The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-03-13
REFUSAL TO USE
LIBERTY BONDS
IS UNDER FIRE
BoFah Demands That Butler
Return Bonds Which Hays
Used to Pay Debts
LETTERS EXCHANGED
Mellon Says Hays Sent Him
Bonds, But That He Re-
fused to Accept Them
LETTERS EXCHANGED

Washington. March 1a.-(AP)-
With two prominent Republicans in
open conflict over campaign con-
tributions, one of these and two 9TH
ers high In the ranks Of the party,
including cabinet member, became
star witnesses today In tho five.
year-0ld senate oil investigation.
Facing ono Of the sever0st exam
nations yet encountered By the ever
lengthening parade Of witnesses BE-.
fore the Teapot Dome committee,
the three were: j.
Andrew w. Mellon secretary Of
the rtrsasury, The first Of President
Coolidge1 official family 70 b called
in the inquiry since Edwin Denly. as
secretary Of the navy, appeared be-
fore the committee in 1913.
william N. Butler Of Massachu-
sets, chairman Of the Republican
national committee, and manager Of
President Coolidge's campaign in
1924.
Win H. Hays, former chairman Of
the Republican national committee,
and director. Of President Hardiug's
campaign in 1920.
Informstioa Wanted
From Mellon, the committee want
ed to know why he refused to use
the $50, 900 in Sinclair liberty bonds
purchased with profits Of the extinct
Continental Trading company which
Hays turned over to him In 1923 to
help wipe out the party defici. hang
ing over from the Harding CAM
paien. Also, they wanted to know
why he had not volunteered infor-
nation regarding this transaction ct
the time. Onl, two day, ago the
secretary informed the committee
by letter that the bonds he'd been
rendered him, but w0re Teturned to
Hays and contribution Of 450, ,00o
out q his own funds made 70 the
Batisr, who has telegraphsd the
committee that he never received
any political contributions from
either Hays or Harry F. Sinclair,
lessee Of the Teapot Dome an con-
tributor Of $260, 900 in libert bonds,
to help secur the Republican def
icit, WAS to b asked IL any # these
bonds ever had beeu offered to him
- head Of the national committed.
Making his, third appearance be-
fore the committee, Hays faced per-
haps the most detailed grilling Of
the three. Beth Democratic and Re.
publican memberr Of the body had in
dicated they would show no mercy
this time with the car Of the mo-
ton picture industry since he had
failed on his two previous appear
ances to alludt to his offer Of $780,
600 Of the Sinclair Continental bonds
to Mellon.
Out IN the Open
The Butler Borah exchange over
the Idaho senator's demand that all
Of the $lo0, 900 in SinC.air bonds,
which Hays finally retained TO use
toward the party deficit bs re-
turned to its original source wa1
out in the open today witt. . sharp
reply from the former Massachu-
settS senator, who also criticized
Borah for not making public their
entire correspondence IN the first
place.
Replying to the ssna.or' frs. ap.
peal of March 5. Butler, in : letter
dated March Z and made public here
last night, declared tl4st "the obli-
gatlnh, II any" for restitution Of
the bonds siS upon those who con-
duetod the transaction"
"Whatsver tho transactions weret'
he Wyote, ssthey were done and com.
pieted long befo- my election q
chairman q the Republican national
committee. Durirf, the period o. my
incitmbency, Of the Office Of chair.
nam. ] did not, nor did ths .ommit.
tea or the party. receive the ,securi.
ties Or the money! and never he'd
them"
He added, however, that the hear.
ine had not been concluded and tiat
Il Il, appeared later that Borahl
(Continued on page two) ss..