Evening star., 1935-02-01
DEMOCRATS PLEA
.TOSH|PMEN Barred
Aid Sought to Elect RooSe.
welt to Keep Pacifist Out
of White House.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
Copies Of letters sent from Demo-
cratic headquarters in the Fall of 1882
asking shipbuilders to contribute to
the Roosevelt campaign fund to put
'other than a pacifist in the White
House" were introduced in evidence
today at the Senate Munitions Com
mittee hearing.
The letters bore the typed name OF
Arthur p. Homer, Washington marine
architect, who yesterday was described
variously as former $25-a-week paint
salesman and a close friend of Presi-
dent Roosevelt.
He was said by committee investi-
gator to have once stated he was asso-
ciated with the President in the lob
ster business.
yandenbere Offers Letters.
The letters were introduced by Seh-
ator vandenberg, Republican, of Mich
igan. sole committee member present
at the time
Vandenberg listed Homer as head OF
the marine division of the Demo-
cratic National Campaign Committee
Biltmore, Hotel, New York City"
Barely were the letters introduced
than Charles ANGEL, chief estimator
of the New York Shipbuilding Co.,
testified that while material and labor
costs on cruiser construction increased
about 5000, 900 from 1927 to 1884, the
contract price charged by the COM
panies mounted from about $40, ,000, ,000
to sl5.000.000.
One of the copies of Homer's let
ters presented by Vandenberg was ad.
dressed to Charles M. Schwab of the
United States Steel Corp, dated Oc.
tober II, 1892 The letter described
Roosevelt as marine minded"
Change Held Necessary.
"As result of the events of the
last three weeks" it said, I'VE believe
that if the shipbuilders of the United
States are to get square deal, it will
be necessary to make change or
November 8.
II hope that you are in accord with
the idea.
IF so. we ask that you help us with
a contribution to the campaign func
OF Gov. Roosevelt, who, as you know
Is marine-minded and hasn't the
opinion that international affairs car
be settled with blueprint Navy.
Checks should be made to F. C.
Walker, treasurer (personal checks. OF
course), and mailed to him in the in
closed envelope. The writer will per-
sonally acknowledge your contribu.
ton and see that the news of IL
reaches the Governors ears"
The Senator did not disclose where
copies of the letters were obtained
but told newsmen several of the orig
inals would be introduced later in
evidence.
Recipients Named.
He named as recipients of the let
tiers, the following:
Homer L. Ferguson, president oi
Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry
dock Co.
G.. L. Bardo, president OF the New
York Shipbuilding Co.
s. w. Wakeman, vice president OF
the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Co., OF
Quincy. Mass.
w. s. Newell. president of Bath
Iron Works, Bath, Me.
C. Stewart Lee, vice president, Posey
& Jones Corp, Wilmington.
j. c. Pow, president of the Sun
Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co., Chester,
Pa.
w. w. Smith, chief engineer of the
Federal Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co.,
Kearney, N. J.
Charles c. West, president. Mani
towoc Shipbuilding Co. of Manitowoc,
Wis.
Eugene Grace, chairman of the
board of Bethlehem Steel Co.
Cornbrooks Still iii.
Plans to call Ernest I. Cornbrooks,
former plant manager of the New
York Shipbuilding Co., were put aside
because of his continued illness. He
was reported likely to come Monday.
He was described by committee
members as the "key witness" in its
inquiry into asserted collusion among
shipbuilders in bidding on naval con-
tracts.
His brother, Thomas M. Corn
brooks of Collingswood, N. j., once
associated with Gulf Industries of
Pensacola, Fla, a shipbuilding firm,
was questioned instead today.
Thomas Cornbrooks disclosed hi
was author of the list of low bidders
which earlier witnesses said was made
public 10 days in advance Of award.
ing contracts.
my guess was wrong In one In
stance" he said, but did not advance
sD.ki,..ana <,ss HonM HaHinax 4