Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-06
G. 0. P. Director Testifies
He Received $500 From
Party Treasurer.
ASSERTS HE EXPECTS
TO PAY MONEY BACK
Fund Was Used to Defeat Senator
Norris for Reelection
Last November.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

Delving further into the effort of
Robert H. Lucas, executive director of
the Republican National Committee, to
defeat Senator George w. Norris for re-
election in Nebraska last November, the
Nye Investigating Committee today de-
veloped the fact that the loan made to
Mr.. Lucas by the Commercial National
Bank, amounting to $4,000, has been
paid of by Mr.. Lucas through the as
sistance Of Joseph r. Mutt of Cleve-
land, treasurer Of the Republican Ma
tional Committee.
Mr.. Lucas told the committee that he
had had offers from friends of his in
Kentucky since the controversy over his
opposition to Senator Norris had arisen,
to lend him the money to pay his note
at the Commercial National Bank, the
proceeds of which he had used in part
to fight the reelection of Norris.
Mr.. Lucas said that he had declined
these offers because he didn't wish to
drag his friends into the matter or to
get them inUo the newspaper headlines.
Mutt Sent $500.
"Mr. Mutt called me up and offered
Lucas. II said to him that he, too,
would get into the headlines Of the
newspapers If he did. lie replied that
he was aware of that, but it made no
difference. So he sent me $500, which
with payment of $500 had already
mailed to the bank, used to pay of
the note in full.
II expect to pay Mr.. Mutt this money"
continued Mr.. Lucas
He was asked who offered to lend him
money at his home in Louisville to take
care OF the note. Mr.. Lucas mentioned
Marshall Bullitt. He said that he had
expected to pay the note at the Com
mercial National Bank personally; that
he did not find it convenient to borrow
money at Louisville at the bank, where
there had recently been a number Of
bank failures.
Before Mr.. Lucas was put on the
stand today before the Senate Commit
tee, James B. Reynolds, vice president
OF the Commercial National Bank, had
testified that the loan Of $4,000 to Mr..
Lucas had been arranged through him.
Mr.. Reynolds was secretary Of the Re-
publican National Committee from 1912
TO 1920 and acted as vice treasurer for
the National Committee at Washington
headquarters during the 1928 campaign.
since the close Of that campaign Mr..
Reynolds said he had had no connec-
ton with the National Committee.
Reynolds Tells Of Loan.
Mr.. Reynolds testified that Mr.. Lucas
had told him that he wished to borrow
$4,000 and that Lucas had offered,
without any request from him, not to
draw out $4,000 of the Republican Ma
tlonal Committees special account in
the bank until after the note was paid.
Mr.. Reynolds insisted that he would
have loaned Mr.. Lucas $4,000, because
OF his high regard for him, without the
pledge OF the money in the special ac-
count OF the Republican National Com
mittee.
Senator Nye, chairman of the COM
mittee, asked Mr.. Reynolds II Lucas had
told him what the $4,000 was to be
used for.
mo, he did not" replied Mr.. Rev.
nolos. He added that he had not
talked with Mr.. Lucas since the loan
was made on December 3 until he saw
MIN in the committee room today.
Senator Wagner Of New York asked
MI. Reynolds if he considered the use
OF funds Of the Republican National
committee as valid collateral for a per-
Sonal loan to Mr.. Lucas.
MY view" said Mr.. REYNOLDS. Twas
mat would be glad to loan Mr.. Lucas
the money on his own note"
Mr.. Reynolds said that he had not
suggested to Mr.. Lucas that he pledge
part OF the special account of the
national Committee as a guarantee for
the loan, but that Lucas had told him
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