Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-09-23

\ hETV i Nk1kAlNDAEN.
DisclOses StevensOn's fund.
Illinois you personally promoted a
similar cash fund contributed by
private individuals, which was paid
to various of your official ap-
pointees to State jobs in order to
supplement salaries paid to them
by the State.
"Also, to keep the record
straight, you should divulge names
of all the contributors to this fund,
and the amount each contributed
and the names and amounts re-
ceived by each appointed State
official.
Providing such monies are
properly used, there can be no just
criticism of this manner of assist
ing able and intelligent men not
blessed with independent income
to serve their country and State.
you enjoy outside income of
your own, but you have found it
necessary to provide additional pay
in order to induce others not so
fortunate to accept responsible
State jobs that require honesty,
ability and willingness to serve,
when salary established by law is
insufficient to justify the sacrifice
asked Of them"
The statement issued by Gov.
Stevenson reads as follows:
II have not received Mr.. Chan
dler's wire. but the text of it has
been supplied me by the Chicago
Tribune. I do not recall the con-
versation with Mr.. Chandler in
Chicago, but there has never been
any secret about the fact that ]
have tried to reduce the financial
sacrifice of a number of men whom
I induced to leave private employ
ment to work for the State of
Illinois. These have been men of
my own selection who entered pub
lie service at my urging and at
personal sacrifice to themselves.
None have been elected public off,
Icials who sought public Office.
THE funds used for this pur-
pose were left over from the 1913
campaign for Governor, together
with subsequent general contribu-
tions. There is no question OF i'm
proper influence because there was
no connection between the con-
tributors and the beneficiaries.
ST know of no request for funds
from anybody for any purpose
during my term as Governor, ex-
cept the usual party fund raising
activities during the 1850 congress
sional and legislative campaign,
and again early this summer for
my reelection as Governor.
Money contributed by employees
of the State or by any one else for
my reelection as Governor was
either returned to them or turned
over to the campaign fund Of my
successor candidate for Governor
after I accepted the nomination for
President.
During my administration ]
have never heard Of any case OF
a promise. either direct or implied
of any favor in exchange for a
contribution. My orders were ex-
plicit and well known"
Doesn't Know Size Of Fund.
William I. Flanagan, Gov. Ste
venson's press secretary, said he
did not know, when asked the
amount of the fund that had been
used to supplement State en-
ployes' salaries.
When his attention was called
to MIR. Chambers suggestion that
the names of the contributors be
|divulged, Mr.. Flanagan said the
Governor was not answering that
part of the telegram in his state
ment.
When the Nixon story broke.
Gov. Stevenson issued a statement
saying there were three questions:
l"Who gave the money; was it given
Ito influence the Senator's posi-
ton on public questions and have
any laws been violated?" He said
he was sure the Republican Party
would ascertain these facts and
tact in accordance with our best
traditions" He also cautioned
against condemnation of Senator
Nixon without all the evidence.
A list of contributors to the
Nixon fund was made public.