The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-09-25
SHEARER CASE
SPURS INQUIRY
! into LOBBIES
General Investigation Is
Likely to Result From
Ship Probe.
ATTORNEY is CHILLED
New York Counsel Tells
How Builders Came to
Hire Expert
b. United Press

~ LNtEfl KTEFF
WASHINGTON, Sept. 25.-While
agitation for a full investigation OF
Hobbies was being revived in con-
Rress, the senate committee investi-
eating the Shearer propaganda
activities today heard Henry c.
Hunter, New York attorney, tell
how American shipbuilders had en-
ployed William B. Shearer, self
styled naval expert.
A succession Of developments
outside the committee room indi-
Gated the senate soon would be
called upon to delve into the tariff,
prohibition, and other Hobbies, like
its naval subcommittee now is
investigating the merchant marine
and disarmament lobby.
The developments thus far in
elude:
The Brookhart charge that "a
gentleman from Wall Street named
Fehey" had given a wet dinner for
senators
Lobby Probe Necessary
A statement from Senator Bing-
ham (Rep., Comm that he had en-
ployed as his secretary in secret
tariff hearings a former secretary
OF the Connecticut Manufacturers
Association vitality interested in
tariff matters.
Statement of Senator Robinson,
Democratic floor leader, to the
United Press that the whole sub
ject Of lobbying will have to be gone
into"
Statements by Senator Caraway,
Oem.. Ark0 and Representative
Garner. Democratic floor leader Of
the house. that the new develop
ments make their moves to force a
lobby investigation all the more nee
essary.
An editorial in a Washington
newspaper charging that the
6hearer investigation is a mere
sham compared to the tariff lobby
and stating: by beginning an in
vestigation Immediately, hundreds
of tariff lobbyists can be caught red
handed. Every member of the house
can furnish a few dozen names of
suspects"
Shearer Used in Capital
Hunters testimony in the shearer
inquiry confirmed the previous state
n1entS of American shipbuilders that
they had employed Shearer not only
as AN observer" at the Geneva dis
armament conference. but also as a
worker in Washington.
Frederick P. Palen, vice president
OF the Newport News Shipbuilding
Company. came to me and said
Shearer first had been employed to
help the shipping board in prepa-
ration of its merchant marine plan
OF 1926. to conduct speaking trips.
and to issue statements to news
papers and publications" Hunter
said.
Hunter is counsel of the National
Council of American Shipbuilders
and acted as diSburSing agent for
the three shipbuilders involved in
the Shearer case.
Hunter Not interested
Shearer first came to him and
tried to sell his services as a pub
lefty man. but Hunter said, he was
mot interested"
"He represented himself to me as
q member of the staff Of the New
York Commercial Ca newspaper, ;"
Hunter said.
He said he was anxious to con-
duct a plan of publicity in behalf
of the American merchant marine
in which he was interested"
Hunter said his council never had
discussed the Geneva conference at
its meetings. He said he never
was consulted about the hiring Of
Shearer. He did. however, pay
Shearer by checks forwarded to him
from the Shipbuilders and received
Shearer's reports from Geneva.
Hunter posed on the witness stand
merely as an intermediary between
shipbuilders and Shearer.
AS the committee recessed for
lunch Hunter identified several
copies Of letters sent to him from
Geneva by Shearer. in which Shear
er claimed to have an influence
upon press matter being sent out
BY newspaper men from the con-