Evening star., 1947-07-19
KEN Sees Sure Probe
0fCIark S Handling Of
Vote Fraud Complaints

Senator KEN, Republican. oi
Missouri predicted today the House
will order a full-scale investigation
of Attorney General Clarks han
ding of Kansas City vote-fraud
complaints il the Senate fails to
do so.
He made the prediction as he
agreed to Law aside until Monday
his resolution for a Senate inquiry.
to clear the path for passage OF
several veterans bills. The Kansas
City matter has been before the
Senate off and on for two DAYS.
Senator Taft, Republican, Of Ohio
charged yesterday there was sp-
parently near filibuster.
Senator KEN said several House
members have indicated to him tneV
will move to obtain an investlgatlon
in that body, II it appears the Senate
will not act before adjournment
next week.
Senator Capper. Republican. OF
Kansas proposed yesterday that the
Senate remain In continuous session.
| II necessary. to assure AN 1nvestles-
| ton into the relationship between
the Department of Justice and the
Pendergast political machine IN
| Kansas City"
| The 82-year- -old Kansas law
maker. oldest member Of the Senate.
| told his colleagues:
| IT see no reason why the Senate
should be barred from trying to
clean up a pretty sorry mess at
Kansas City, just because persons
high in public life might be in
| volved."
| Kem Charges FBI Was Curbed.
| Senator KEN has charged that Al
torney General Clark restricted the
FBI in its investigation of alleged
frauds in a 1916 congressional pri-
mary.
In the primary, Enos Axtell. sup
ported by President Truman. de-
/ feated Representative Roger Slaugh-
ter for the Democratic nomination.
Mr.. Axtell lost in the general cleo
| ton,
Meanwhile, Senate Judiciary
! Subcommittee awaited an FBI re-
port in connection with President
Truman's nomination OF Ray w.
Harper to be Federal district
| judge in Missouri.
Senator Donnell Republican. of
Missouri. former Governor OF Mis-
souri, said the subcommittee which
he heads wants to investigate an
alleged vote-getting lottery scheme
used in a Southeast Missouri elec-
tion last fall before 1t passes on Mr..
| Harpers nomination.
Legality Questioned.
| Senator Donnell said he has asked
the FBI for a report on the legality
OF the so-called "get-out- -the-vote
lottery" and any connection Mr
Harper might have had with it.
Senator Donnell placed In the rec
ord a letter from Gene Powell,
public relations director OF the
Missouri Republican Committee,
which said in part:
by this lottery scheme, the
Democrats could place some one in
office in as nefarious practice
as was used by boss Tom Pender-
CAST when he nominated Harry
Truman as United States Senator
the first time by casing $4,000 ghost
/ votes"
Senator Donnell also placed on
record a. series of St. Louis news
paper articles and handbills stating
that prizes ranging from an auto
mobile to Nylon hose and overalls
would be awarded to winners in
number drawing event in connec-
tion with the November 5. 1916,
election in Missouris "bootheel
section.
The handbills stated that the vote
getting drives were sponsored by
county or township Democratic
committees.
Senator Donnell's group voted to
call Mr.. Harper and Grover W,
Dalton. chairman of the Missouri
Republican State Committee, as
/ wit paS<as Mnpdav