Evening star., 1944-11-03

~ VPPVSS S"I''"
Virginia 9Th District
House Inquiry FoiIs
To Develop Charges Of
Illegal Political Activity
The CIO Political Action Commit
tee today reafflrmed its right to op-
pose the reelection of Representa-
tive Smith, Democrat, of Virginia
following a hearing before the House
Campaign Expenditures Committee
yesterday which developed no
charges of illegal activities in PAC's
support of his opponent, Mrs. Eliza
beth Chiffon Murray.
At yesterdays hearing, requested
by Mr.. Smith to look into the 9Th
Virginia district campaign, the COM
mittee was told that PAC has two
paid workers in the district devot-
ing their time to increasing the
vote, educating the people in the
Importance of voting and inform
ing the electorate of the voting rec
ord of Mr.. Smith and the reason
why his reelection is undesirable :"
The committee was told that Mrs
Mercedes Speir, Richmond, wife of
the export manager of Reynolds
Metals Co., and Willie Arnheim,
former official of the AFL Hod-
carriers Union, the two PAC en-
ployes, have been working inde-
pendently of Mrs. Murray's cam
paign.
No Contributions From PAC.
Mrs. Murray and her campaign
manager. Joe Cloud, testified that
no contributions had been received
from PAC, but that literature cir
culated in her behalf by the PAC
workers had been sent from her
headquarters.
Mrs. Murray said she Is not a la
Dor candidate, that she represented
"a large number Of women in the
district, as we'll as the working
people" She said she did, however.
have the support Of some labor
groups.
In his testimony before the COM
mittee. Mr.. Smith said that he was
more concerned with PAC activities
in the 9th district that with his own
campaign. Il consider the attempts
by labor unions to inject themselves
into the political life of the country
as alarming" he said.
Mr.. Smith revealed that the re-
quest for the investigation had been
made after PAC documents, con-
tanned in a misdirected letter, came
into his possession. He turned the
papers over to the committee.
Given Senator George.
The documents included an ex-
pense voucher, letter and an in
dorsed check from PAC made out
to Mrs. Speir and contained in an
envelope addressed to George
Mitchell, PAC regional director, At
lanta. The letter was received by
another George Mitchell, secretary
treasurer of the Georgia Art Supply
Co., Atlanta, and was given by him
to Senator George, Democrat, OF
Georgia. who in turn sent it to
Mr.. Smith
Mrs. Speir testified that she re-
ceived $75 week and expenses,
and that the indorsed check had
been sent to Mr.. Mitchell to cash
for her to keep certain bigoted peo-
pie in Richmond from learning of
my connections with PAC."
Mr.. Cloud attacked the one-man
committee investigation, conducted
by Representative Gathings, Demo-
crat of Arkansas as employing
"Gestapo tactics" to deliberately
smear his candidate. He said the
committee was set up to investigate
election campaigns where there was
some suspicion of law violations, but
there isn't any suspicion of that
kind here"
Lawrence Michael, independent
Republican candidate for the House,
told the committee he had received
about 5000 in contributions and had
spent about $700 of his own funds,
making total of $1,000. Clark T.
Robb, Herndon, Socialist candidate,
according to his report to the clerk
of the House, reported contributions
of $1.50 and expenditures of 50.
Calls Smith Hysterical.
Meanwhile, replying to a charge
yesterday by Mr.. Smith that he had
lowered the dignity of the church
by taking the stump in political
campaign" the Rev. A. T. Molle-
gen, professor of Christian ethics
at Virginia Theological Seminary,
Alexandria, accused the House
member of being "either deliberately
malicious or hysterical."
In his charge yesterday, Mr..
Smith said the minister has been
"habitually consorting with elements
of such radical ideologies as to bring
their activities under the official
scrutiny Of Federal authorities"
Opposing Mr.. Smith Is like turn
ing on q photograph that cries
Communism" the Rev. Mr.. Mol
legen said. zone never gets intel
ligent discussion of real issues from
him. He is either deliberately mali
cious or hysterical. Mr.. Smith seems
to be to the right of Hitler. and.