Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-07-29
May Writes Friends,
Calling Profits Probe
Political |nquisition'
BY the Assoeioisd Press

BY the Assoeofsd Pfssx
PRESTONSBURG, KY. July %
Representative May, Democrat, of
Kentucky, has defended his posi-
ton in the Senate war profits in
yestigation in letter to constitu-
ents, declaring Il have done no
wrong, my conscience is clear, and
7 will be indicated in the end"
The letter, addressed Dear
Friend" disclosed by one who re-
ceived copy in Mr.. Mays home
town here yesterday, referred to
the Senate War Investigation Com
mittee as political inquisition.
Mr.. May. chairman of the House
Military Affairs Committee, charged
that the chairman of the investiga-
ton committee, Senator Mead,
Democrat, of New York, thinks if
he can cruelty me he can use that
to make himself great hero and
overcome his present difficult
political position and ride into the
office of Governor of New York"
Mr. May is unopposed in next
Saturdays primary for the Demo-
cratic nomination to the House in
the 7th Kentucky district.
Chairman Mead of the Senate
War Investigating Committee
said today he would make no
formal reply to the May state
ment. Earlier, committee mem
bers took exception to Mr.. Mays
assertion that his testimony at
the June closed session was
satisfactory and indicated Sena-
tor Mead would have something
to say about this.)
Speaks of Smear Campaign.
The text of Mr.. Mays letter
follows:
Dear Friend:
Due to the pressure of time in my
heavy legislative duties, am writing
this same letter to number of
my friends.
l am sure you have heard of the
smear campaign now being carried
on as a result of the political in
QUESTION" of what is known as the
Mead Committee. All they charge
me with is calling by telephone the
Undersecretary of War, now Secre-
tary of War Robert P. Patterson,
and some Army officers, urging them
to rush production of war materials,
at a time when Gen. Eisenhower
was pleading for more shells to
meet the bloody onslaught of the
Belgian bulge.
In his testimony before the Mead
Committee, Secretary Patterson an
nounced as deliberate and mallci-
Gus gossip" the allegations that /
had used undue pressure, but that
sworn statement by the Secretary
of War did not appear in the press,
nor have I heard it over the radio.
l have called the War Department
many times in the interests OF
friends and constituencies practice
common among all members OF
Congress.
DiscIaims Fee for Work.
Senator Jim Mead is a candidate
for Governor of New York and
thinks if he can cruelty me he can
use that to make himself great
hero and overcome his present diff
ficult political position and ride
into the Office of Governor Of New
York.
AS to the Cumberland Lumber Co.,
which is a land-owning company
and had no war contracts, I merely
acted as agent for the owner and
for the purpose of securing a new
enterprise in my district for the
employment of men in a rural sec
ton who needed work. l neither
asked for nor received any compen-
sation or fee for what l did.
Although more than month ago
7 voluntarily appeared before the
Mead Committee and told them the
whole story, answered all questions
and was told my statement was sat
isfactory, they never mentioned that
until I demanded they do so.
For more than year have been
waging a hard fight to keep the
military secrets of the atomic bomb
in control of the armed forces to
prevent them from being given away
to some foreign nation and this
smear campaign is being contributed
by the reds and pinks that have
been after me ever since the battle
started. I shall fight on to the end
against any such thing.
I have done no wrong; my con-
science is clear, and will be vim
dicated in the end.
Faithfully yours,
(SignedD A. j. May.
Finland has a shortage of medi-
cines,