Evening star., 1951-12-02
Senate Ends Hearing
0n0hio Campaign
After Eaton Disclosure
By J. A. O'Leoy

Senate hearings into the 1850
Ohio campaign ended for the time
being yesterday, after testimony
that part of labor's campaign
against reelection Of Republican
Senator Taft was financed by a
Cleveland f1nancier and some of
his associates.
John P. Moore, counsel to the
Elections Subcommittee, brought
out that Cyrus S. Eaton, sr., and
Cyrus Eaton, jr., were listed as
contributing $4,000 each to
Labor's Non-Partisan League, as
shown on the report filed for
the League by r. c. Owens, an
official Of the United Mine
Workers of America.
Mr.. Eaton was described as the
largest stockholder in Otis g. Co.,
a Cleveland investment firm, at
the time the campaign contribu-
tions were made last fall.
Reimbursed for Checks.
Committee counsel also produced
aff1davits from John A. Kruse, a
former vice president and director
of Otis & Co.. and from Dorothy
Wokral, formerly one of Mr..
Eaton's secretaries, both stating
that Mr.. Eaton asked them to
make out their personal checks to
Labor's Non-Partisan League. for
which he reimbursed them.
Miss Wokral swore that Mr..
Eaton obtained from her two such
checks for $4,000 each and gave
her two checks in the same amount
in return. Mr.. Kruse swore that
he made out one check for $2,500
and was reimbursed with a $2,500
check the next day. Mr.. Kruse
said he had no knowledge of what
the funds were for.
Attorney Moore called Mr..
Owens attention to several other
S2,500 contributors on the Labor
Leagues campaign report, and
asked if he knew whether they
also were connected with Otis &
Co. In each case, Mr.. Owens said
he did not know their connections.
Hearings Are Resumed.
Senator Hennings. Democrat, of
Missouri, said. however, that the
committee staff had information
indicating that, out of $40,834
collected by Labor's Non-Partisan
League, s35,0OO was listed from
persons who were at one time con-
nected with Otis & Co.
The subcommittee also heard
Harry w. August, executive direc-
tor of the Ohio Republican Fiz
nance Committee, and Ray c.
Bliss, Chairman of the Republican
State Central and Executive Com
mittee of Ohio. They described
how the campaign for the entire
G. O. P. State ticket was con-
Quoted last year.
In recessing the hearings late
yesterday, Acting Chairman Mon
Democrat. of Oklahoma.
said they are over unless the sub
committee decides to hear further
on the Eaton contribu-
tions. i
Unable to Serve Subpoenas.
Mr.. Moore said he has not been
able to serve subpoenas on Mr.
Eaton and his son, because the
process servers were informed they !
are in Canada. /,
Senator Smith, Republican, of
Maine, had read into the record {
The Federal law which limits an
Individual to a $1,000 contribu-
ion in any one year to a campaign i
Tor an elective Federal office. But
Counsel Moore pointed out that
the next section says the 5000 |,
limitation in the Federal law shall
not apply to contributions to a
State or local committee. and he
indicated his tentative opinion is
that the contributions under dis
cussion yesterday were to a State
or local committee. He said he
planned to give the matter further
study.
Senator Monroney told reporters
he is not sure, the subcommittee
will file a separate report on the
Ohio campaign. He pointed out
that the main purpose in holding
the hearings was to throw more
light on how the Federal laws de-
signed to limit the cost of political
campaigns can be improved.
The Oklahoman said the Ohio
hearings emphasized the difficulty
of trying to find out how much of