small,
Fred Lundin and Frank L. Smith. The
anti-Lowden gang succeeded in max
ing Small the governor of Illinois, just
missing making Smith their United
State senator and Thompson and Lun-
din became chief patronage dispens-
ers
Raps At Small.
Small made Smith the chairman
Of the public utilities commission, the
most powerful body in the state, with
jurisdiction over billions of dollars of
property employed in the public SER
vice.
Samuel insult.
Senator Mckinley was the head
of one of the largest utility corpora
tions in the state and Samuel insult
was the real utility monarch, who is
reputed to have poured millions into
primary and election compaigns in
the last few years.
Il am told that his contributions
have not always been made willingly,
but as he operated utility properties
with gross income of over 100000
600 a year, he found it more profitable
TO come across whenever he was
asked than to refuse to pay and take
the chance OF losing millions in de-
creased rates at the hands of unfrdend.
ly public officials.
Held To Job. t4*
Il have been astonished to learn
that Smith held onto his job as chair
man of the utilities commission. thru.