Evening star., 1939-05-23
BY JOHN c. HENRY.

Plainly irked at being publicly
cross-eXamined, Felix M. McWhir-
ter, Indianapolis bank president, Re-
publican State treasurer and lieu.
tenant commander in the Naval Re
serve, testified today before the
House Committee on American
Activities that he appreciated the
"stalwart work" of Maj. Gen. George
Van Horn Moseley, retired, key fig
ure in nationalist movement di-
rected at countering ''red revold-
ton in America this summer.
At the same time, however, Mr.
McWhirter described as fantastic
the reports of such a contemplated
revolution" circulated by James E
Campbell, Kentucky Army Reserve
captain, and Dudley P. Gilbert, New
York socialite, who have been de-
scribed as colleagues of Gen. Nose
ley.
Mr.. McWhirter is one of a list of
some 40 men receiving the reports
The Indiana bankers admiration
for Gen. Moseley was expressed in q
letter he wrote to confirm a speak
Ing engagement for the retired gen.
eral before Republican group in
Indianapolis on December 30, 1888
Mr.. Campbell made the arrange
ments with Mr. McWhirter for Gen
Moseley's appearance.
Denies Protecting" Moseley.
Mr.. McWhirter denied ever trying
to protect" Gen. Moseley or having
further contact with him beyond
the Indianapolis speech, but he
identified note from himself to Mr..
Campbell last month warning that
he had reliable information" that
Gen. Moseley is being very thor
oughly shadowed."
He had no recollection, he in
sisted, on how he procured the re
liable information" dated April IL.
Although Mr. McWhirter denied
any joint political activity with Mr.
Campbell, whom he said he had
known for nine years, voluminous
correspondence between the two
dealt principally with two subjects,
namely. Republican political affairs
and the question of whether various
persons were of Jewish blood or
connections.
AS the witness frequently acknowl-
edged the correspondence with iden-
tiflcation lin general way" Rep
resentative Thomas, Republican, of
New Jersey finally complained to
Chairman Dies that "all through his
testimony he has been lodging ques-
tions and not answering the COM
mittee."
rs there any reason why you are
reluctant to give this committee the
full facts in this matter?" Repre-
sentative Dies inquired
mo, sir" Mr.. McWhirter re-
sponded.
Got Definite Twice.
The witness did become definite
on two occasions to deny honoring
requests from Mr.. Campbell for a
naval directory and for some maps
I'm not supplying any one any
thing" he declared.
Held in the Veterans Committee
room of the Old House Office Build
ing, todays hearing drew an over
flow crowd. At one point George E.
Deatherage, top man of the Knights
of the White Camellias, who also
was present to testify, called in a
loud voice for the chairman to clear
the room. Dies asked those stand
ing near Mr.. Deatherage to kindly
let the gentleman see"
Did you know Mr.. Campbell was
engaged in distributing reports on
subversive activities?" Committee
Counsel Rhea Whitley asked Mr..
McWhirther In opening today's ex-
animation.
Il knew I was receiving them" "
the witness answered.
Did you ever discuss them with
him?"
Yes"
Did you know they presumably
were gathered through a waiter in
New York club?"
Il learned that this week"
Denies Anti-Racial Activity.
Mr.. McWhirter denied having
passed along any of the reports to
others.
Did you ever manifest to Mr..
Campbell your disapproval of these
things?" Chairman Dies asked
brusquely.
I've testified that I once told
him they were fantastic" Mr. Nc
Whirther replied stolidly.
AS the witness denied ever having
any part in or approval of the
spreading of anti-racial or anti
religious material, Counsel Whitley
read his letter of December, 1898,
asking about the Jewish blood or
\ connections of Mrs. Cordell Hull,
ALT M. Landon and William Allen
White, Kansas editor.
why did you want that informa-
ton? What difference did 1t make
whether they have Semitic blood or
connections?" Representative Dies
pressed.
I'm only interested in what is
going on. The hymn of hate mas
been sung too much-too many peo-
pie are on the receiving end" Mr..
McWnlrtef replleO.
AS Chairman Dies inSistently de-
manded fuller explanation of Mr..
McWhirter's interest in the Camp
bell anti-Jewish material, the wit
ness repeated that he was merely
trying to learn the truth about
rumors that had been widely spread.
Silent on Capehart,
TITS very startling letter from a
man of your position" Representa-
tive Dempsey, Democrat, of New
Mexico observed.
Mr.. McWhirter said he never had
discussed with Mr.. Campbell The
latter's plan to form 435 Republican
clubs to sponsor the presidential
candidacy of Homer Capehart, In
diana musical instrument maker. A
letter in the committee files from
Mr.. Campbell to Mr.. McWhirter
outlined such a plan.