The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1952-09-23
Political
ofeS

Eisenhower supporter that GOV.
Adlai E. Stevenson promoted a
cash fund from private individuals
to augment salaries of some state
officials was admitted by the ILL
noiS governor last night.
But, the Democratic presidential
candidate said, there was nothing
secretive or improper about such
aid.
Stevenson, in a statement in New
York, said there never has been
any secret about his trying to ease
the financial strain of men he IN
duced to leave private employment
to take state jobs. None of the
men, Stevenson said. was an elect
ed official or an office seeker.
The governors statement was IN
reply to a charge made by Kent
Chandler, a Chicago manufacturer
in telegram to Stevenson that ne
personally promoted cash fund,
made UP of contributions from prl-
vate citizens.
Chandler, who served on the Citi-
zens for Eisenhower Committee
before the Republican convention
said in his telegram that the fund
''waS paid to various of your Of
fetal appointees to state jobs In
order to supplement the salaries
paid them by the state"
He asked Stevenson to disclose
the names of the contributors and
recipients and the amounts in
volved. Chandler said the governor
had made known he favored such
an assistance policy to him and
others at the Chicago Commercial
Club last April %. Stevenson said
last night he did not recall any
such conversation with Chandler.
Stevenson, who is in his first
four-year term as governor, at that
time had announced his candidacy
for reelection.
In his statement. Stevenson said,
"there never has been any Sc
cret" about his views on such aid
to state officials and that they en-
tered public service at his urging
and at personal sacrifice to them
selves.
"There is no question of impro-
per influence because there was no
connection between the contribu-
tors and the beneficiaries," the
governors statement said.
He said the funds used were left
over from the 1948 campaign for
governor, plus later general con-
tributions.
During my administration !
have never heard Of any case of a
promise, either direct or implied,
of any favor in exchange for a
contribution" Stevenson said. "My
orders were explicit and well
known"
Chambers telegram to Steven
son followed recent disclosure that
Sen. Richard Nixon, Republican
vice presidential candidate, had
accepted $1S,235 in expense funds
from private sources.
Chandler, who is vice chairman
of A. B. Dick and Company, an
office equipment firm, said in his
telegram:
''In view of the attack on Senator
Nixon because OF the privately
raised fund and your campaign
managers ill-considered charges,
it is your responsibility to state
publicly that this method of finan-
cially assisting public officials is
in keeping with the policy you ex-
pressed to a group of your friends,
including myself at the CONNER
cial Club April % last"
Stephen A. Mitchell, Democratic
national chairman, has publicly
called upon Nixon to resign as a
candidate.
Chandler, in his telegram asking
the governor disclose the names of
the contributors and recipients and
amounts involved, added: PRO
vided. such monies are properly
used, there can be no just criticism
of this manner of assisting able
and intelligent men not blessed
with private incomes to serve
their state and country"
Chandler told a reporter that at
the Commercial Club meeting
! Stevenson outlined his policy of US
ing private funds to supplement the
pay of men who were doing ex.
cellent jobs and we all agreed 1t
was a good idea"
Before disclosure Of Chambers
telegram and the governors reply.
there were denialS of stories in
the Chicago Tribune and the Gin
cinnati Enquirer that Stevenson, to