Evening star., 1948-01-03
Fields 10 Reorganize
Foundation 10 Aid
Former Convicts

Former Convicts
Benjamin F. Fields, whose con-
viction for contempt of Congress is
before the Supreme Court, an
nounced today he was leaving his
public relations business to reor-
ganize the Fields Foundation with
the avowed goal Of rehabilitating
former convicts.
The foundation was set up by
Fields in 1910, two years after his
release from prison on a mail fraud
conviction and folded a year later
under a barrage of newspaper fire.
Subsequently, the rotund, bespec-
tacled promoter came to Washing
ton and set up Offices at 1643 Con-
necticut avenue. The same site
will be utilized as headquarters for
the reborn foundation.
Cited for Contempt.
He first came under scrutiny here
during the Senate War Investigating
Committees inquiry into the Cars
son munitions empire. Senator
Mitchell, Democrat, OF Washington
identified him from a picture as
having attempted to "bribe" him
with a $4,000 campaign fund con-
tribution if he would quash the
Carson investigation.
Late in 1916 the House Surplus
Property Committee, investigating
Fields dealing in scarce surplus
bronze wire, cited him for contempt
for failing to present financial rec
ords to the committee. Convicted
and sentenced to 80 days last Feb
ruary, his appeal is before the Su-
preme Court and a decision is ex-
pected this month.
Fields said today the 3evived foun-
dation would carry on no matter how
the Supreme Court ruled.
No Solicitations Planned.
'Those of us who feel that the
foundation has been a vital factor
in the rehabilitation of hundreds of
inmates, and want to make it even
a greater force for good, will use
our own resources to get the founda-
ton under way again." he said.
The foundation hopes to weld into
unit "the six or eight million
ex-convicts of the country" to coun-
teract misunderstanding of persons
not familiar with rehabilitation
work, Fields said.
Plans do not call for immediate
solicitation of funds, but none
would be turned down if offered"
Fields said.
"As the foundation grows, we will
ask for financial support, he added.
One Of the aims Of the foundation
Is to make loans up to several hun
dred dollars to eX-convicts without
interest ito carry him or her over
the transitory period of readjust-
ment."
Retires of Gown Volition."
Fields denied he was in financial
difficulties and said he was retiring
from commercial business of my own
volition and certainly not through
necessity"
Except for oil and lumber inter-
ests in Central America, he is giving
up all other enterprises to head the
foundation, Fields said.
"As soon as practicable" he will
tour most of the country's major
penal institutions and ask to speak
to inmates about the plan. He made
such a tour seven years ago with in
different success.
James v. Bennett, director of the
Bureau of Federal Prisons, denied
him the privilege of speaking to
Federal prisoners or distributing
his literature, he said.
However, this time we hope that
Mr.. Bennett will see the wisdom of
permitting us to help rehabilitate
Federal prisoners as well as State
prisoners, Field said
Started in 1910.
The foundation was started in
1910, germ of an idea born in
Leavenworth prison. Fields was
serving seven years of a 15-year
sentence for using the mails to
defraud. He was paroled in 1888
with the help Of Senator Thomas,
Democrat, of Oklahoma, one OF the
prominent figures later enlisted by
the enterprising Fields for assistance
in pushing the foundation.
"I saw those fellows leaving prison
with a $40 bill and come back with
the word that they couldn't make it
on the outside" Fields said. Il
talked to many Of them and they
agreed we should start a fund OF
our own for discharged prisoners.
We raised $4,000 and made loans of
5000 or $500 to the boys. They
never came back to prison, but all
of them returned the money and
more, too"
When he was transferred to an
other penitentiary two years later,
the fund amounted to $4,000, Fields
said.
The foundation was started in
Tulsa, Okla, and operated in 10
southwestern States, Mr.. Fields said.
Prominent men were contacted to
serve on boards Of directors and as
advisers