Evening star., 1942-08-16
Purge Committees
File Statement
On Donations
Groups Working to Defeat
IsoIotionists Comply
With Election Law
BY GOULD LINCOLN.


Three of the so-called purge
committees" working to defeat
members of Congress who did not
support President Roosevelt's for
eign policy and national defense
measures before the Pearl Harbor
attack, have filed financial state
ments with the clerk of the House,
as required by the Corrupt Practices
Act for political committees operat-
ing in two or more states. They
are the Union for Democratic Ac-
ton, Citizens for Victory, and Vote
for Freedom, Inc.
These reports were made after
Representative Clevenger, Republi-
can, Of Ohio, had called attention OF
the House to the fact no financial
reports had been filed and had criti-
cized the failure Mr. Clevenger ad-
dressed the House July l8. and on
July o sent a letter to Attorney
General Biddle, asking the Govern
ment to prosecute the committees.
Treasurer's Report Figures.
On July % Citizens for Victory
through its treasurer, Frederick c..
Mckee of Pittsburgh, reported to
the clerk that total contributions
up to July "a had been $28, sos .04
and disbursements $28 ,289.72 up to
July II.
Vote for Freedom, Inc. through
Its treasurer, Arthur J. Goldsmith
of New York on July 81 reported
that receipts had been around 5000
and included an itemized statement
OF expenditures.
Albert Sprague Coolidge, treas
urer. reported for the Union for
Democratic Action on August II
showing the receipts for April to-
tailed IS, 1898 and for May, 50, 1928,
. total of $9,091.28. Disbursements
for April amounted to $5,143.61 and
s4.274.77 for May, a total of $9,418.38.
These were the first reports sub
mitted by these organizations to the
clerk of the House.
Denied Act Was Applicable.
ATTORNEY General Biddle, replying
to Representative Clevenger on
July 81, said he would place the
data supplied by the Ohioan in the
departments files. He said that the
Corrupt Practices Act did not COM
pei reports dealing with primary
election" campaigns where nomina-
tions are made, but only reports in
general election campaigns. He in
timated if these committees con-
tinued their operations into the gen.
eral election campaign they would
be subject to the Corrupt Practices
Act.
Under the act the names OF con-
tributors who give 500 or more to
a political committee must be re-
ported, too. OF the contributions
reported by Citizens for Victory, Mr..
Mckee said s8,335.66 was covered
by those of 500 or more. Among
contributors listed were: Marshall
F'ild, New York, $500 Arthur J.
Goldsmith, New York. $3.50; Robert
Lehman, New York, $3.50; Milton S.
Erlanger, New York, s34o; Mr.. and
Mrs. Lewellyn Cook, Washington,
D. c.. 500; Mr.. Mckee. $500: Hugh
Moore. Easton, Pa, $26l96; Mr..
and Mrs. Rosenstiel. Greenwich,
Conn, $500: Harry Scherman, New
York, s358.70: Simon & Schuster,
Inc. $3.50; Miss Victoria Crawford,
2o3o Park avenue, Baltimore, 5000.
Other Contributors Listed.
Among contributors listed by
Union for Democracy were: VIII
liam Cochran, Baltimore, $1,000;
George L. Hinman, Binghamton, N.
Y. $235 80; Eileen J. Garrett, New
York, $3.50; Loula B. Lasker, New
York, $3.50, and William Adams
Delano, New York, $3.50.
All these organizations have head
quarters in New York, and one OF
them, at least. in Washington. The
Union for Democratic Action is
headed by Frank Kingdom; Citizens
for Victory by Hugh Moore, and
Vote for Freedom, Inc, has as its
co-chairmen Mrs. j. Borden Harri-
man, former Minister to Norway
Richard B. Scandrett, jr.; Herbert
Bayard Swope and Mrs. Kenneth
Simpson.
These organizations attacked par
ticularly Representatives Fish and
Barry in New York, both OF who
have been renominated. Citizens fol-
Victory. operating in Massachusetts
and other states, has centered Its
fight particularly on Senator Lodge
and Representative Treadway botf
Republicans. All of the organiza
tions say they are working against
the reelection Of "obstrtctionists
, and appeasers.
The regular party political com
mittees submit reports to the clerl
of the House quarterly, and also
report covering the year. Their las
report was as of June Is.