Evening star., 1951-10-04

were business details, discussed
and decided on their merits.
Requested Investigation.
After Mr.. w. Stuart Syming-
ton became RFC administrator, I
called on him to introduce two
OF the other officers of the COM
pany. I also requested him. as
stated in my letter of September
% TO the chairman of this COM
mittee, to cause an investigation
TO be made of the Carthage Hy-
drocol files, and thereafter to
state publicly whether he found
anything wrong or improper.
While replying to a question
about Carthage Hydrocol finances,
I advised Mr.. Symington that my
Executive Committee would meet
soon on whether to request a
deferment of the initial repay
ments Of principal on the first
two loans. This incident has
been twisted and misconstrued
into a request for a favor. for
easier terms" and even IAN ad-
ditional loan" 1t was nothing of
the sort.
On August l, 1851, by direction
OF the Executive Committee, our
treasurer, Mr.. Allen X. Brehm,
signed formal application to
the New York Office for this defer
ment. This application was for
recognition of the spirit of an
agreement twice previously ac-
'cepted by the RFC-namely. that
there would be a lapse of 21
months between the start of
operations of the plant and the
first repayments. -.
(Mr. Gabrielson then incor-
porated a letter by Mr.. Brehm
into his statement. The letter
asked for extension in the date of
payment and gave the reasons
He also gave the committee the
RIGS letter in replyl
AS the letters show, the RFC
now has rejected theory it twice
previously accepted-that repay-
ments should be made from earn
lngs rather than capital supplied
by the stockholders. We have the
initial repayment Of $250,O00 on
September 27, 1851. without chal-
Longing this decision.
After this incident, would any
member Of this committee like to
try to persuade my puzzled stock
holders that I have any influence
with this agency?
Talked With Chapman.
I have also had two converse
tions with Mr.. Oscar Chapman
Secretary of the Interior. These
were for the purpose Of ascer-
tanning what steps Carthage Hy-
drocol should take to obtain GER
tain nickel alloys required for re-
sumption of operations of the
plant. Does any one suggest that
involved influence?
Shortly after I was elected
chairman Of the Republican Ma
tional Committee. a flow of innu-
endo and insinuations began-ap
almost constant fiow-that there
was political influence or political
pressure and even corruption in
connection with the Carthage Hy-
drocol loan.
Senators Of this committee. II
seems to me that the time has
arrived to settle this once and for
all. I urge you in all fairness to
call as witnesses before this COM
mittee Mr.. Harvey Gunderson
former director of the RFC. who
was assigned by the old board to
administer this loan: also Mr.. w.
Stuart Symington, the present ad-
.ministrator, and any other person
now or formerly connected with
the RFC to testify whether or not
this loan was handled on a
straight, out-and-out. business
basis. without the slightest tinge
OF infiuence-peddling. bribes, or
any other unethical, illegal or i'm
moral basis.
II you find that none of these
influences exist. and I am sure
you will. then in all fairness to
the American people. the stock
holders and directors of this fine
company that is pioneering a great
new industry in this country, and
to me as an American citizen and
businesSman-aside from the fact
that I am the Republican chair
man-tell the American public the
truth and request the RFC to
state the facts: That this loan was
obtained on a strictly business
basis.