Evening star., 1932-10-19
C. 0. ?. 4EXPLA|NS"
TAX|CAb SPEAKER
Actions of Progressive
League Disclosed in Sec.
ond Affidavit.

By the Associated Press
The Republican National Committee
made public last night an afidavit by
Carl Abeel, Washington taxicab driver.
who recently talked over the radio in
President Hoover's behalf, saying he was
for President Hoover for reelection"
The National Progressive League had
said in an earlier statement that Abeel
received $40 for the speech after dis
cuSSing 1t with man who gave his
name as Whiting Williams and who
said he could be reached through
French Strother. literary secretary to
the President. An affidavit from Abeel
was quoted in the league statement
Last nights affidavit said that before
signing the document for the league,
Abeel conferred with league officials
and then the man who said he was a
reporter told me that if did not sign
an affidavit he would write story that
would make it pretty bad for me-"
Received $50 Fee.
The second affidavit said also Abeel
later received $40 from Frank B. Lord
described as publicity director for the
league
The text of the second AFFIDAVIT fol-
lows:
Il. Carl Abeel, being first duly sworn,
depOse and say:
"On Saturday. October Is, about IL
am. Albert Lubore, fellow cab driver,
came to me at Fourteenth and PennSyl-
vania avenue and asked me to come to
the offices Of the National Progressive
League in the Evans Building. He said
there was reporter there and that 1t
was very important and for my own
good that I go. l accompanied him to
the office of this league and there met
Mr.. Frank B. Lord and Mr. Melvin D.
Hildreth. and also man who said he
was reporter of the Washington Times.
They showed me the affidavit Of Ed
win PreSSgrave, also fellow taxi driver
I might explain that Lubore and Press
grave were in my cab when Mr.. Whiting
Williams engaged me to make a radio
broadcast for the Republican party.
They also told me that they had an afi-
davit from Mr.. Lubore. After I had
read PreSSgrave's affidavit they asked me
II 1t was correct and told them that 1t
was. They then asked me to make an
afhdavit. I asked them why they wanted
an aff1davit from me when they had one
from Pressgrave. They explained that
OF the other two men.
Unwilling to Sign.
Il told them that I did not want to
sign any affidavit as 1 did not want to
get myself into any trouble Mr.. Hill
oreth said he was lawyer and I would
not get In any trouble if l did sign one.
Ihen the man who said he was a re-
porter told me that If did not sign an
afhdavit he would write a story that
would make it pretty bad for me.
did not want to sign any affi- |
davlt. had made the radio talk for
the Republican party. I was for Presi- |
dent Hoover for reelection. I was glad |
TO get the $40 for the broadcast, of |
course. because I needed the money. |
But the money was not the considera-
ton for my attitude toward the Presi- |
dent.
Several times I started to leave the |
Progressive Leagues Office, but they |
kept pressing me and when 1 asked |
the reporter what kind Of a story he |
could write about me he kept telling |
me would be surprised when l saw |
1t II the affidavit wasn't signed. Finally |
/ signed it. after the reporter had |
promised me that the affidavit would |
not be used in the papers.
Condemns Story.
This morning I went pack to the
National Progressive Leagues head
quarters and saw Mr.. Lord and told |
him that was a pretty rotten story ,
that they wrote about me- He said. i
That's all right; that won't do you |
any harm He said, Here's $40 for |
your trouble and he handed me a |
twenty-dollar bill and a piece Of paper
to sign. This paper was in the form |
Of receipt for the $40.
After my first visit to the National |
Progressive League, Lubore and Press
grave told me that If Roosevelt was |
elected that they expected to get good |
velt got elected, all I would have to do |
would be to go and see Mr.. Hildreth and |
he would see Mr.. Roosevelt's secretary,
Louis Howe. and that they would see |
that got job. CARL ABEL"
The National Committees statement |
follows:
Comment on this affidavit is un-
necessary except to say that the Ma
tional Progressive League advertises that |,
1t has as its chairman George w. Nor
ris, United States Senator from Ne
braska. 1t occupies somewhat extensive
quarters on the seventh floor of the
Evans Buliolng on New York avenue |
Fourteenth and Fifteenth
streets northwest.
Financing q Mystery.
who finances it IS as much mystery
as who finances other similar organiza-
tons with which Norris name is con-
nected
Although unquestionably q political |
organization and function
Ing as such in this campaign, the |
league has filed with the clerk of the |
House of Representatives no report of |
its receipts and expenditures, as required |
by the corrupt practices act. This was
stated today at the Office of the clerk Of |
the House
THE Frank B. Lord referred to in the |
affidavit is the director of publicity for |
the league The Melvin D. Hildreth re-
ferred to is a Washington lawyer who |
has an Office either in or adjacent to |
the league headquarters.
THE Washington Times referred to Is |
a Hearst newspaper"