Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-21

Miamian Testifies Effort Was
Made to Get Fletcher to Vote
for Higher Duties.

BY the Associated Press.
G. S. Fletcher of Miami, president of
the Florida East Coast Growers As
ISOLATION testified today before the
Senate lobby committee that an effort
was made by Florida growers to get
Senator Fletcher, Democrat, Florida, to
vote for higher duties on Florida
products in the pending tariff bill.
The witness said that no pressure"
was necessary to get Senator Trammell
Democrat. Florida, to vote for the
higher duties.
Asked by Caraway if it were true
that he had tried to build fire under
Senator Fletcher" in order to obtain
his vote for the tariff bill, he answered
that an attempt had been made to LET
the Senator know the attitude of
Florida" on tariff legislation.
Fletcher asserted that he and his as
soCiates opposed the activities of j. A..
Arnold. manager of the Southern Tariff
Association, who has been questioned
at length by the lobby committee.
we were against Arnold and his
machine all the WHILE" the witness
said.
Letter Read by Walsh.
He added he did not favor associa-
ton with the tariff association because
he had heard that 1t received about 40
per cent commission on collections.
Senator Walsh, Democrat. Montana,
then read letter written by the wit
ness to Arnold IN July, which said. 1--WE
are doing all possible TO bring pressure
to bear on Senator Fletcher"
Another letter written by Fletcher to
Arnold said I'VE are going after Senator
Fletcher with pick handle. l mean
the old hickory king"
Fletcher in another letter added that
large and hot fire" had been built
under Senator Fletcher. When Walsh
read from this letter that we expect to
deliver Senator Fletcher's vote" the
witness explained that was Just a
cracker expression"
I'VE wouldn't do anything to hurt
Senator Fletcher" he added. Hes
too god man."
After Chairman Caraway of the lobby
committee said he understood that
Glenn Skipper, Republican national
committeeman. had formed a tariff asso-
citation and that Fletcher was made
vice president and the witness asserted
this was done without his consent. He
denied he had co-operated with any
association Skipper organized.
Made Nine Trips Here.
L. L. Chandler of Gould, Fla, who
said he was a tomato and citrus fruit
grower. testified he had made nine trips
to Washington in connection with tariff
legislation and had received between
800 and 81 900 for travelling expenses
The money was raised in Florida, he
said, and Senator Walsh asked why 1t
had not been raised directly by the
Florida growers instead of through the
Tariff Association.
Il suppose that was a mistake"
Chandler replied and added that the
association had informed them 1t could
handle the matter better, but I'VE know
better now"
Chandler said he had approached both
Florida Senators, Senators George,
Georgia.; Connally Texas; Harrison,
Mississippi, all Democrats, and Watson,
Indiana: Smoot Utah, and Shortridge
California, among others. He also said
the House and Representative Garner,
Democrat, Texas.
Kent, Banker, Is Called.
The lobby committee today called upon
Fred T. Kent director of the Bankers
Trust Co. of New York, to explain his
recent statement that the action of the
oSlldtS COdillOil Oil Tic IdEII Oil Ildu
contributed to the fall of stock prices
on the New York exchange. Kent was
expected to testify today, but his APP
pearance was deferred on account of a
meeting he had to attend.
Kent was present yesterday, but he
was not called upon to testify, the COM
mittee spending most of the day in in
terrogating Gordon S. Rentschuler,
president of the National City Bank
about the relation of his concern to
sugar and its activities and eXpendi-
lures in Washington.
Rentschuler said the bank contrib
uted $4,000 to a fund for lesser duties
and had used its monthly bulletin for
matter urging such tariffs.
There was also a possibility today
that before the committee was through
questioning Kent a call would be sent
out for Roger Babson, statistician, who
has ALSO asserted that the action of the
Republican independents and Demo-
Gratis on the tariff bill was a factor In
the stock market decline.