Evening star., 1935-08-22

questioned him about advance m
formation he received regarding Pres
ident Roosevelt's Nationwide radio
broadcast on utilities. These in
cluded John Snure, jr., Of the Wash
ington Times, and man named
Gridley, who he said represented q
Denver paper.
Did somebody at the White House
refuse to tell you?" Black asked.
Robinson said he did not recall.
"Mr. Stephenson refused to tell
you, didn't hep" Black persisted.
Robinson said he had not talked
to r. M. Stephenson, the Associated
Press reporter assigned to the White
House.
Black handed him q telegram he
had sent saying:
Stevens, White House A. p. man,
now says release 8 o'clock stop Have
two angles who will contact me stop
viii phone as soon as hear-if out
will wire you stop All say no chance
of personal attack on any individual" "
CF. H. Stephenson said, when told
of the Robinson telegram: Il do not
know Robinson or any one connected
with his company. I never told him
anything.)
Can't Recall Names.
Robinson also testified he had con-
facts among several newspaper men,
but he could not recall their names,
although they had arranged to call
him and tell whether the Presidents
and Electric System by name.
you mean to say that you had
contacts among newspaper men who
were to violate the ethics of their
profession and you can't remember
their names?" asked Senator Schwel-
lenbach. Democrat. of Washington.
THAT is right" Robinson replied.
A few minutes later Schwellenbach
warned Robinson that he would have
to treat the committee with respect
"and not try to avade answers"
Talked Frankly" With Senators.
Robinson next was asked to read
a telegram he sent to Hopson last
May 81, in which he said 1t was the
consensus among Senators and their
secretaries that the holding COM
pany bill would be pushed ahead
of the social security bill.
That message said he had talked
quite frankly" with three Senators,
and they had expressed that view.
The committee pressed him for the
names of the three Senators, but he
persistently declared he did not re-
member.
Frankly" he declared, "that was
an unfortunate use of words"
Robinson, however, mentioned the
names of a number of members Of the
Rayburn committee of the House with
whom he talked in an effort to ar
range for the Associated officials to
appear as witnesses.
These included Representatives Ray
burn of Texas, Lea of California, Bull
winkle of North Carolina, Cole Of
Maryland, Cooper of Ohio, Wolverton
of New Jersey and Wolfenden Of
Pennsylvania.
The telegram also mentioned that
pressure had been put on some mem
bers of Congress in connection with
the bill Robinson said he didn't
know where he got that information,
but he thought it was gossip"
Tells of Talking to Snure.
The committee then reverted sud-
denly to Robinson's newspaper con-
tracts. He said he telephoned Snure
Saturday night preceding the Presi-
dents radio address and told him he
had heard Hopson was going to be
attacked in the address.
Snure in reply said, Robinson de-
clared: Il don't think so, Robbie"
Robinson explained he called Snure
because he is one Of the few news
paper men he knew In Washington,
but he had no information that this
reporter had any advance data on
the Presidents speech. But, he
pointed out, newspaper men know q
lot about Washington and its Gus
toms. He explained, however, he did
not know Gridley before April 2s.
Robinson further explained that
Smith told him two newspaper men
promised to phone him when the
Presidents message was released to
the press and he received q call the
night of April 20 and was told there
would be no attack on any individual.
He said he did not know who called
him.
After receiving that information,
Robinson said, he telephoned Hopson.
Social Activities Probed.
The committee next began to probe
into Robinson's social activities in
washington. He said he had an apart
ment at the Shoreham, but explained
no Senator" had ever been in 1t.
He said he entertained extensively
and admitted, under pressure of uues-
tioning, that indirectly major per
ton Of his expenses had been paid
by Associated.
Asked whether he was in Washing
ton last year. Robinson replied:
Il wasn't in Washington last year.
was living q normal life"
Robinson said he had come to
washington for three days at Hop
sons request to get a general slant"
on the situation and had been here
ever since because things kept COM
ing up."
Robinson then admitted that in his
rambles around the Capitol he had
talked with Senators Russell, Dietericf,
and McCarran.
Free With Drinks,
AS the committee fired questions At
Robinson about his entertainment. he
suddenly declared:
When q man comes in my room he
gets a drink, If that's what you meant
by entertaining.
Robinson was next questioned about
q weekend party at Jefferson Island
he said he had been there, but not at
the recent Democratic gathering.
Again reverting to his other activi-
ties In Washington, Robinson declared
the president Of the United States
Steel Corp. and Will Hays entertained
me in New York. Was Iohh,,;,,.