Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1929-12-27
shOnse Joins Verbal Assault On
White House.

Characterizins the defense of President
"eai,5E in the Lakin- Shattuck- Machado
correspondence incident, made by Repre-.
sentative Wood, Republican, Indiana. as
the Administration plea in abatement
Jouet Shouse, chairman of the executive
committee Of the Democratic National Com
mittee. Joined in the assault on the White
House started by Representative Garner.
Democratic floor leader.
Mr.. Shouse asserted that, by implication
at least. Mr.. Wood arraiens Lawyer Shat
tuck. Mr.. Hoover's personal attorney, for
perjury. Mr.. Shouse contended that be-
cause Of Mr.. Woods rank in the party as
chairman Of the Rep ,blican Congressional
Campaign Committee, he must actually
have been speaking with the consent
and authority of Mr.. Hoover himself"
Mr.. Garner last week called on President
Hoover to purge himself of any inference
that he had been ''conniving" with the
Cuban sugar lobbyists. citing the documen-
tary testimony before the Caraway COM
mittee. which showed that Herbert C. Lakin.
director Of the sugar lobby. had employed
Edward P. Shattuck as the !obby's attor-
ney because of the latter's friendship with
the President and that he was to receive
$4,000 chiefly because Of this intimacy. -
Other letters mentioned conferences be-
tween Mr.. Hoover and Mr.. Shattuck.
Mr. Wood Sunday assailed the Garner
statement. holding that the demand actu-
ally came from the Democratic National
Committee, acting In partisan spirit, and
that even II the President did talk with
the Cuban sugar lobbyists. there was moth
ing ''reprehensible" about il.
In view Of his high position in the Re-
publican party and his perfect understand
ing Of party discipline" Mr.. Shouse said,
"Mr. Woods statement must be taken as
a correct exposition Of the PRESIDENT
position. issued with the consent and au-
thority Of Mr.. Hoover himself
"Mr. Wood would hardly have ventured
to issue such a statement without such
authorization. II there is anything faulty
about this hypothesis. the President can
correct it by disclaimins the views uttered
by the chairman Of the Republican Con
eressional Campaign Committee"
Until Mr.. Wood made his defense Of the
President. Mr.. Shouse continued, THE as
sumption was that Shattuck and Lakin had
been engaged in the more or less familiar
confidence game Of selling the President
without the latter's knowledge"
''Indeed. all Mr.. Garner asked" added
the Democratic leader, was that the Presi-
dent should make a definite statement
In order that President Machado, Of Cuba
and others might be undeceived as TO
President Hoover'S participation in the
efforts Of the lobbyists.
I'm the light OF the Wood defense. how
ever. more comprehensive statement from
the white House is required"
Referring to the criticism that Me-. Gar
ner's challenge was an assault on the dig
nifty Of the Presidential Office. Mr.. Shou, e
quoted the Texas Repre- sentative
There certainly Is less peril to the dig
nifty Of that great Office in the utterance
OF q declaration that would reassure the
country than there is in letting 60 uncon-
tfadicted the word Of the president Of big
industrial corporation and Of Mr.. Hoover's
personal attorney. to the President Of an
other country. that the Chief Executive Of
the United States was pulling the chestnuts
out Of the fire for crew Of lobbyists Sc
Moreover" Mr. Shouse said. lit comes
strangely from Mr. Wood TO be worrying
shout an assault on the dignity OF the
Presidential Office, 10 view Of his own