Evening star., 1934-02-17
Former National Head of
Legion Would Appear
Before Grand Jury.
WAVING OF IMMUNITY
WOULD BE NECESSARY
Attorney Reveals Connection
With Truck Purchases in
$10,000,o0O Program.
BY REX COLLIER.

Ralph T. ONeil, former national
commander of the American Legion,
has expressed through counsel a de-
sire to testify before the grand Jury
investigating charges that friends
of the War Department" claimed
ability to influence motor truck and
other contract awards.
John Lewis Smith. attorney for
ONeil, who also is lawyer, explain
ed to The Star today that O'Neil's
request to testify was made because
the former Legion official had some
connection with" matters be ng in
quired into by the grand jury.
Smith said he has not received a
reply to the offer. At the Office of
United States Attorney Leslie C.
Garnett, receipt of ONeil's request
was confirmed with the additional
statement that the offer would be
conveyed to the grand jury for such
action as it may wish to take.
Must Waive Immunity.
If the grand jury decides to hear
O'Neil, officials said, the witness. like
ONAASAS wiz AAdNC lCSbllACd, Will DE It-
qulred to sign waiver of immunity
from prosecution.
ONeil was national commander of
the Legion in 1881, when Harry H
Woodring, now Assistant Secretary of
War, was State commander in Kan
sas, ONeil's home State. The two
are known to have been close aSso-
ciates in Legion activities. Woodring
already has been witness before the
grand jury, and will be called back for
further questioning next week.
The grand jury is known to have
centered much of it's attention on as
sertionS by representatives of automo-
bile companies that men high in the
councils of the American Legion ap-
preached them with propositions to
serve as special counsel in connection
with negotiations for War Department
contracts under the $4,000, 900 mo-
torization program.
1t is reported that O'Neil wishes to
give information in this phase of the
inquiry.
Commander in 1881.
O'Neil was a captain of infantry in
the World War and received a divi-
sional citation for his services. While
serving as city attorney of Topeka,
KanS., in 1926, ne was elected de-
partment commander of the Legion.
In 1927 he was elevated to national
vice commander of the Legion and
was elected national commander IN
1881. He was chairman of the Ma
tional Citizens Military Training
Camps in 1929 and a member of the
National Defense Committee in 1880
If O'Neil is permitted to testify, it
is expected he will be the last witness
to appear. Woodring probably will
precede him, it was said.
O'Neill's offer to testify brought his
name publicly into the investigation
for the first time.
Information PrOffered.
Joseph Silverman, jr.. New York
dealer in military surplus stocks, is
reported to have made overtures
through his counsel, A. Mitchell Pal
mer, former Attorney General, to give
the Government certain information
In connection with the motor truck
and other negotiations being scru-
tinized by the jurors. 1t has been
indicated he will not be a grand jury
witness, however.
Silverman in a letter to Secretary
of War Dern this week disclosed that
he also was the man who signed
trading contract with the War De-
partment, negotiations for which have
been the subject of special inquiry
by the grand jury during the past
few days.
Under this contract, which Sill
verman called on Dern to fulfill, Sill
verman was to exchange 100000 suits
of woolen underwear, previously
bought from the War Department,
for surplus" military supplies valued
by the general staff at $8,000,000.
The general staff blocked the trade
on the grounds the Government stood
to lose millions of dollars under the
arrangement Silverman, however,
maintained in his letter that the Gov
ernment would have saved 100000
by the deal.
O'Neil, subsequent to his retirement
as national commander of the Legion,
opened law Offices in the Munsey
Building and is said to have repre-
sented persons having business with
the War Department. He resides at
the Mayf1ower Hotel.