Evening star., 1946-07-27
Coffee Letter to War Profits Prober Explains
81, 500 Check From Ho spituI Contractor

now Senator Brewster are very care
full to omit any reference to his uss
Of the term slip" while referring
pointedly to my similar expression
when making open and above aboarc
Acknowledgement to his campaign
contribution. Olson and I COM
mented on his original use of the
word slip and we decided that fol
reasons best known to himself, An
derson must be either allergic to the
word check, or he may have die
tated the latter and did not want
that person to- know that he was
making personal campaign contri-
button to a Democrat AS I recall it
Anderson's daughter was doing some
Of this secretarial work at that time
and Anderson may have felt that
sending me personal check to aid
in my election campaigns was not a
matter which he wanted discussed
in family conversation In any
event. I felt that my letter, even
though marked personal and con-
f1dential, might unwittingly be
opened by some one other than An
derson, and. in fairness to him, 1t
would be wise to employ his termi-
nology.
1t will be of interest to the COM
mittee to know that I have an
affidavit from one Clyde Philip, who
was associated with Anderson at the
time the contract was awarded, in
which he states that Anderson was
voluble in his praise of me when he
returned to Tacoma and expressed
the desire to do something worth
while. The amount was discussed
between them, and the figure of
s2,500 was arrived at. In his affi-
davit, Mr.. Philip clearly states that
the check was regarded as a con-
tribution. This affidavit is, of course,
available to the committee.
As you can see. Hugh, and as
every one who takes time to analyze
the whole business can see, Ander-
sons subsequent affidavit following
his humiliating defeat in Tacoma S
mayoralty primary. an affidavit
which was given to Harry Cain in
stead OF the Department of Justice
or the FBI, or to the United States
marshal, or to the postal inspector
represents not only much ado about
nothing. but is clearly framed for
the purpose of discrediting my for
mer secretary and me When Olson
was candidate and the high nomi-
nee for the mayorship of Tacoma
Anderson and Cain slanted the
attack against him.
Once again, I am the Democratic
nominee for Congress in the 6tn
congressional district. and the Re-
publican party members in this area
and this State are pleased indeed
that fellow-Republican Ralph Brew
ster of Maine, has seen fit to revive
this whole matter As you and
Senator Magnuson stated last
spring, and as James McGranery
speaking for the Attorney General
assured me, the Department of
Justice made a full and complete
investigation of Harry Gains and
Eivand Anderson's charges-an IN
vestigation which exonerated Olson
and myself from the slightest i'm
plication Of any wrong doing.
have in my possession a letter from
South Trimble, clerk of the House
of Representatives. stating that ]
have at all times complied with the
letter and the spirit of laws gov
erning the filing of statements or
campaign receipts and expenditures
The records Of the secretary oi
State for the State of Washington
will reveal that l have fully com
piled with the letter and the spirit
OF our State laws covering campaign
expenditures and receipts.
The newspapers of this area have
carried streamer headlines on Sena-
tor Brewster's action. I repeat what
I said to you and to the press, u
welcome an investiga ton" To that
I now wish to add my insistance
upon a statement from the Mead
Committee that will express its posi-
ton with respect to the request and
charges of minority member
thereof. Naturally. know that the
decision of the Mead Committee will
bear out the accuracy of the forego-
ing statement and will completely
exculpate Paul Olson and myself
from any question of dishonesty OF
unethical action. In view of this,
cannot emphasize too strongly my
desire that such a statement or de-
cision be sufficiently strongly worded
as will result. following the publiciz-
ing thereof, in offsetting the danger
of political harm for which the Re