Evening star., 1935-07-26

NcOAit1AiOCN TlOIl Aeb I-d&c.p
roll" Silverman was quoted as ex-
planning that Woodrine and ONeil
were both from Kansas and both
very close friends. ....
"Silverman told me-" Speicher de-
clared, that if I didn't 60 along with
his idea of doing business he would
give me a piece of my own throat
Indicating by drawing q finger
across his throat). He meant he
would cut my throat in the Assistant
Secretary of Wars Office He said !:
Close your hands. now open them.
WHAT have you got? Nothing. Well,
that's what you'll get"
Sought Split in Business.
Speicher said Silverman was deal
Ing simultaneously with Chevrolet and
Chrysler in an effort to get them to
split the business" Speicher claimed
Silverman Dragged he had gotten the
specifications changed so Chrysler
would get the truck contract and that
then he would try to make a deal
with Chevrolet whereby he would
have the specifications changed back
again to suit Chevrolet. providing
General Motors would give him 71s
per cent commission.
Speicher said he met Gen. williams
several times at the Mayfiower Hotel
and one time at Williams home here,
to discuss the specifications.
Il
had with Haig and Silverman at the
Mayfower Hotel at which Silverman
was quoted as saying Chrysler was
represented by ONeil
Promised Gut In."
"Silverman told Haig," the witness
said. that he was out unless he
would give him (Silverman) 71a per
cent commission, in return for which
he would get the specifications
changed"
Speicher said that as this confer
ence was broken up Silverman grabbed
him by the lapel of his coat and ad-
vised him that he lSpeicher) would
get "cut in" for 2l2 per cent COM
mission.
This was on Thanksgiving day of
1893, the witness said. About this
time Ford had underbid both Chevro-
let and Chrysler for an Agriculture
Department contract, which vas be-
ing held up because Ford was having
trouble with the N. r. A.
"Silverman told Haig to underbid
Ford by 81 per car, and he would get
in touch with the Little White House
at Warm Springs, Ga. and he would
get this business for Haig," Speicher
related.
Haig Failed to Underbid.
The committee was told Haig did
not underbid Ford. whereupon Silver
man predicted that the contract
would go to Ford at Warm Springs"
And it happened just as he said it
would" Speicher declared.
Speicher testified Silverman told him
she had the Assistant Secretary of
Wars office in the bag-in his back
pocket, and if he bent over it would
pop out
The witness brought the name of
Frederick H. Payne, former Assistant
Secretary of War. into the story of
Silverman's activities. Speicher said
he attended conference at the May
flower Hotel at which Payne told
Haig, Il know Joe-you'd better put
him on the pay roll. He can be of aid
to you The witness explained Joe
referred to Joseph Silverman.
In November of last year, Speicher
said, Gen. Williams came to him to
ask "a favor" Col Williams at that
time held the rank of a general officer.
First Lent williams S2,50o.
Gen. williams told me he needed
81, 500 to meet mortgage on his farm
In North Carolina. He said he had
asked Joe, but that Joe had said he
was short and had sent him to me.
] wired the treasurer of the Eastern
Beck Corp, and he sent me s2.500
which I gave to Gen. Williams on