Evening star., 1937-08-07
"SGueeze' in America.


memory to recall the investigations con-
quoted by Senate committees into the
matter OF corrupt practices in the cleo
t1on Of Senators under the former svs-
tenn OF their choice by State Legislatures
On numerous occasions such allegations
were made to prevent members of the
upper house from taking their seats and
IN some instances they we're effective
and the bearers of credentials were
denied admission or we're later expelled.
Now Senate committee is hearing
testimony Of a somewhat similar char
acter, not with regard to the election of
member OF that body, for the Legis-
lature elections have long ceased and
the members of the upper chamber are
elected directly by the voters, but with
reference to contributions" to campaign
funds. That testimony is decidedly un-
pleasant, 1t indicates that pressure was
put upon persons and corporations to
induce them to supply funds to the war
chest of the Democratic National Com
mttee in the campaign of 1886
A technique of collection has been in
dlCated by some of the testimony that
would do credit to the ancient custom
Of the Chinese in exacting squeeze" from
those seeking favors and privileges. When
in days not so very long ago business
transactions in that land proceeded from
the provinces to the capital share of
the loot was taken by successive officials
ell the way to the foot of the dragon
SH~one' in Peking. Now, according to
one Of the latest revelations in this field
of inquiry by the Senate committee, the
solicitors Of contributions took or eventu-
ally received share Of the proceeds.
Yesterday at the committee hearing a
New York railroad financier told Of
paying $4,000 to solicitors who sold him
copies of the Democratic National Con-
vention book. that delightful literary and
artistic production that should be ranked
among the best sellers" of the time,
not in actual circulation but in volume
of returns. This appreciator of politico-
literary art displayed resentment, not at
being required out of consideration for
his own welfare to subscribe, but at the
fact, which he quite we'll understood, that
half of his contribution went to the So
licitors as commission.
It was a highly profitable business, this,
for the solicitors. They invested nothing
but their time. They we're book agents"
de luxe. They had a great line of talk.
They were furnished from some source
which it is not difficult to ina agne, with
the present and future reliance of their
prospects upon Government contracts.
Gifted in the art of persuasion, they
made it clear to those whom they ap-
preached that cooperation was the best
course, if the prospect hoped to do. or
to continue to do, business that Govern
ment in any degree controlled.
The particular matter under inquiry
BY the Senate committee had reference
to the relations of the purchasers Of
these beautiful-and costly-volumes to
matters falling under the jurisdiction of
the committee, the field Of which is
transportation. The chairman of the
committee in his comment upon testi-
mony given yesterday, was that the
only legitimate inference you could get
was that this committee might be for
sale That is putting it in straight
forward manner. And now it remains
TO be seen whether other instances will
he disclosed, in which the generous
donorS-no, donors is not the word,
whether the liberal appreciators Of lit
erarv art figured that they might gain
"face" in Washington and particularly
with the Senate committee and thereby
Congress itself, to the end of getting
something worth while out Of the books
In the form of legislation or perhaps re-
mission from reprisal.