Evening star., 1950-11-01
Prediction Probe
Out in Ohio, Possible
In Pennsylvania
By J. A. O'Leory

Ihe Senate Campaign 1nVeStl-
eating Committee will not start an
inquiry into the Taft-Ferguson
battle in Ohio before election day,
but has not closed the door on
early hearings in Pennsylvania.
Senator Gillette, Democrat. of
Iowa, head of the committee, told
the Associated Press in Cherokee,
Iowa, the time is too short to go
into the Ohio race before next
Tuesday.
The committee staff here was
reported considering Friday as a
tentative date for hearings in
Philadelphia, provided investiga-
tors already in Pennsylvania are
ready then to begin presenting
evidence.
Meanwhile, Attorney General
McGrath sent word to United
States attorneys throughout the
country to give prompt attention
to any complaints of voting fraud
next Tuesday and to keep their
Offices open during voting hours
for that purpose. Mr.. McGrath
pointed out Federal authorities
may act if voters allege they have
been intimidated, prevented from
voting, or from having their votes
counted as cast.
Probe Asked by Ferguson.
The request for an Ohio investi-
cation was made by Joseph T.
Ferguson, the Democratic aspirant
for Senator Taft's seat. Senator
Gillette disclosed last night Sen
ator Taft has contacted the sub
committee by telephone to say
that while he was not requesting
an inquiry, if one is ordered it
should cover both candidates.
Elaborating on his original re-
quest, Mr.. Ferguson wired the SUBJ
committee yesterday, alleging cor
porations have contributed "close
to 81 million" to the Taft cause.
Federal law forbids corporations,
national banks and labor unions
from contributing to party cam
paign funds.
In Ohio Willis D. Gradison. Sen
ator Taft's campaign manager,
was quoted as saying:
Everything in our campaign is
as clean as hounds tooth. Any
such investigation should first
start with the millions of dollars
raised by the CIO-PAC, AFL and
other unions all over the country
to be used in Ohio to defeat Sena-
tor Taft"
Gillette Discloses Plans.
Senator Gillette said any in
quiry into the Ohio situation
should come after the election.
The Iowa Senator announced last
week he might come East in time
to hold at least one day of hear
ings in Philadelphia before the
election, If investigators working
there find evidence bearing on
the complaints.
A group Of Democrats came to
Washington last week with allega-
tions Of strong-arm methods and
other alleged attempts to inter-
fere with election procedures In t
Pennsylvania. Joseph tSharfsin, "a
former city solicitor of Philadel-
phia, was one of the complainants
and later was made q special as
sistant to the committees legal |
staff in PENNSYLVANIA.
The Senate committee also has
investigators in New York, inquir-
ing into the much-discussed Han
ley Letter. but Leroy RAIDER. com
mittee counsel, said he has not
received preliminary report from
them yet. |
The American Labor Party in
New York asked for the inquiry
into the letter written by 1t. Gov.
Joseph r. Hanley, Republican
nominee for Senator, to another
Republican. Mr.. Hanley wrote
that If he consented to take the
senatorial nomination II am def
initely assured of being able to |
clean up my financial obligations
within 80 days.
Democratic speakers have used
the letter as a basis for charges |
that Mr.. Hanley was bought off
to quit the race for Governor and
take the Senate nomination in
stead. Mr.. Hanley has denied
there is anything Illegal or NOR
ally wrong in his financial trans
actions, and Gov. Dewey has
denied ever discussing Mr.. Han
ley's personal finances with his