Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-16
CURRAN GROUP
SPENT $427,213
TO REPEAL DRY LAW

Continued From First Page.l
mot du Pont, $17,5O0; Richard T.
Crane, Sl2.5OO; Arthur Curtis Jones,
| Sl2,500; John J. Raskob, $17,500, and
Charles H. Sabin, $500.
1T looks like it is a Du Pont sub
sidiary," Robinson commented.
Curran said these contributions repre-
sented pledges for the first six months
and they were not representative. He
said 10000 persons contributed last
year.
The witness said his salary was paid
at the rate of $4,000 each by Pierre du
Pont. Lammot du Pont, Raskob, Sabin
and Edward S. Hardness.
When he reached Raskob's name,
Curran started laughing. Questioned by
Robinson about it. he said:
II was reading about you and Raskob
In the paper the other day"
Raskob was questioned at length by
Robinson when the Democratic chair
man appeared before the committee.
s275,OOO Covers Salaries.
Curran told the committee as The
hearing started that the annual salary
of the persons employed regularly by
the association was $251 .484.
Then $275,000 year would cover
the salaries" Caraway asked.
Eyes, easily" Curran replied.
The witness said $23,789 a year was
paid for rent.
Questioned by Caraway about an item
Of $33, 1850 for travelling expenses, Cur
ran said the association had IL persons
travelling In foreign countries to inveSti-
gate methods Of liquor control.
The investigators made reports on
prohibition enforcement which were
published in pamphlet form, and sent
to about 200, 900 persons in the United
States, in addition to newspapers, he
continued.
whenever we have some informa-
ton that we think Is new we make 1t
available to newspapers and they are
the Judge as to whether to use it," he
added.
Other countries In which surveys were
made included Sweden, Great Britain,
Finland, Norway, Denmark, Belgium,
Holland, Germany, France, Switzerland
and Mexico.
did you only employ men who were
in favor Of notification" Caraway
asked.
Never Took Poll,
1--WE never took Literary Digest poll
of them" Curran said.
"You never employed Wayne B.
! Wheeler and r. Scott Mcbride, did
youp" Senator Blaine asked
mo, but Z like to put Senator Brook
hart on our pay roll" Curran remarked
as the audience burst into laughter.
Brookhart, Republican Senator from
Iowa, is an outspoken advocate of pro-
hibition.
Senator Caraway at this point ac-
ctlsed the witness of TRYING to be
funny"
CL-ran denied this.
why drag in the name Of Senator
Brookhart?" Caraway demanded.
I'm sorry, but I'd like to read you a
letter about Senator Brookhart," Cur
ran replied, holding aloft a typewriter
letter.
Caraway refused permission and Cur
ran remarked that it was short let
ter" and a mice letter"
Pressed by Caraway to explain his re-
mark about Brookhart, the witness re"
piled that every time Brookhart made
speech for prohibition ut turned thou
sands of people against prohibition"
Admits Contributions.
Caraway asked If the association
made direct contributions to candidates
for public oface
Eyes" Curran said.
He added that the association had
given 81 500 to the Liberal Civic League
of Massachusetts,, which supported a
wet candidate in the Western Massa-
chusetts election recently.
Caraway read from list of expendi-
lures of the association an item OF
So, 059 for political expenditures.
Are you going to support William
M. Butler in Massachusetts," Caraway
asked.
Certainly not" Curran said.
Butler, former chairman of the Re-
publican national committee, is run
ming for the Senate and Is considered
dry.
Curran said the principal interest of
the association was to restore to the
States their rights.
Senator Walsh, Democrat, Montana,
| said the fifteenth and nineteenth
amendments also had been attacked as
violating States rights, and asked the
witness why the organization did not
campaign against them.
1.-THE eighteenth is the most out
rageous," Curran replied.
Curran said the fifteenth and nine
tenth amendments had no business in
the Constitution"
He added that he favored woman suf-
mined by the States.
Going back to campaign contributions,
Caraway asked If the association would
support any candidate who favored re-
peal Of the eighteenth amendment.
Would Not Support Dry.
Curran said the association consid-
cred the qualifications before taking
action.
IF one was dry and the other wet
| would you support the dry II he were
! the better mani" Caraway asked.
IF he were dry he would not be the
better man." Curran replied.
Would you support dry?"
NO" Curran said.
That's the prime question"
eyes"
Peace or war, good Government or
bad Government, are all subordinated
to that question" Caraway demanded.
That's your statement, not mine, E"
| Curran said.
| Are you supporting anybody for Of
/ flee now?" Caraway asked
YES" Curran said, adding the or
ganization was supporting three candi-
dates in ennsylvania-Francis H.
Boland for Senator, Thomas w. Phillips
for governor and Charles Dorrance for
lieutenant governor
Are you picking winners?" Caraway
asked
Il wouldn't be surprised" curran