Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1944-04-08
Smith Asks BiddIe :
For Wider Inquiry Into
|CI0 Political Group
BY the Associated Press.

Clio Political Group
BY the Associated Press
A Justice Department finding that
activities of the CLIO Political Action
Committee are entirely lawful
brought a tart demand from Rep
resentative Smith, Democrat, of Vir-
ginia last night for a new inquiry
mot confined to the absurd limit of
merely consulting the persons
charged"
In letter to Attorney General
Biddle, Mr.. Smith declared the de-
partment's investigation seems to
have been confined to asking the
accused if he was guilty and accept
ing with enthusiasm his statement
that he was innocent"
His own files, Mr.. Smith informed
Mr.. Biddle, were not examined by
any Justice Department investigator
and will disclose ample evidence
that cries out for a grand jury in
vestigation.
Charges Violation of Act.
Mr. Smith asked three months ago
for an investigation of the COM
mittee. asserting that a fragrant
violation" of the Federal Corrupt
Practices Act was disclosed in an
article by CLIO President Philip
Murray in the American Magazine
on the groups activities.
Mr.. Biddle wrote Mr.. Smith yes
terday that the Federal Bureau of
Investigation had looked into the
commivtee's operations and advised
him.
1T appears that to date there has
been discovered no violation by the
Political Action Committee of the
criminal provisions of the Federal
Corrupt Practices Act, as amended,
or of the Federal statute limiting
the amount which may be contrib
uted in connection with an election.
Certain expressions in the article
in the American Magazine, to which
your letter referred, might be sub
future action might be taken by the
committee which would not conform
to the provisions of the Federal
statute; but no such illegal action
has been discovered.
eff future acts by the committee
of a nature prohibited by the act
should occur, can assure you that
appropriate action will be taken by
this department"
Hillman Praises Report.
In New York, Sidney Hillman,
chairman of the CLIO Political Ac-
ton Committee, said in statement
that Mr.. Biddle's report represented
complete exoneration" of the CON-
mittee.
THE CLIO Political Action Com
mittee had no misgivings concern
ing the outcome of Mr.. Biddle's in
vestigation," Mr.. Hillman continued
THE committee made all its books
and papers available to FBI investi-
gators and it's personnel answered
freely al Questions which were put
to them.
'Exoneration by Mr.. Biddle and
the FBI gives the lie to those re-
dictionary and antilabor elements
who sought to impede the lawful eff
forts of the CLIO Political Action
Committee to call for the registra-
ton of voters and to place the issues
before the electorate so that they
may participate intelligently in the
affairs of the Nation"
The section of the law which Mr..
Smith contends was violated pro-
hibits labor unions from making
contributions to political parties. 1t
was after enactment last year of
this provision that the CLIO COM
mittee was organized under the
Craftsmanship of Sidney Hillman.
Financing Claims Admitted.
The committee acknowledges 1t
has been financed largely by unions,
and the CLIO takes the position that
this is within the law Mr.. Biddle
told Mr. Smith the FBI inquiry
oAioWCu Vic CSAIullIICC lIdu lcCClNcu
$3.50 ,608 of which 100000 was in
lump sums of 100000 each, appro-
priated by three of the international
unions and the CLIO. Unions also
contributed most of the balance.
Mr.. Biddle said the group had
spent 500 900 by January approx
imateN SIS 900 in a New Jersey State
campaign and the remainder for
Office expense.
Mr.. Smith insisted in his letter to
Mr. Biddle that the Political Action
Committee is political committee
barred by law from receiving con-
tributions from labor union.
The crime consists in a political
committee receiving a contribution
from labor organization in connec-
ton with any Federal election" he
added. when the union contributes,
and the political committee receives,
the crime is complete irrespective of
how the money is eventually used"
The Virginian commented that he
was certain no one lis so naive as to
believe that the CLIO Political Action
Committee is collecting these huge
sums of money on g. national scale