Evening star., 1932-10-16
CHARGES J0B[ESS
HIRED BY c. 0. P,
League Backing Roosevelt
Claims Radio Statements
Are "Coined."
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
The National Progressive League, an
organization supporting Gov Roosevelt.
issued statement last night saying
1t had evidence that responsible Re-
publicanS in charge of radio broadcast
Ing in behalf of President Hoover" are
hiring unemployed men to broadcast
canned" statements saying they are
for the President.
The statement quoted an affidavit by
q Washington taxi driver named Carl
Abeel, which said he was paid $40 for
such service by man giving the name
of Whiting Williams who told him he
could be reached through French
Strother, President Hoover'S literary
secretary" at the White House
The statement of the league follows
In full:
Evidence has come to the National
Progressive League, which is supporting
Roosevelt that responsible Republicans
in charge of radio broadcasting in be-
half of President Hoover are taking ad-
vantage of the hunger and desperation
Of the unemployed by hiring them to
say that they are for Hoover and to
broadcast canned statements over
the radio.
Headquarters in White House.
Moreover. this sort of Republican
propaganda has its headquarters in the
White House itself This evidence is
supported by sworn afhdavits obtaine.
by the National Progressive League
from those who have figured in the un-
dertaking
The first of these afidavits is pro-
v1ded by Carl Abeel. a taxicab driver.
1t appears, according to Abeel's story,
that on last Wednesday night while
on his stand at Pennsylvania avenue
and Fourteenth street he was approach
ed by man who said he was looking
Tor working man who would broadcast
a statement favorable to President
Hoover. When told by the taxi drivers
on the stand that he had come to the
wrong place as there were no Hoover
men there, he continued by offering
$40 for the performance of such service.
Abeel accepted, was paid the money and
went with the man to the Cosmos Club.
Apparently to convince Abeel of his
sincerity, when seeking to engage him,
the man told him that his name was
Whiting Williams and that he could
be reached by calling the White House
and asking for French Strother, in
whose Office he was working Mr..
Strother is President Hoover's literary
secretary.
Bonus Stricken Out.
Upon arriving at the Cosmos Club,
according to Abeels story, Williams pre-
pared a typewriter paper embodying
questions and answers which appeared
to tell why Abeel was in favor of
Hoover Abeel rebelled at the question
and answer relating to the bonus as he
is himself a former service man and
strongly in favor of the payment of the
bonus. This part of the prepared ques-
tionnaire was stricken out, but other
wise it was left as Williams prepared it.
According to Abeel there was a re-
tearsal of the questions and answers
prepared by Williams. and he agreed
to 60 on the air as Williams directed.
He therefore met Williams at WMAL
studio on Friday night and together
with another man who Abeel identi-
fled as a plumber they went through
the prepared program in the Republic
an campaign hour.
'Abeel'S affidavit follows:
It. Carl Abeel. being first duly sworn,
depose and say:
That on the night of Wednesday,
October IL, 1882, 1 was seated in my
taxicab at the corner of Fourteenth
street and Pennsylvania avenue north
west, when I was approached by a
man who introduced himself as Whiting
i. Williams and who said he could be
White House In the course of the
conversation, Mr. Williams engaged me
to make a statement over the radio
assigning reasons for my support of
President Hoover.
Received $40 Pay.
THAT in consideration for this serv-
ice. Mr.. Williams agreed and did pay
me the sum of $40;
THAT preparatory to my appearance
over the radio Mr.. Williams took me
to the Cosmos Club. where my part
of the program was rehearsed and the
questions and answers written out"
The National Progressive League also
procured other aff1davits confirming
Abeels story.
Williams told Abeel that he was tour
ing the country getting other working
men in like manner to broadcast for
the President.