Evening star., 1946-07-08
May Defends Himself in House
Speech After Mead Declares His
Testimony Wholly Inadequate
Admits Possible
Breach of Rules in
Aiding War Effort

hlldl dCUtIl lllllS IliIIlSell dS Jne
victim of sinister attacks" con-
cerning his relations with an Illi-
noiS munitions combine, Chair
man Andrew J. May of the House
Military Affairs Committee told
the House today he had never
used zone penny of anybody's
money except my own"
The 7l-year-old Kentucky Demo-
crat admitted that lin my zeal to
promote the war effort, I may have
in some thoughtless moment gone
behind the rules of propriety by
merely speaking to a general over
the telephone and asking fair
treatment for a business concern"
This, he added, could not be con-
strued as corrupting any one.
Mead Critical of Testimony.
Mr.. May took the floor for a As
minute speech after Chairman
Mead of the Senate War Investi-
eating Committee, inquiring into
war profits, had termed wholly in
adequate" the testimony the Ken
tuckian gave the committee in
closed session June 4 about his con-
nection with the Illinois combine.
Senator Mead expressed the hope
that Mr. May would accept the
committees invitation to appear
and explained the many refer
ences" to his connection with the
combine.
In his statement to the commit
tee. Chairman Mead said:
He May was not under oath |!
He left the impression with the
committee that he made a few dis |
interested telephone calls that were
more or less incidental. Testimony
has since revealed that he made
many telephone calls which were
repetltlous and troublesome.
Failed to Accept Invitation
The committee has invited him
to testify in open session and give
whatever information he may have,
but he has so far failed to accept
that invitation"
In his testimony last month be-
fore the Mead committee, Mr.. Nav
said he had not prof1ted in any wav |
from the Cumberland Lumber Co..
TO which the Illinois combine had
advanced more than $4,000. Other
testimony had brought out that
more than $4,000 of the lumber
company's checks and drafts were
by A. j. May.
Senator Mead said it was his lrn-
dertsanding that Mr.. May had re-
quested that the June 4 testimony
be made public. and further that he
had "lntimated that it was to be his
answer"
No Mention of Illinois Firms.
When the committee heard Mr.
May, Senator Mead said, it was at
the kentuckian'S request, and no
mention was made of Erie Basin
Metal Products Co. or Batavia Metal
Products Co. checks, which figured !
in public testimony as having been
given to the Cumberland Lumber
Co. of Prestonsburg, KY, for lumber
which was never delivered.
Further, Senator Mead said, no
was made of the signatures
of A. j. May which appeared on the
backs of some of the checks" Mr..
May was not cross ss-eXamined. the
chairman added.
The committee has received In
evidence certificate filed with the
Kentucky Secretary of State, de-
signaling Andrew j. May as agent
for the Cumberland Lumber Co.
incorporation papers in Delaware
listed the lumber companys presi
dent as Henry Carson who also
was the principal figure in the
Illinois combine.
Mead Attacks Coerce Attempt
A check from aone of the muni-
tion firms paid to the lumber
company, introduced in evidence
Saturday, bo rethe Endorsement "A.
j. May, president"
Senator Mead assailed what he
declared was an attempt by public
relations representatives of Henry
Garssons interests to "intimi-
date and coerce a Senate COM
mittee."
In Mr.. Mays statement to the
committee last month, the Kentuck-
ian told. among other things, that
his son, the late Andrew j. Nav. ir
and his nephew, Jack Nav were
employed on the lumber project in
hentucky known as the Cumber-
land Lumber Co.
The committee has received testi-
mony from Army ordnance officers
that Mr.. May repeatedly importuned
them to give contracts to the Illi-
tSee MAY, Page A-3)