Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-29

any one.
Col. Smith did not know what con-
tributions had been made until after
The primary" said MIR Beck. He ad-
mitted that Col. Smith had known
hat 81 contribution was made by Mr..
know how much.
Quotes insult Testimony.
Col Smith Is not repudiating what
Mr. Moore has done said Mr.. Beck.
but the fact is that Col Smith had
departed to speak throughout the
State and knew nothing about the de-
tails of the insult contribution"
Taking up the testimony OF Mr.. In
sull before the committee, Mr.. Beck
said that insult had said he did not
like Senator Mckinley nor Senator
vote for the World Court
He said that Mr.. insult had testified
that every dollar he contributed to
the Smith campaign and to the anti
World Court campaign was his own
that there had been no ar
ra ngement to reimburse him by any
public utilities corporation
mo public utilities corporation
ever contributed a penny TO the Smith
said Mr.. Beck He added
that Mr.. insult had right to con.
tribute and that it was an error to
call the money insult gave. public
utility money. Instead of granting
favors to the insult corporations, the
Commerce Commission, while Col
Smith was at it's head, had put into
erect many great reductions. Further
more, Mr.. Beck argued, If Mr.. insult
had wished for favors from Smith as
head Of the Commerce Commission. he
would not have expended his money
to make him Senator and take him
off the Commerce Commission.
Studebaker Contribution.
What is your explanation of the
contribution made to Col. Smiths
by Mr.. Studebaker. another
public utility man." interrupted Sen
ator Caraway at this point.
Mr. Beck said that he supposed
that the explanation would be the
same as that he had given for Mr..
insults contribution; that he did not
know why men of large means con-
tributed to this or that campaign
fund.
Mr.. Studebaker was a citizen Of In
diana" said Senator Caraway. Have
YOU any explanation why he should
to the campaign in I'LL
nois?"
II have no information" said Mr..
Beck.
IFS there any evidence TO show that
MIR. Studebaker made a contribution
to any other political campaign"
asked Senator Caraway.
Il don't know, Senator" was the
reply.
Not Smith Gift.
1t was developed later that Mr.
Studebaker had not appeared before
he Reed committee, but that he was
in New England or Canada
at the time the committee met in
Chicago. Mr.. Beck cited the Federal
corrupt practices act of 1925. calling
attention TO the fact that It does not
cover primary elections of a political
party and that apparently Congress
n enacting it either had In mind the
supreme Court decision in the New
berry case, or had continued to OBJ
serve the ancient policy of leaving
such matters to the States
IL Is easy for newspaper Offices to
say mat the money contributed by
Mr.. insult was public utilities money
ma that Mr.. Insults contribution to
Mr. Moore was in reality a gift to
Smith" Mr.. Beck said But the
'acts did not bear out such conten.
ions"
He commended that under the law
Of Illinois Mr.. Insults contribution
vas a perfectly proper gift. but that
{ was not a gift to Smith.
Senators Quiz Beck.
Senator George of Georgia, Senator
Cafaway of Arkansas, and other mem |
M
Beck as to the responsibility of a can
iidate for office for anything which |
he treasurer of his campaign commit |
ZEE might do.
Mr.. Beck told the committee that |
he saw no improperly in the size of |
he contributions TO campaign funds. |
The important question, he said, was |
low such money was collected and |
iisbursed. There has been no charge |
hat the money expended for Col. |
smith had been expended corruptly.
One of the greatest evils that con-
ront the country today lies in the |
act that the people are no longer In !
crested in politics, but give their at
.ention to movies, base ball and so
'orth. Therefore. he said. contribu- !
ions to influence the people to take |
,art and be interested in politics are |
'eally beneficent.
IF the mere amount of money ex-
pended in a campaign is to disqualify |
/ Senator" said Mr.. Beck. Congress |
'hould pass law so that the rules !!
If the game would be known"
Says Senate Limited.
Taking up his constitutional srgu- !
nsnt. Mr.. Beck said that over q. period |
# lao years, even when party passion !
vas running mountain high, there had |
lever been q suggestion that the door |
Gould be shut in the face of q Senator |
designate because of something he had !
lone or was accused of doing. Out |
Tide of the qualifications laid down In |
he Constitution regarding age, resi- |
Ience and citizenship, Mr.. Beck said, |
he Senate had no right to go in pass
ng upon a Senator's right to be |
eated.
The Senate. he said. could not write |
n other qualifications. II so, the |
choice of State could be limited |
o a vanishing point. He cited the |
ase of Daniel Webster. sent to the |
Senate by Massachusetts for years. |
Senator Webster. he said. did not |
,ay his debts and was loose in other !
but there never was any /
Iuggestion that the door should be |
hut in his face by the Senate.
sent him to the Sen
tie because OF his great intellect |
md the. service he could perform for
he State.
In barring Smith from his seat |
,ending the committee investigation.
he Senate based its action on the /
violence obtained by the Reed com
eittee. Chairman Ernst had invited |
he Missouri Senator to attend today's
nd future sessions on ne smith
asa. a