Evening star., 1948-01-11
Edith Thomas
Listed dsCotton
Futures Trader
Oklahoma Senator
Issues Statement;
Puuley Rops Stossen
By Chalmers M. Roberts

Washington, D. c." appeared in
a new list of traders in cotton
futures made public last night,
and its appearance led Senator
Elmer Thomas, Democrat of
Oklahoma, to issue a statement
that he had from time to time"
invested in stocks and commodi-
ties.
Senator Thomas told reporters
who inquired whether Edith
Thomas" was his wife and whether
she had been In the cotton market
that "she has her own money" and
that he did not know what she
does with it." The Senator's wife's
first name is Edith.
In another turn in the senatorial
investigation of spectators, mean
while, Edwin w. Pauley last night
accused Harold E. Stassen of de
liberate" false statements and de-
manded that the Senate Appropria-
tions Subcommittee conducting the
investigation recall Mr.. Stassen so
that he could cross-examine him
under oath.
Mr.. Pauley, special assistant to
the Secretary of the Army, was
charged Friday by Mr.. Stassen, a
Republican presidential candidate,
with making $1,O0O,000 in the COM
modify market and of not reveal
ing all of his transactions when he
testified earlier before the Senate
group.
Bars Cr0ss-Examinati0n.
Chairman Ferguson of the sub
committee said after receiving the
Pauley telegram that he would re-
call Mr.. Stassen as quickly as pos
sible but would not permit cross
examination of witnesses. Mr..
Pauley will be permitted to sub
NIT questions to Mr.. Stassen
through committee members, Sen
ator Ferguson said.
Mr.. Stassen will be unable to ap-
pear before January %, however.
Mr.. Pauley's telegram said the
Stassen accusations were complete
ly contrary to the facts" and that
he had used the facilities of your
committee to launch his political
campaign After testifying, Mr..
Pauley went on, Mr.. Stassen found
it expedient to catch an airplane, "
a reference to the fact that Mr..
Stassen left the hearing to fly to
a speaking engagement in Mis-
souri,.
The list of cotton traders. anoth-
er in the many released by Secre-
tary of Agriculture Anderson at
Confessional direction, showed
that Edith Thomas" had held 300
bales, of cotton futures in a long
position on the New York Cotton
Exchange on July 81, 1916. Cotton
futures on that date, depending on
lust which future was held, were
selling for something over $33 for
a 500-pound bale. The price last
week was closer to $35. again de-
pending on which particular future
was traded.
A long" position is held by per-
sons who expect to make a proflt
bv selling their holdings at higher
market price than that obtaining
on the day of their purchases.
Thomas Issues Statement.
Senator Thomas, on receiving
numerous inquiries from the press
issued, through his secretary, the
following statement:
Now that the financial status
and investments of members o1
Congress seem to be of interest te
the general public, make the fol-
lowing statement:
when I entered the United
States Senate I divested myself ol
all business connections and dis.
posed of all my property save the
house in which I lived at Medicine
Park (Okla.) in order to devote al
my time and energy to the duties
Of the office to which had beer
elected.
During my service in the Senate
I have engaged in no business other
than trying to represent the people
of Oklahoma in the Congress o1
the United States.
when I came to Washington ]
purchased living quarters in a CO.
operative apartment at 1861 Crescent
place NV. where I still reside while
in Washington. Because of lack
of time to engage in private busi-
ness and in an effort to preserve my
meager accumulation of funds ]
have made investments from time
to time in income producing prop
critics, including bonds, preferred
and common stocks and commodi-
ties.
Denies Inside Information.
AT no time have I had any in
formation about any securities or
commodities that was not at the
same time available to the public.
Further because of the high cost
of living in Washington and ex-
pensive campaigns for reflections
I do not have as much money now
as had when entered the Senate
over 90 years ago"
Mrs. Thomas refused any COM
ment.
While there is nothing illegal ir