Douglas daily dispatch., 1928-03-16
BORAH INSISTS
ONPAYINC BACK
SINCLAIR BONDS

WASHINGTON March Is H9-Call-
! ing upon republicans over the country
i to "repudiate' the $160000 contribu-
! ton of Harry F. Sinclair. oil operator
and lessee of Teapot Dome, to the
| republican campaign fund of 1920
i Senator Borah, of Idaho set out to-
night in a lone hand endeavor to raise
the funds TO pay off Sinclair.
The Idahoan announced his course
after submitting a request several days
ago to the republican national commit
tee to collect the money and return 1t
to Sinclair He said tonight he was
| going ahead independently because
the committee has not acted"
| In lieu of his earlier appeal to the
party leaders, including Chairman
| William M Butler of the national
committee, to wipe out the Sinclair
contribution, the independent action of
Borah was not regarded tonight as
without political significance How
ever, he did not make any attack on
the present party heads in formal
statement which he issued outlining
his program
after consulting with friends 10
day his statement read. II have con-
cluded to make an effort to raise this
money 1 have already received some
contributions voluntarily and offers of
more
ut does not seem to me that it is a
matter about which we can delay ac-
tion. To hesitate is almost as bad as
to not act at ALL Not over dozen
men perhaps knew of this transaction
until recently but it is now known
and it is up to the party to repudiate
the whole business and do so without
delay.
II shall appeal therefore, to republic
cans over the country to come forward
and lift this obligation of shame. The
money will be deposited in the Riggs
National bank at washington, d. c.,
as fast as received"
i Borah first acted after Will Hays,
former chairman of the republican ma
tional committee, had testified to sem
ate committee investigating the il
legal Teapot Dome naval oil reserve
lease to Sinclair that he had accepted
a total of $260,0OO to help meet a de-
ficit in the 1920 campaign OF the party
and that only 100000 of this had
been returned to Sinclair
In his unique role of collector of
campaign funds the Idaho senator.
considered as possible republican
presidential Al candidate this year despite
his assertions to the contrary, will de-
pend entirely on volunteer contribu-
tionS.
He revealed today that in response
to his proposal to the national com
mittee to pay off the Sinclair contri-
button, promises and contributions OF
more than $4,000 had been sent TO
him. He did not reveal any names OF
contributors nor was he decided
whether the list of contributors will he
msde public.
: He made it plain that he was not
seeking the task and would be glad to
) turn it over to the republican national
committee anytime it desired to go
ahead on similar course.
If the committee continues to take
no part IN the collections Mr.. Borah
declared he would deal personally with
Sinclair in the transaction. He is net
sure whether all of the 100000 will
be sought for repayment pending g
study of the manner of Sinclair's con-
tributions.
! There were indications that several
members of the party in the senate,
particularly those of the western inde-
pendent group, we're sympathetic with
his course and might meet him later
to discuss his action.
d