Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-15
PATRONAGE PROBE
IN SOUTH IS ASKED
IN SENATOR'S REPORT

----------------
Continued From First Page.)
was learned from examination of John
w. Martin, treasurer of the State Re-
publican central committee, and Of
records produced by him, that he had
set up "a regular collecting organiza-
ton which would indicate from the
cards turned over to the committee that
1t was his purpose to secure from 5
per cent to 10 per cent of the salary
of the postmasters and practically all
the other Federal officers appointed in
the State of Georgia"
The committee added, however, that
conditions have greatly improved in
Georgia and the new organization
handling patronage down there seems
to have met with success"
I'VE have information from tnhu-
entail citizens of Georgia" the report
continued, chat the barter and sale OF
Federal Offices has practically been
eliminated"
Discussing Mississippi, the report said
the committee found "a most unusual
condition existing relative to the barter
and sale Of Federal patronage. This
was carried on by Perry w. Howard, the
national committeeman from that State,
who was the Washington referee for all
patronage in Mississippi"
Recalling that Howard had been IN
dicted and tried twice in Mississippi
without being found guilty, the report
added:
your committee feels that notwith-
standing action taken by the trial juries
in Mississippi that there Is an album
dance Of evidence in the record to prove
beyond reasonable doubt that Perry W..
Howard was guilty Of the sale and barter
of public offices in the State of MissiS-
sippi and your committee condemns
such practice as most reprehens1ble ana
in violation of Federal law. Your COM
Jniittee recommends that such methods
Of appointing public officials should be
abolished without delay"
Reports on South Carolina
Turning to Sexh Carolina, the report
said that from testimony taken by the
committee and summing up Of the am
davits submitted with other testimony,
it would indicate beyond reasonable
doubt that practically all the Federal
Offices were placed on sale by ]. w.
Tolbert, or through his representatives"
After reviewing the testimony TAKEN
the report added:
your committee understands that
Attorney Meyer has resigned. 1t is the
belief Of the committee that he should
have been removed long ago, or Sus-
pended during the investigation q the
charges against him.
"n we are to have law enforcement
we must have officials that will enforce
the law impartially and officials who
viii and can hold the respect and con-
f1dence Of the public. We do not be-
lieve it is possible that enforcement of
the laws can be inpartially carried out
xxyNn Nil S~. 1F
such men as j. D. <. Meyer and Perry
w. Howard Of Mississippi; and we con-
denim such practice and feel confident
that the Department Of Justice has the
same view as your committee"
-Creager Activities Discussed.
Discussing the activities Of Creager
in Texas, the report said:
"Creager'S only interest in building
up q two-party system in the State
OF Texas Is to perpetuate himself In
Office as national committeeman of that
State. Creager did everything he pos
si6ly could to defeat Congressman
Wurzbach, the only Republican Rep
resentative from Texas, and your COM
mittee believes that the sole purpose
in his endeavor to defeat Representa-
tive Wurzbach was to give himself
absolute control of all Federal patron
age In the State, which would better
enable him, through the distribution Of
public offices, to retain his hold as leader
OF the State organization.
Creager with Nolte, the State chairman.
while holding Federal Office under Pres
ident Taft, Creager having received an
appointment from President Taft as COL
lector Of the port at Brownsville and
Nolte as United States marshal for the
San Antonio district; that these two
simon pure Republicans md keepers Of
their party's covenants, themselves
strayed from the fold and went over
and supported the Bull Moose candidate
for President, the late Theodore Roose-
been appointed to these Offices by Pres
ident Taft. After the election was over
President Taft removed Creager and
Nolte from Office"
The report asserted that Creaser's
main purpose was to run q ''pie-counter
organization, distributing these Fed
eral officeS to parties whom he could
depend upon to deliver to him the dele
gates from the State of Texas to the
national convention, and he had ahso-
lutely no interest in electing Repre-
sentatives or State officials"
San Antonio Case Reviewed.
In its report the committee reviewed
testimony concerning Campbell. coll
lector of customs at Laredo, and Hart
man, the district attorney at San An
tonic.
After reviewing a San Antonio case
In which j. s. Mason, a prohibition
officer, testified that he had filed a corr
plant but had never been asked hv
Hartman to testify, the report asserted.
This seems to your committee 10 be
very clear case and there sho,1Id
have been no question about your con-
viction had the case been properly nre-
sented and prosecuted. It looks TO yo1r
committee as though the United SfatsS
attorney was very derelict in his duties IS
Grover c. Wilmoth. district director
OF immigration at e Paso, was ouoted
drinks to excess
"Mr. Willmoth further stated (. tbe
report said, that at q meeting in n
Paso. Roy Campbell stated: M 7 had
an officer who made liquor cafrh 80
would not frame his testimony nr Fns
evidence so as to secure . Conviction.
l would fire him."
Discussing Campbell and Hartman
Mcclellan said In his report:
upon their own testimony &hev
should be immediately dismissed fronn
their places. Mr.. CampheIIs connection
with the liquor interests. his adunission
that he crossed the border line and
drank whisky himself. his close asso-
citation with the well known bootleoverx
his conduct OF his ONCE as dtSclossS M,
his evidence, his dealing with the i'm.
portation Of Mexican labor, bis de-
meanor on the stand. all show his utfer
worthless II not corruption"
Hartman, upon his own evidence ana
upon the tndisputahle evidence Of |
creditable Witnesses McKeIlar adrfad |
was clearly in a combination to shiff6 |
yiolators Of the prohibition law instead /
1f 70 prosecute them as was his duty. /
His own evidence, his demeanor on the /