Evening star., 1928-10-20
NEW TO RUN DOWN
'H|CKS|TE QUAKER"
ATTACK ON HOOVER
Postmaster General Scents
Outside Influence to Use
Mails Improperly.
REPRESENTATIVE DENIES
AUTO CARRIED CIRCULARS
Kent Disclaims knowledge of Re-
ligious Whispering Paper-Dis-
missed Officials Remain Silent.

Postmaster General New today an
nounced his intention of running to
tne ground" the alleged conspiracy be-
tween a Pennsylvania postmaster and
influential outside parties" to use the
mails improperly in furthering a reli-
glous whispering campaign against
Herbert Hoover in Pennsylvania.
l am convinced certain person in
public Office IN PENNSYLVANIA was the
other party to the conspiracy" New
said. Our investigation will continue
until We have cleared up the whole
mess and found all the guilty parties"
Apparently Within Law.
:, The Postmaster General explained
however, that even though the outside
party were definitely ascertainad he
could not be dealt with, apparently m
oer the postal laws or regulations At
most, ne said, he would be guilty of a
gross impropriety:''
New emphasized that the Post Office
department had found nothing unmail-
aDle aDout the wording of the now IA
tacking Hoover because of his faith and
that the department acted. solely be-
cause the postal regulations had been
violated IN the postmarking of envelopes
containing the circulars.
Conspiracy Charges Denied.
Postmaster Robert H. Stickler and
MS assistant, Mrs. Bessie Burns StickleT
OF Lansford, Pa, both of whom were
suspended yesterday afternoon upon the
recommendation of postal inspectors
nave refused to an1plify their previous
oenlals OF the conspiracy charges. The
oInce In the little town has been placed
Leonard. A. "a
Following issuance of a press state
Eene IaSG night by Representative
Everett Kent, Democratic candidate
toI Is-eiection In the Lansford district
S.Is sSpscincaiy denying that his automo-
os ote vas USED TO carry political matter
OF the character described in a state.
ment by the Post Once Depaftn1ent
Yesterday to the Lansford or anv othsr
post ONCE, New today said:
declared to Have Affidavits.
All 1 know about 1t is that we have
a. MnnoaVitS stating that Representative
AensS cnauheur delivered the circulars
70 the Lansford Office. I cannot sav
anytning more until our inyestiration
Is completed" saeion
IN formal statement issued at News
oiuce yesterday after publication ex-
clusively In The Star Of details Of the
poS.al investigation, it was stated:
Inc circulars were received in var
,ous IoWns In the congressional district
rIepreSented by Representative Eyerett
~ ~. Wnetner they have gone outside
tanned" "SSA oSceI-
Postmaster Declared Present
A., Inc departmental statement also said
mat one clerk stated that the nos+-
master was present during the proceed
ingS, and declared that the naiI hed
Dsen delivered by Representative Ksnt's
cnauIeur. The assistant postna stsr
asccorolng TO the inspectors report on
"a sns case, says she is sister of Mrs
caEiy secretary to Representative Kent
aMo ING Sister-in-law to the postmaster
ane inspectors learned also that the
pHSImaSter p,r employs his wife as auxiliary
livery messenger"
Ine statement charged Postmaster
SUCKER and the assistant postmastsr
MIS-. MIS- Stlckler, with having conniyed
WIN otners to secure the MAILING
tnIougn the Lansford post office with.
OUT postmarks on the enyeIones ana
without Identification slips on mail
oags OF large number of ANONYMOUS
circulars signed 'non-partisan COM
mlttee, attacking the candidacy of
Herbert Hoover and candidates for local
omces in that district"
Inc inspectors reported that between
10000 and 100000 of the circulars had
oeen printed in Allentown, Pa.
Declared Without Post Mark.
The circulars arrived at the various
omceS. the official statement said. -"in
olrect sack, with no label on the pack
ages, while the sack label was simply
racing slip without post mark, the
name OF the office of destination being
Wrltten IN either pencil or ink, making
IL impossible to tell from where they
The receipts and sales report of the
Lansford office disclosed the sale of
purchased for mailing the circulars
The assistant postmaster told the post
once inspectors that she had sold them,
curing the absence of the postmaster.
10 man who gave his name as sHar.
rngton, otherwise unidentified by anv-
body In the post Office.
Both the postmaster and the assist
ant postmaster, however, denied that
the circulars had been deposited for
mailing at the Office. Clerks in the
once. after first maintaining absolute
Ignorance Of the matter, finally ad-
mltted under questioning having faced
several bundles Of them, and having
witnessed other clerks cancelinp the
stamps with cork cut to the shane of
a four-leafed clover"
Stickler, an ex-service man. was an
pointed February I, 1928, and was re-
appointed without examination on the
expiration Of his first term, His pres
ent term would expire February Q, 1881.
Mrs. Stickler has been employed at the
Lansford office for IL years.
Analysis Of Candidates.
The circular Is headed, "The Beacon
Light" 1t begins with the following
language:
America is not a Catholic Nation.
america is not Protestant Nation.
america Is not even Christian Ma
ton. because over IS per cent of its
people are not afiliated with anv
church. But the Constitution of the
United States guarantees every one
complete religious freedom to worship
God according to the dictates Of his
conscience.
Alfred E. Smith is the Democratic
candidate for President. He Is an
American Catholic. He believes Ia
separation Of church and state. He be-
ieves IN the divinity Of Christ. He
believes in fighting for the flag of the
United States, and hundreds Of thou
Continued on Page Q. Column q
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