Evening star., 1933-12-10
AGENT FOR FIRMS
BANNEDBYP. WA.
Florida Governor Charges In.
fluenee Threats to J. |.
Bernard.
Continued From First Page.)

Bernard had tried to get Gov. Sholtz
to have the Florida Public Works
Board recommend to Washington
some project in which he (Bernard)
was interested" and that Bernard had
told the Governor, according to the
latter, that he could block Federal
grants to Florida if he desired
Gov. Sholtz, interviewed in Florida
last night by The Star over long-dis-
tance phone, confirmed the Secretary's
version of what Bernard is reported
to have told the Governor.
The Interior Secretary said he sum-
moned Bernard to his Office, showed
him the complaint from Gov. Sholtz
and warned him to stay out of tne
Interior Building" hereafter.
against any form of lobbying have been
expressed on several occasions.
Division Chiefs Warned.
The notice he sent to heads Of
divisions in the department last week
follows:
This is to advise all members of
the public works staff that Mr.. James
Bernard is persona non grata in the
Interior Building. I want it reported
to me instantly il he attempts to ap-
proach any member of the public works
staff. either in the Interior Building
or outside"
Mr. Bernard personable man in his
late SOS, and great-grandson OF
Commodore James Lawrence, of Don't
Give Up the Ship" fame, admitted to
The Star that he had telephoned Gov.
81 @f f,sN
Roberts, of the Roberts Paving Co., this
city. but refused to be quoted except
as follows:
II don't want to enter into any pub
lie controversy involving the veracity
of the Governor of Florida"
Roberts Leaves Hotel.
He said Roberts was beside him in
the latter's room at the Hamilton Hotel
here recently when the call was made
to Gov. Sholtz. Inquiry at the Hamil-
ton last night disclosed that Mr.. Rob-
erts had Checked out for Florida"
This gave rise to speculation as to
whether he had gone to confer with
Gov. Sholtz about the Bernard incident.
Mr. Bernard is listed in the telephone
directory as having an Office in the
Shoreham Building. and the telephone
number is the same as that of Robert
Jackson. lawyer, and secretary of the
Democratic National Committee. Mr..
Jackson said Mr.. Bernard has no con-
nection with the Democratic National
Committee. He explained that Mr..
Bernard was a longtime friend whom
he had employed on several occasions
to do LEG work" for him at some of
the Government departments in con-
nection with Mr.. Jackson's private legal
work for clients having business with
the Government.
The Florida incident had no con-
nection whatever with any of my
cases." Mr.. Jackson stated. Bernard
tells me he was trying to perform
personal favor for a friend of his,
Mr.. Bernard does not share by office,
but he drops in every day so to see if
I have any work for him."
Mr.. Bernard earlier in the afternoon
issued the following formal statement:
Il am manufacturers agent and rep
resent 20 or mol reputable concerns
My duties consist of securing proposals
for bids, submitting them to manufac-
turers, attending the opening of bids
and in general acting as agent for
them in their relations with the Gov
ernment departments. I am a regis
tered Republican in Chevy Chase. Md.
and am in no way. and never was, con-
nected with any Democratic organiza-
tion. My record in Washington for 20
years without criticism. so far as am
aware, speaks for itself"
Gov. SholtZ told The Star he COM
planned about Bernard in detailed
letter to Secretary Ickes.
HE phoned me that If we didn't
act favorably on some project he would
see that We didn't get anything out of
the Governor said. He
got rather nasty about it. I'm not going
to be Influenced by people up there
in Washington who pretend they can
do lot of things they can't do.
II didn't like it. and I didn't lose
any time in telling Washington that !
didn't like it."
Recently Made Tour.
The Star learned that Mr.. Bernard
not long ago made visit to number
of Southern States in which there are
manufacturers with whom he is afili-
ated as Washington agent. During the
tour. it is said, he met Gov. Sholtz.
On his return to Washington, it Is
reported. he met Mr.. Roberts and men,
toned his visit with the Florida Gov
ernor. Mr. Roberts is understood to
have remarked that he was interested
in securing some Florida road contracts
and Mr.. Bernard then is said to have
offered to Introduce" him to Gov
Sholtz by telephone. The controversial
conversation ensued at that time.