Evening star., 1928-03-13

to be able, to go back over four years
| and say within a day as TO any given
transaction.
The New Mexican wanted to know
| II Mellon had not been surprised that
Hays had failed to tell about trying
| to get the Treasury Secretary to use
$4,000 OF the Sinclair bonds.
Didn't Expect Mention.
II wouldn't have expected he would
! have occasion to bring me into IT" Mel
Ion said. Il had nothing to do with
the bonds"
Replying to Walsh. the cabinet officer
said Hays had told him he was making
|, a similar bond transaction with the late
Secretary Weeks
Reminding Mellon that James A.
Patten of Chicago had become incenscd
! Sinclair bonds to sell. Walsh asked
how the proffer by Hays of the bonds
struck him.
I'm not of that temperament" Mel
| Ion replied with a smile
Il take things in this world as they
are and act according to my con-
science"
Mellon said that in looking back over
his refusal to accept bonds from Hays
In November Is he saw no reason for
acting differently.
| Il think all members OF the commit
| tee will agree that your attitude In the
matter was entirely creditable." Senator
| Walsh assured him.
Dill wanted to know IL Hays had told
him Sinclair had made the gift of bonds
! because he felt he owed the administra-
ton something because OF the oil lease.
Its not likely that anything like
that was said." Mellon retorted
Questioned by Senator Wagner. DEM
ocrat. New York. Mellon said the con-
ference for discussion of wiping out the
Republican debt IN 1923 was held at
the Willard Hotel here and that besides
himself those present included Secre-
tary Weeks and John T. Adams of Iowa,
tional committee.
The Treasury Secretary could not re-
call many details Of the conference ex-
cept that plans were laid for soliciting
funds. Weeks agreeing to look after"
New England.
Wagner asked If the Secretary did
! not think IL was unusual for mans
contribution III bonds to be split up SO
that his identity as subscriber would
be unknown.
Il had no suspicion about that. II
that's what you mean." the Secretary
replied.
Butler Never Got ANY.
Butler followed Mellon to the stand
and was shown the now celebrated
memorandum made by the late John T.
Pratt. relating to cashing Liberty bonds.
and on which were the names Weeks.
| Butler. Andy. du Pont."
1T develops now that Weeks got some
of the bonds; that du Pont got some
and Secretary Mellon got some." Walsh
said. did you get any?"
NO" Butler replied.
do you know OF any one who did get
any?"
Il don't think so"
"Will you charge your memory with
the matter?"
Il have done so. OF course. have
read in the newspapers what has de-
veioped here"
Butler also said he had heard gossip"
about the bonds,
what was the nature OF that?"
Walsh asked.
"That Mr.. Hays got some of the Sim
clair bonds"
Butler said the Hays offer to him was
made In 1928. In New York. Hays. he
said. came to his room at the Biltmore
Hotel with the package. and said ne
had s25,000 in Liberty bonds. He asked
me to take them and make contribu-
ton In like sum to the Republican
national committee. declined 70 40 II.
did he say where the bonuS came
from?" asked Walsh.
Il do not think he did. 1t was very
short conversation"
what prompted you to refuse?" ask
ed Chairman Nye.
II do not like to make donations to
a national committee. using some ones
else money"
Butler said he did not know Harry r.
Sinclair.
UphoIds Melons Story.
"You heard the testimony OF Secre.
tary Mellon and Senator Butler, said
Walsh when Hays took the stand. do
YOU care to say anything about itP
Secretary Melons testimony CO.
incides with my recollection OF what
happened." HAYS said. Il have very
indistinct recollection OF my talk with
Mr.. Butler ! did not explain what my
plan was. remember he did not want
TO make a subscription.
Il knew the plan of guaranty and
where ! got the bonds: l didn't get
into any details OF the matter. I'm
very certain / didn't tell him where the
bonds came from or what my plan
was"
DO you care to tell the committee
why you didn't tell 1t about this when
you were last on the stand?" Walsh
asked
YES, do. regard this as irrelevant.
| assumed you were engaged in tracing
the Continental bonds and In that !
assisted you. The bonds sent 10 Sec
gAnl n
clair as was They were out. ! did not
give any bonds TO Butler. I tried and
am trying TO give you what help ! can
In tracing the bonds. II Is obvious TO
me that the discussion about these
incidents were not relevant
Takes Responsibility.
II do not assume that you were going
into campaign contributions per sc"
i take the responsibility OF soliciting
Mr. Sinclair" Hays said. He said he
was willing TO stay before the commit
tee for week for hearing. He slap
ped the table TO emphasize his remarks
Walsh spoke OF the moral and ethi-
cal aspect OF the matter"
There was never any time when
lost sight OF the obligation to MIR, SIM
| clair TO return as much as we could
even below the $4,000 which he gave"
Hays said
Explain why you did not go TO Mr.
Mellon and ask him TO make sub
scription2"
i had the security and ! sent him
| the bonds 10 induce him 10 make n con-
tribution. II was the plan 10 raise the
money and get the bonds back The
committee meeting was only little
while away then"
Security Worked.
why did you have TO give MIR. Mel
| Ion seCurity?"
ITO induce him 10 make a loan. and
IL worked" Hays added amid laughter.
Senator Walsh took Hays back TO his
testimony on March a. 1924. that the
| largest p0salhe donation Sinclair could