Evening star., 1928-05-28
Mrs. WiIIebrandt, Assistant
Attorney General, Tells of
Department Work.
SAYS INQUIRY CEASED
AFTER NOTE TO ANDREWS
Senate Directs Inquiry Into Charge
That Hoover Controlled
Sugar Prices.
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press
Testimony that several attempts had
been made to investigate the activities
of Frank ]. Hale while Hale was a pro-
hibition official was given the Senate
campaign funds committee today by
Mrs. Mabel Walker Willebrandt,
Assistant Attorney General
Hale's magazine, Politics is opposing
the candidacy Of Herbert Hoover for
President and the committee has been
trying to learn about its financing.
The Assistant Attorney General said
when one of the inquiries had pro-
gressed TO a point when the truth
would probably come out" Hale pro-
cured an Endorsement from a Mr.
Chamberlain. whom she described as
"a close personal friend" of Lincoln
c. Andrews. then Assistant Secretary
Of the Treasury in charge OF prohibi-
ton enforcement. The investigation
was stopped.
Tells Of Bank Deposits.
That inquiry had disclosed. she said,
that imediately after Chamberlain in
dorsed Hale the latter was put in con-
troll Of alcohol permits in New York,
and Chamberlain showed a very much
improved financial condition.
The Assistant Attorney General tes-
titled that before that time Chamber
lain's bank deposits had never exceeded
$500 a month Afterwards Chamber
lain started making deposits Of from
81 900 TO $4,000 month. she said, add
ing that in a little more than a year
he put $4,000 in one bank and s65,000
in another.
She told the committee that on one
occasion Chamberlain made an all
night visit with Hale and later showed
20 81 900 bills.
Mrs. Willebrandt declared that Har-
old Goldman, New York attorney,
associated with Hale, had refused TO
give information about Hale "on the
ground that he might incriminate him.
self" She added that after Goldman
and Hale became associated the attor-
ney's income leaped from $4,000 year
TO $4,000. Aoverting to Chamberlain,
she said that all his deposits were in
cash, except one check for 5000 drawn
by the w. W Smith Co.
The Smith company representative
refused TO testify on the ground that 1t
might incriminate him. she continued.
Says Mellon Ordered Probe.
Another source Of inquiry for the
committee is the Latin-Americ Alco-
hol Co. Hale was working with man
named Harper. When Administrator
Mills was appointed In New York Hale
and Parker were moved out. AS soon
as that happened the American
Alcohol Co. voluntarily surrendered its
valuable alcohol permit"
Mrs. Willebrandt said she wanted TO
~&A sYAry tya
feeling IL was useless" 10 20 TO An
drews in view Of Hale's promotion, while
the first one was on, she went direct TO
zee Mr. Mellon. who ordered the inquiry.
After Commissioner D0ran took ever
the Prohibition Bureau Hale was sum-
maTily dismissed" Mrs. Willebrandt
said. adding that the activities Of Hale
on Long Island in 1922 and 1923 could
not be followed up, as the statute Of
limitations had run.
The Hoover-for President movement
IN New York had received contributions
Of S24, ,e4z up to May ! and It's ex-
perdnhreg we're S30,2z9. the committee
Was told today by William H. Hill,
chairman Of the organization, the first
witness.
Tells OF Organization.
Hill told the committee at the outset
that the New YORK group was formed
last February with Mrs Ruth Pratt as
vice chairman, Allen Fox as secretary,
and Mr.. Mcconnell as treasurer. Hill
could not recall McConnells initials.
but said his Office was at IA Wall street.
The largest contribution has been
s2,500," Hill said, adding that general
expenses had been $l2, 1887, with an
additional s5,55i,gI for It's information
service. He said publicity matter had
been sent into IL or l3 States.
Through James w. Good, Hoover
campaign manager, Fox had placed the
total u expenses at 232,540.2G.
Il am unable 10 reconcile the figures"
Senator Gtetwer said, but do not
think that Is Immediately important
II we are unable 10 reconcile them we
viii refer them bask 10 you"
Hill said his committee kept books
He also testified that a number Of vol
unteer organizations for Hoover had
sprung up In various parts Of the State
Fight Within Party.
The fight for Mr. Hoover has been
within the organization. nm testified.
u am an organization man myself and
/ have conducted his campaign along
that line"
Hilj said the Western Newspaper
Union had furnished plate matter" for
use in newspapers that asked for IL.
What sort Of plate natter2" in
CURED Senator Barley. Democrat,
Kentucky.
In the interest of Mr. Ho0Yer' 4
candidacy" Hiil replied We asked the
papers II they wanted 10 and Ies In up
State New YoKk took it,"
Did you send this letter of request
10 papers IN other f5tates2"
WE sent IL into every State where
Mr. Hooyer had q contest. / think II
vent W about $50 papers. We furnished
II free III cGst, bat never asked paper
for q single penny"
One item In which Senator Barley
showed interest Wss the Robert w
Continued On Page 2, Column ~