Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-28
ANT|-NORR|S PLOT
IS TOLD TO SENATE
Nye Committee Reports on
Alleged Trickery to Defeat
NebraSkan.
CONTINUED From First page.)

1.-THE method of handling this $4,000
fund, contributed by high Federal
oficial merits attention. According to
McKelvie's testimony. the entire amount
was placed in Beghtol's hands to be
used in the campaign against Senator
Norris in accordance with his own dis
cretion. Not q dollar of 1t, however
appears in the reports filed on behalf
of Stebbins or any other candidate as
being contributed by either McKelvie OF
Beehtol. On the contrary, $4,000 ap-
pears in the report of Stebbins as hav-
ing been contributed by Charles T.
Knapp with the designation personal
and miscellaneous contributions.
The report says McKelvie testlned
that the balance of the $4,000 fund
amounting to $7150, was retained py
Rerhtol until after the November cleo
flor, when IL was applied to the pay
ment of a note previously given by NC
Kelvie to Knapp for the purchase OF
bank stock. The report charges this
transaction violates the spirit. If not the
letter, of the Nebraska election law IN
two OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES the amount con-
tributed was in excess OF the legal liml-
tation of 81 600 from any individual;
second, McKelvie did not report the
making Of this contribution to the clerk
Of the county, as provided by the Ne
braska law.
Another Case Cited.
The report also calls attention to q
''sinfilar case Of concealnent OF large
contributions in the case OF Charles
A. McCloud, Republican national COM
mitteeman for Nebraska" 1t points
lao nATNfT
the Stebbins fund an amount In ex-
cess of 1000 and concealed its source
by giving his own funds to various
individuals, taking their checks for the
respective amounts and sending the al
legged contributions to Z. B. Stephen
son, treasurer of the Stebbins fund.
This transaction appeals to the COM
fnittee as violative in several particulars
of the Nebraska election laws" says the
report, 1.-THE analogy is close between
both the McKelvie and Lucas incidents,
as Is also the circumstance of both MI.
Lucas and Mr. McCloud, officially men,
bers of the Republican National Com
n1ittee, secretly plotting to effect the
defeat of their partys candidate.
1.-THE final episode in the plans to
defeat Senator Norris was the secret
expenditure of some $4,000 by Robert
H. Lucas, executive director of the Re-
publican National Committee, in con-
i1ection with the circulation of scurrilous
literature in Nebraska and other States.
COneeaIment Charged.
"Mr. Lucas testified that these ex-
penditures, which were sought to be
concealed by the employment of nc
titious name, we're his own. although
the records of the bank show that the
funds Of the Republican National Com
mittee were pledged as security for the
loan used In the payment of the print
ing BILL
The report says that it would appear
that Mr.. Lucas violated the spirit, II
not the letter, of the Federal corrupt
practices act Of 1925.
The report of the committee Is signed
by Chairman Nye and Senator Dale of
Vermont, Republicans, and Senators
Wagner of New York and Dill Of WASH
ington, Democrats. It Is not signed by
Senator Patterson of Missouri, Repub-
hcan. the fifth member of the investi-
eating committee, who has been at outs
with the rest of the committee on sew
eral occasions.
A statement OF the expenditures in
the senatorial primary and the sena-
,torial election is given by the commit
tee. It shows that in the primary
eS,764.35 was expended on behalf of
Senator Norris and that on behalf of
Stebbins Sl9,304.28 was expended. It
also shows that Stebbins contributed
$3.50 TO induce Grocer" Norris to file
his candidacy in the primary.
Report on Hitchcock.
m the general election, the report
shows, s5,7S6.52 was expended on be-
half Of Senator Norris, the Republican
candidate, and a total of 7,14763
IN behalf Of Gilbert M. Hitchcock
Democratic candidate. OF this last
total, 500 ,997.07 apparently came from
Democratic sources. The report shows
that $12,724.G0 was expended by the
Hitchcock Republican Club. $499 68 by
Frank 3. johnson. $3,173.76 by E. B
Stephenson and $752.52 by Robert H
Lucas to aid the election of Hitchcock
Hitchcock primary expenditures were
"A casual view Of the foregoing state
nent Of expenditures, the report says
may lead TO the conclusion that the
campaign expenditures in Nebraska
were not excessive. Such conclusion
would be justified by comparison with
some other States.
THE committee, however, encoun-
tered throughout its Nebraska investi-
cation hearings widespread condition
OF concealment, evasion and deception
II the attitude of these witnesses, In
Guiding men Of supposedly high stand
ing IN their communities, could be re-
garded as typical, it would indicate a
grave decay of political morality"
Lucas Is Criticized.
Speaking of the Lucas incident, the
committee report says:
1.-THE only conclusion the committee
has been able TO reach in connection
with this incident is that Mr.. Lucas
attempted to conceal the transaction
dengnedly failed to report, as required
by the Federal corrupt practices act
and Is chargeable with the willful vio-
latton under section 3l4, paragraph B
Of that act"
The filing Of a report by Mr. Lucas
on December %. 1880, with the Secre-
tary Of the Senate, in the opinion OF
the committee, did not meet all the re-
quirements of the law.
In conclusion, the committee says
IN its report:
How far the various methods out
lined in the report were interrelated
and constituted successive stages OF a
single conspiracy are yet TO be de-
termined. The committee has been
impressed, however, by the fact that
al these activities have been actuated
by the common motive Of accomplish
ing the defeat of Senator Norris by
fair means or foul.
Recommendations for legislation de-
signed TO curb or prevent a recurrence
Of the evils exposed by this inVestiga-
ton will be presented by the committee
in due course This is reserved for
its final report, In connection with
which it proposes to submit to the
Senate within the limits of Federal
Jurisdiction such measures as may
seem appropriate upon mature consid-
Grafton to cope with the evils disclosed
by all its investigations"