Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-07-09

QlStuTUSu &uo tolO MN uc tAlOuBAt
he, Brewster, would be making a
Serious mistake" IL he did not vote
for the President.
Goes on House Floor.
Gruening told him ne would be "a
man without q country" and ADAM
doning all his old friends, Brewster
asserted. The Representative said he
considered that perfectly legitimate
argument"
Then Brewster said he went to the
House floor and told Representative
Edith Nourse Rogers, Republican. Of
lie added he had discussed the bill
with Corcoran three or four times
previously, first about three or four
weeks before.
What did he say them" O'connor
asked.
He said the President felt the
death sentence was absolutely funda-
mental and the most profound issue
before the country" was the reply.
He knew my background and told
him I would be glad to discuss 1t
with him"
House Leaders Listen.
Among those who listened from
the sidelines we're Representatives
Rayburn, Democrat, Of Texas, chair
man Of the House Interstate Com
merce Committee and co-author Of
the original Wheeler-Rayburn utili-
ties control bill. and Rankin, who led
the unsuccessful cloak room campaign
for mandatory abolition Of "unneces-
sary" holding companies and who had
predicted the House investigate
would be an idle gesture"
Turning to the meeting in Corcoran's
oflce, Brewster said among those
present were Benjamin v. Cohen, p.
w. A. expert. and Charles West. Presi-
dent Roosevelts contact man on Cap
itol Hill.
Afterward, he said. he called Gruen-
ing and arranged to have breakfast
with him the following day.
At that time, he said, he told Gruen-
ing he "felt the situation was getting
embarrassing and that my relations
to the death sentence were being ex-
aggerated, but that If he and Corcoran
felt my vote was so important I would
be glad for them to explain to me
fully the Presidents position.
"A week before the vote was called
to Bangor for legal case" Brewster
continued.
"Quoddy, in the meantime. we
thought was practically ready to Co."
Refused to Be Counsel.
He said Corcoran originally had
asked him to act as Quoddy counsel,
but he refused because he had too
many other activities and could not
accept pay In addition to that a. q
member Of Congress. Instead he
recommended two Maine attorneys.
While at Bangor, Brewster said,
Corcoran went to his washington
office and called him up to ask that
he send to all Congressman q letter
and a speech by Senator Borah, Re-
publican, OF Idaho on the constitu-
tionality of this matter"
Corcoran told him, he said. that
he was anxious to have the material
20 out under his signature.
Ten minutes later Corcoran called
him back and read the proposed let
ter to him, he said. When he refused
to let 1t 60 out, Brewster said Cor
coran showed some feeling"
Tells OF Telephone Call.
While waiting for several days In
Bangor for Quoddy to 60 through
Brewster continued, he received tele-
phone call from his secretary in Wash
ington and was informed Corcoran
had told the secretary nothing would
be done on Quoddy until after the
utilities vote.
Flying back to the Capital mmedi-
ately, Brewster said he saw Corcoran
in the Speakers lobby the next morn
ing when the House was in session.
Chairman O'Connor of the COM
mittee remarked that only members
and the press were allowed IN the
lobby while the House was meeting.
Brewster said Corcoran asked him
to speak to Senator White, Repub-
lican, of Maine. He said he saw
White and told him Corcoran, who
had done much for Passamaquoddy,
would appreciate 1t if White would re-
frain from voting On the provision
for abolishing ''unne cessary" holding
companies, as 1t was understood he
was against 1t. Brewster insisted he
merely transmitted Corcoran's request
and did not himself urge. White not
to vote.
Says No Threat Involved.
Brewster said the only claim Cor
coran had on US was that he was
doing good work ON Quoddy and that
there was no persuasion or threat in
volved in the White incident"
Up until the brutal blunt" CONVEX
sation, Brewster said there was moth
ing in Corcoran's attitude that he
would criticize.
Corcoran, taking the stand, de-
scribed Brewster's threat statements
as "baSeless."
He added that at the Capitol meet
ing between himself, Brewster and
Gruening, Brewster told them that
after a visit to Maine my political
situation is SO delicate don't believe
I can vote for it, (the provision for
abolishing unnecessary" holding
companies).
Corcoran explained that instead Of
threatening to hold up Passama-
quoddy as Brewster charged he merely
pointed out to him that this was the
first intimation he had that Brewster
had changed his position, and under
such circumstances naturally could
not trust Brewster to carry through
on assurances he claimed had been
given of holding of Republican suits
in Maine against the project and lin
ing up Republican members Of the
Legislature on legislation for 1t.
Corcoran said he was glad to know
that the conversations in Statuary
Hall with 6r,,epino proaapf uAr. 49,