Evening star., 1936-05-01
LOBBY COMMITTEE
DEFIANCE MOUNTS
Black Does Nothing About
Three Rebellion Cases
at Hand.
BY CARLISLE BARGERON.

BY CARLISLE BARGERON.
As the political drama that is Wash
ington steadily unfolds the Black Lob
by Committee is f1guratively of in
corner, wondering what it is to do |
about the mounting number of def
ances that have been issued against |
it. Already there have been three. it |
is learned. with indications that the
number will increase, If it does not |
have a showdown.
At the last meeting of the commit
tee. Kurt Grunwald of the so-called
Farmers Independent Council of
America declared in strong foreign ac-
cent that he knew the inquisitions of
Europe and he fatty refused to give
the names of the supporters to his
organization. The committee told
him he might be cited for contempt
and then. thinking the matter over,
decided to do nothing about it.
On top of this it develops that the
committee was In fair way to be
marched upon by a small army of
women from the Daughters of the
American Revolution while they we're
In convention here recently. This
threat revolved around Miss Cathrine
Curtis, head of the Women Investors
Of America. Miss Curtis received con-
siderable publicity when she an
nounced her organization a year or so
ago as having an idea that should
appeal to women and men alike. She
was accepted generally by the news
papers as woman who was doing
things in the modern womans world.
The purpose of her organization. 1t
was announced, was to protect women
in their investments. particularly
women who had been bequeathed in
vestments and were fair prey to every
Tom. Dick and Harry, who wanted to
get their money away from them. The
earlier publicity releases of Miss Cur
It's told Of how she considered men
were diabolical in this way, even to
the extent in many instances of mar
rying the woman holding the invest
ments.
She was we'll received even in the
mems business world, according to the
publicity that accompanied her ven-
ture. One of mans great worries, it
was pointed out. was leaving his wife
lot of money, or a competence. and
then having some glib-tongued fellow
come along and get hold of it.
1t seems, however, that Senator
Black didn't take this organization at
its face value. He thought it was
either an anti-New Deal organization
or perhaps another sly trick on the
part of the power utilities The word
investors" in the name of the organ
ization made him think it had some
thing to do with the utilities He
wasn't the one to fall for the stuff in
the papers about its being just an or
ganization to help women who didn't
know how to invest their money.
So last Winter when he was send
Ing out questionnaires to members of
the Crusaders, the Liberty League, the
National Association of Manufacture
ers and other anti-NeW Deal organi-
zations he sent one to Miss Curtis
She didn't pay any attention to it and
the Senator sought to get her before
the committee She told him in very
blunt language, 1t develops, to go to
h"
The committee is satisfied that she
was supported by some men who are
unfriendly to his committee, but it so
happens that the episode occurred
while the D. A. R. was meeting here
Whether the Senator knew about it or
not, it is a fact that members of that
organization were prepared to march
on the Senator If he persisted in
bringing Miss Curtis here She is not
a member of the patriotic organiza-
ton, it is understood, but she has a
''lot of warm friends among the
members
The Senator has apparently decided
TO let the matter drop.
On top Of this DIR. Hugh S. Magill
head of the American Federation of
Investors, Inc has refused to let the
committees investigators see his cor
reSpondence with the organizations
members. 1t used to be the American
Federation of Utility Investors, Inc
The Senator is most curious as to how
it got around to dropping utility"
and broadening its scope.
But he feels that with the House
having recently refused to approve an
appropriation with which to pay an
attorney to defend the committee in
the courts against Hearst, it is no
time for him to be citing people for
contempt. He and Senators Schwel-
lenbach and Minton just sit around
and talk about the situation, as a re-
suit.