Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-13
SENATOR IS DARED
!. TO REPEAT WORDS
Ira C. CopIey Denies Norris
Charges of Interest in
Power Utilities.
BY the Associated Press.


Ira c. Copley, publisher of California
and Illinois newspapers, in statement
submitted to the Federal Trade Com
mission today, challenged Senator Nor
riS Of Nebraska TO repeat on the street
as facts" his charges in Congress that
he was connected with public power
utility interests.
Chairman McCulloch of the commits
sion refused to let Copley either read
the statement on the witness stand or
to place it in the record. The chairman
declared that witnesses were mot per-
mltted TO come 10 use this place as q
forum for debate with any other per-
SON." He added that Copley could tes-
tify to anything he wished about his
case II 1t dealt with the record of the
commissions investigation into publicity
activities Of public power utilities.
A fiat denial of present ownership
of any public power utilities security
was made by Mr.. Copley on the stand
He testified he had owned in April
1928. $7,470, 500 worth of utilities
stocks, which later had been sold
through financing syndicate which he
had charged with the task of disposinR
OF his utility holdings. In reply to
questions by Robert E. Healy, chief
commission counsel, Copley testified
that he was lin favor of" the con-
struction of the Boulder Dam.
Wants 1t Anyway.
Il go farther on it than most peo-
pie ne added. L want it with or
without power"
He said he supported municipal own
ership of power plants in places where
IL ought to exist and opposed it where
ne thought it should not be operated
he said that the attitude of his news
papers toward power companies was
favorable If the power companies were
against them"
He denied the writing of an article
about the seating in the Senate of
frank l.. Smith OF Illinois, which had
been testified previously before the
commission.
In his statement Copley declared that
as an Illinois Representative he had
served with Senator Norris in the
House. The publisher said he has re-
garded the Nebraskan "as a man
actuated by the highest motives. "
he adoed, however, that the Senator
mas been SO entirely miSinformed in
TINS matter, and it is apparent from
ms comments in the (CongressionaD
Record that he regards me as being
convicted, that I would like to offer
this challenge through you to him."
Il would like to challenge Senator
MOTIFS, Copley continued Ito repeat on
the street as facts the things which he
has said in the Senate. branding them
as rumOrs, 1t is true, but nevertheless
carrying the stigma If he will state
this outside of the privileged chamber
OF the Senate, I will promptly bring him
before court of Justice"
II the commission or Senator Norris
did not think his denial of the charges
was true, Copley declared, II dare you
or him to indict me-" He added that he
then would have a chance before a
Federal court of justice to have this
matter settled once and for all time"
Names Rival.
Copley said the charge of his con-
nection with the power industry, In
particular with the insult interests. was
started "by a competing newspaper in
Springfield, ILL.," He testified that the
first charges were made through Willis
j. Spaulding, city commissioner of pub
lie property of Springfield, H., who
went to Southern California to dig up
whatever he could TO put horns on my
head and cleave my feet" and sent let
ters back to the Springfield Register.
The second attack, he continued, was
begun with an editorial in the Los An
geles Examiner, and then Senator Nor
ris, on May 20, read IAN anonymous
right letter" from a San Francisco man
claiming Copley owned $4,000, 900 of
power utilities stock.
u am giving the Federal Trade Com
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