Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-05-31
TALKS we're
SOUGHT, AYERS
UKLUXCHIEF
Organizers Of Order
Furnished Funds AS
serts Counsel; No
Other Money Spent

WASHINGTON, May 31.-tP)-Tes-
timony that the Ku Klux Klan had
paid Senator Heflin, democrat, Ala
bama, implacable foe Of Governor
Alfred +. Smiths candidacy, for
speeches in various states was given
by William Zumbrunn, general coun-
sci for the organization. today before
the senate presidential campaign
committee.
Zumbrunn testified after Repre-
sentative Smell of New York, had told
the committee he knew nothing Of
Governor Smiths expenditures. He
said he understood that Heflin got
$3.50 for speaking IN Ohio; $3.50 for
speaking in New York state, and
either $3.50 or $3.50 for speaking in
Iowa.
The Alabaman was paid by the
state klan organizers. he said, and
the national organization had not
contributed for those meetings or
20 any political organization or can
didates.
Zumbrunn told Chairman Steiwer
that the klan national body had no
connection with the work Of the state
organizations.
HAS the Klan spent any money
10 call attention 10 the fact that any
of the presidential candidates is Of
the Catholic faith % the Oregon
senator asked.
"Not a cent. SO far AZ the national
body is concerned" Zumbrunn re-
Piled
Stewer asked what the Klan had
done 10 circulate senate speeches BY
Senator Heflin and the witness re-
piled that the national organization
had done nothing along that line. He
added. however. that state leaders
had told him of arranging for Hef-
lin speeches.
The Klan attorney told the commit
tee that il could get information
about payments to Heflin from these
state Klan leaders; Joe Huntington.
Indianapolis; Ralph w. Hoyt of Des
Moines; James W. Colescott OF Co
lumbia; and DR.. Amos W. Duncan, Of
Charlotte.
II Heflin was paid for his recent
speech against Smith at Winston
salem, n. c., Zumbrunn said he did
not know il. He added, however, that
he might have been and that DR.. Dun
can could give the facts.
when Heflin started these speech
es, they we're devoted wholly TO rela-
tions between the United States and
Mexico. and il Smiths name was
mentioned, it was purely incidental Y
Zumbrunn said. We've sort of
drifted into that"
What relationship has the Fellow
ship Forum TO the klan?" asked SEN
ator Barkley, democrat, Kentucky, re-
ferring to a weekly published in
Washington.
mo relationship whatever" was the
reply. But it is sympathetic"
The klan counsel said the meetings
arranged by the state Klans were
started TO help Klan organization
and were not political in character.
Other men of national prominence be-
sides Helm were brought into the
various states, he said.
John "A. Livingston, Washington
correspondent of the Raleigh, North
Carolina, News ard Observer, and the
Winston-Salem Journal, read a state
ment TO the committee explaining the
basis on which he published a story
Of the Smith gumshoe campaign" in
that state.
"For that have no apology to
make" he said.
Livingston denied that he had sun
Piled the committee or anyone else
with names or information as to the
situation in North Carolina, aside
from his news dispatches telling Of
secret" Smith organization. He
also denied that he had been paid by
anybody for political work.
Livingston said the Smith organiza-
tion in North Carolina had denied
Its very existence.
The only other organization we
rad IN the state which did that was
tbs H. X. K" he added.
IEe witness denied any knowledge
OF Smith campaign expenditures in
North Carolina, and said he had never
made any charges in that rerard in
his articles. Frank B. Hampton. see-
retary TO Senator Simmons, democrat
North Carolina. had furnished him
considerable information for hix arti-
cles. ne testified.
After Livingston was excused. the
committee suspended until two .. N
when Senator Heflin is to appear.