Evening star., 1934-02-19
Activity in 100000
"SWap" Stigate d.
Woodring Aides Called.
ASSISTANT WAR HEAD
WILL BE QUIZZED AGAIN
Cancels Topeka, Kans., Date to
Remain Here-McMullen
Due to Testify.
BY REX COLLIER.

Activities OF certain lobbyists" who
visited the Office Of Assistant Secre-
tary of War Harry H. Woodring in
seeking War Department approval of
an 100000 underwear-saddle swap"
were being investigated intensively to-
day by the grand jury.
Col. James K. Grain, executive Of
flcer in Woodring's Office, and Mrs.
Kate Buckingham, private secretary
to Woodring, were summoned for
questioning about this proposed
deal" for which Joseph Silverman,
jr-, New Yorker, claims he signed
contract last December.
Circumstances attending the draw
ing up and signing of the agreement,
now repudiated by Secretary of War
Dern upon insistence of the general
staff of the Army, were to be studied
by the grand jury.
Cancels Speaking Date.
Woodring himself will be recalled
for interrogation about the Silverman
contract" later this week. He al
ready has been questioned about
claims of inside influence" allegedly
MADE to motor manufacturers by
friends of the War Department.
Woodring had been scheduled to
make a George Washington birthday
anniversary speech at Topeka. Kans.,
next Thursday, but has Cancelled this
engagement. He told The Star he
will remain in Washington until this
thing is over"
Col Joseph I. McMullen, chief of
the patents section in the Office of
the Judge advocate general of the
Army, also was to testify today.
There were reports Col McMullen
would give testimony about a ruling
said to have been made by the Judge
advocate generals Office against the
trading of Army supplies for private
goods-such as underwear. He also
may be questioned about an earlier
phase of the grand jury inQuiry-in-
volving allegations of the same group
Of lobbyists that motor specifications
could be changed to favor certain
automobile companies.
Will Consider Offer.
After all other testimony is in, prob
ably toward the end of this week, the
grand jury will consider request from
Ralph T. O'Neil, former national
commander of the American Legion
and once associated with woodring in
portunity to testify.
John Lewis Smith, attorney for
O'Neil, told The Star his client wished
to throw light on the connection he
had with some matters under in
vestigation." United States Attorney
Leslie c. Garnett has advised Smith
he will lay the request before the
grand jury. If the latter grants the
request, Garnett said, O'Neil will be
required to sign waiver of immunity.
Involved in the Silverman negotia-
tions, officials say, are an attorney
who has represented Silverman before
the War Department and a former
high War Department official familiar
with Army warehouse stocks. The lat
ter is reported to have sat in certain
conferences which preceded signing
by Silverman of the contract for an
exchange of 100000 suits of woolen
underwear for saddles, brides, tar
paullns and other Army supplies which
cost the Government s8,000,O00. Sill
verman recently called on Dern to
carry out the agreement" claiming
the trade will be advantageous" to
the War Department Silverman has
retained former Attorney General A.
Mitchell Palmer as counsel.
Negotiations Halted.
Gen. Douglas Macarthur, chief of
staff of the Army, and Maj. Gen.
Robert E. Callan, assistant chief of
staff in charge of supplies, halted fur
ther negotiations for the Silverman
trade just before the War and Justice
Departments called on the grand jury
to investigate activities of Silverman
and others. Macarthur and Callan
have been questioned at length as to
their reasons for opposing the deal.
1t appears now the findings will not
be reported before early next week.
AS many as seven persons have been
mentioned in damaging testimony re-
ported to have gone before the grand
jury, and three or more indictments
WILL be asked by the Government.