Evening star., 1934-02-23
Jury Hears Jackson Attend
ed Meeting at Army
Officers Home.
FORMER LEGION HEAD
TO APPEAR NEXT WEEK
Col, McMullin Understood to
Have Told Investigators Supe-
riors Arranged Conference.
BY REX COLLIER.

Revision of the contract Of Joseph
Silverman, jr., New York trader, to
permit him to resell in this country
huge quantities of clothing purchased
from the War Department, was agreed
upon at a conference of lawyers last
July at the Battery Park home of Col.
Joseph !. McMullin Of the judge advo-
cate generals office of the Army, in
vestigators for the grand jury have
learned
Participating in the parley-said to
have been arranged by one Of Col. Nc
Mullins superiors-were Ralph T
O'Neil, former national commander of
the American Legion, representing
Silverman, and Robert Jackson, then
secretary Of the Democratic National
Committee, representing the Newbury
Manufacturing Co. of Boston. Mass.
O'Neil has been granted permission
to testify before the grand jury next
week as to his connection with Silver
mans contract negotiations at the
War Department
Jackson made it plain today that he
attended the conference solely il the
interest of the Newbury Co., which
has no connection with Silverman S
firms. The Newbury concern, Jack
son explained. was desirous. like Sill
verman. of receiving permission to sell
surplus war materials N this country
as well as abroad
Resigned as Secretary.
jackson resigned as secretary of the
Democratic National Committee sew
eral weeks ago, after presidential crit
icism Of activities of Democratic law
yers around Government Departments.
Jackson said he was asked to attend
the conference at the Army officer
home after he had written letter to
Assistant Secretary Of War Harry H
Woodring requesting that the New
bury Manufacturing Co.'S contract for
surplus World War underwear be al
tered TO permit the concern to sell the
clothing in the United States.
Silverman's lawyer also was desir-
GUS of Eaving his clients contract
changed similarly. jackson said
Jackson said George Combs, an
other attorney. assisted him Jack
SOM in drawing up the modified con-
tract which later was approved for
the Newbury Co.
The Army officer has been ques-
toned at length by the grand jury.
He is understood to have advised in
vestigators that the parley was ar
ranged by one of his superiors.
1t was after the alteration of ST.
verman's contract that the New York
dealer in surplus clothing negotiated
with the War Department for a CON-
tract to exchange 100000 suits of un-
derwear for military equipment valued
by the general staff at millions of dol
lars.
Changed for Justice"
jackson said today that while he
had no knowledge of the merits of
the Silverman case. the change made
in the Newbury Co.'S contract was
in the interest of justice for both
the Government and the company
Trade conditions abroad, he said, had
prevented the company from selling
any of the goods outside of the
United States, and there was need
for such underwear by working men
in this country.
Jackson said he advised Woodring
that a precedent for such change
in the contract had been set by for
mer Assistant Secretary of War Fred
erick H. Payne in revising contract
held by the Star Trading Co., one OF
Silverman's firms.
Payne was a witness before the
grand jury this week. He is said
to have been questioned about various
contracts signed by Silverman during
the previous administration.
Following disclosure yesterday by
Senators Copeland,s Barbour and
Reynolds that they mad written let
tiers to Woodring in behalf OF Silver
man. Woodring said that several
persons" had interceded with him for
the New York trader.
Woodring explained that these per-
sons claimed the Government could
save 100000 by repurchasing under
wear which Silverman previously had
acquired from the War Department
Woodring said he agreed to a con-
tract with Silverman, but that the
agreement never was consummated.
Woodring did not comment on re-
ports that signing of the agreement
with Silverman so aroused members
of the general staff of the Army that
the deal was blocked. Gen. Douglas
Macarthur, chief of staff, and Maj
Gen. Robert E. Callan, assistant chief
of staff in charge of supplies, are said
to have held that the Government
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