Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-05
The Nye Committee.

The Nye committee is considering in
vestigating charges that secret fund
of 100000" was raised to defeat Sena-
tor Thomas j. Walsh of Montana. The
committee has had investigators work.
ing in Montana for some time. The
pledge of the fund, or perhaps the
money itself, is supposed to have been
carried to Montana by a Republican
leader. But apparently the fund has
disappeared, for Montana Republicans
and campaign workers, who dug down
into their jeans with the expectation
that they would be reimbursed, are now
clamoring, it is said, for relief and are
struggling with deficit of $4,000.
At least the G. o. p. cannot be
charged in the case of Senator Walsh,
with having sought to defeat a nominee
of its own party. Certainly the Repub-
licans appear to be entitled to struggle
against the reelection of a Democratic
Senator, even though some of the Re-
publican Progressives may have under
taken to aid Walsh in his campaign for
reelection. If the G. o. P. is not to be
permitted to oppose the election of
Democratic candidates for Office, then,
indeed, is the Elephant hog tiled. 1t is
quite true, of course, that the Repub-
licans should not be permitted to buy
the election Of any Of their candidates,
by the expenditure of excessive funds,
In Montana or anywhere else. If it was
planned to carry Montana for Judge
Galen, the Republican nominee for the
Senate, by the use of money, corruptly
and extravagantly expended, it is
matter TO be run down and exposed.
From the report, however, it is not clear
that such expenditures were made. But
an effort is being made to throw mud
on the Republican opponents of the
Montana Senator, who was elected, by
the way by a greater majority than he
ever received before
The Nye committee is asking for an
extension of life beyond the term of
the present Congress, which expires
March 4, and for an additional $50. 900
to carry on the work of the committee.
1t Is reported that much Of the addi-
tional fund, If it is granted, will be
used to investigate charges that the
election in Alabama was stolen" from
Senator Thomas j. Heflin, who incur
red the wrath of the regular Demo-
Gratis in his State in 1923 by opposing
the election of Alfred E. Smith to the
presidency. Senator Heflin has sub
mitted charges to that effect, and the
committee has had its investigators in
the State, and it now appears that the
committee will make a serious inquiry
into these charges.
The Senate Investigating Committee
has still to make final report on the
Pennsylvania senatorial primary and
election, and it is planned to make this
report at an early date. It has brought
to the attention of the country that in
dividuals and political organizations in
some of the States have been willing
to expend huge sums of money to win
senatorial nominations and elections.
1t cannot be denied that the commit
tee has served and continues to serve
a useful purpose. Nevertheless, the
committee of the Senate should not
be used as an agent of either po-
litical party. The charge has been
made that in some instances political
advantage rather than the purity of the
Senate has been the real end sought.
How difficult it is not To play politics,
particularly If the Senate is involved!