Evening star., 1940-08-13
Jackson Rules Out
Plan for State Sale
Of Campaign Books
Democratic Publication
Evasion Of Anti-PoIitics
Law, Hatch Declares

Attorney General Jackson has
ruled out a proposal to send the
1910 Democratic campaign books to
State and local organizations, who
might sell them If permitted to do
so by local law.
Commenting yesterday on such
proposal by Oliver B. Quayle, jr.,
treasurer of the Democratic National
Committee, Mr.. Jackson said the
Justice Department did not think
that a State law could make per-
missible that which Federal law
prohibits"
The Democratic plan for the SOU
venir book. source of large amount
of party revenue. also was under
fire from Senator Hatch, Democrat,
of New Mexico, who called the prof.
ected publication of the book an
evasion of the anti-politics law.
Jackson Statement.
In a statement issued by the JUS
tice Department, Mr.. Jackson said:
There has been brought to my
attention the statement issued by
Oliver A. Quayle, jr.. treasurer OF
the Democratic National Committee.
concerning the Democratic Book OF
1910.
Mr.. Quayle is reported to have
said that the plan for the dlstrlbu-
ton of this publication is to send
it to the various State and county
organizations for redistribution. Ac-
cording to his statement, the price
of Is cents appears on the cover so
that any State or local organization
which might be permitted by its
own laws to sell such book, cannot
charge more than Is cents, which
covers the cost of handling and
postage.
Since this statement may be in
terpreted by others to mean that
State laws could make permissible
that which a Federal law prohibits,
l think it only fair to point out that
no such view has been accepted or
approved by the Department of
Justice"
Hatch Charges Evasion.
Senator Hatch, father of the anti
politics legislation, told his party
publicly that "the only thing to do
now is to discontinue the book and
obey the law
Under the act the sale of the
book is not prohibited" he asserted
in the Senate yesterday but its
purchase is a violation of the law"
Senator Hatch said advertising
by corporations in the book was
clearly an evasion, If not a vlo-
lation of the Corrupt Practices
Act that bans political contribu-
tions by corporations.
The controversy over the Demo-
cratic campaign book led Edward
j. Flynn, the partys new national
chairman, to disclaim intentions OF
placing the publication on sale.
The National Committee, he said
at New York yesterday intended to
distribute it to 100000 or more
Democratic speakers and workers
like any other campaign book"
Miller Proposes Amendment.
Senator Miller, Democrat, of
Arkansas announced he would In
tNoduce an amendment to the Cor
rupt Practices Act making it vio-
lation for any person, firm, cor
poration or officer of a corporation
directly or indirectly to solicit funds
from employees for political pur-
poses.
Senator Miller told reporters he
would withhold the measure until
the Senate Campaign Expenditures
Committee can hear c. B. Tuttle,
an official of the S. S. Kresge Co.,
explain a letter which Senator
Byrnes, Democrat, of South Caro-
lima had interpreted as an attempt
to have Kresge employees contribute
to funds for Wendell L. Wlllkle,
Republican presidential nominee.
G. o. P. Submits Statement.
The campaign practices discus
sion brought from Representative
Martin, Republican, of Massachu-
setts, chairman of the Republican
National Committee, a statement
that there had been no authorize
ton given for solicitation of Willkie
funds by chain letters as charged
by Representative Rankin, Demo-
crat, of Mississippi.
Meanwhile, Chairman Gillette,
Democrat, of Iowa announced the
Senate Campaign Expenditures
Committee had received a financial
statement from the Republican Ma
tional Committee showing cash on !
hand of $285 ,256.76 on June "a, with
outstanding obligations of S237,-
27229.
The committee had requested both |
Republican and Democratic COM
mittees to furnish such state
ment as of the date Immediately |
preceding the national conventions.
The Democratic Committee, Sena-
tor Gillette said, has not yet re-
Dlied