Pennsylvania Millions

Pennsylvania Millions

Senator James A. Reed of Missouri last week had the time of his life. He was just digging into the expenditures lying under the recent Pennsylvania primary for Senator, and though his colleagues on the special investigating committee took some part, he, as often, had the centre of the stage.

Highlights. Mr. Vare was placed on the stand and he admitted that besides his contribution of $71,000 to his campaign he had signed a note for $100,000 to help campaign finances. Mayor Kline of Pittsburgh was questioned about a speech he was alleged to have made to city employes declaring that if they did not vote for Pepper they would be separated from the city payroll. This he vehemently denied. Colonel Eric Fisher Wood, Chairman of the Pepper Committee, admitted that a letter favoring Pepper had been published by his committee which purported to be signed by William Green, President of the American Federation of Labor but was a forgery. He said that the publicity department had received it from an unknown source and had believed it was genuine.

Totals. The campaign committees filed their expenditures as required by law in Pennsylvania, and showed approximately $1,620,000 spent for the Pepper ticket, $670,000 spent for the Vare ticket and $195,000 spent for Pinchot.

Expectations. The Democrats had already begun to make the Pennsylvania primary an issue. It seems quite likely that there will be a bitter fight in the next Congress to prevent the seating of Vare if he is elected, and there is no small likelihood that an effort will be made to put on record Senators who come up for election as to whether they will vote to unseat Vare.

Anti-Saloon League. Senator Reed called Wayne B. Wheeler, general counsel and "legislative representative" of the Anti-Saloon League. The pretext for calling him was that he had sent the committee information that Wet interests had contributed to Mr. Vare's campaign but the real reason was that Senator Reed has been eager to dig into the affairs of the Anti-Saloon League. During an interval in the hearings, Mr. Wheeler looking rather worn, and wearing a too-large collar approached Mr. Reed.

"Will I be called this morning?"

he asked.

"Who are you?" snorted Senator Reed.

"I'm Wheeler," was the mild answer. "I would like to know because I have an appointment at 11:30."

"I think you'd better cancel it," said the Senator sharply.

Later Mr. Wheeler was called to the stand. He said he was 56, born at Brookfield, Ohio, had worked for the Anti-Saloon League since 1894, began at a salary of $100 a month but only got about a third of it, was now drawing $666 a month. Senator Reed questioned him about cases in which he had "interfered" with the prosecution of prohibition agents who were accused. Mr. Wheeler, fidgeting nervously with his glasses, said his organization tried to help those who, it believed, were "framed." Senator Reed asked how much the National Organization (exclusive of the state bodies) of the Anti-Saloon League had collected in 1925. Mr. Wheeler thought it was $150,000 or $200,000--he would get the exact figures. Then Mr. Reed got into the question of which members of Congress had been paid for making prohibition speeches. Mr. Wheeler said Upshaw of Georgia, Cooper of Ohio, Barkley of Kentucky, Lowry of Mississippi, Senator Jones of Washington, Senator Willis of Ohio. Mr. Wheeler was excused then to be called back later. What had already occurred, however, though not sensational, was enough to arouse a storm. The New York Daily News, gumchewers' sheetlet exclaimed (of Wheeler's League): ". . . This incubus on American liberty, this tumor of religion perverted to bigotry and tyranny, must be cut out of the body politic." In Congress Senator Willis exclaimed: "I am not now and never have been on the payroll of the Anti-Saloon League." The Representatives excepting Mr. Barkley defended their action. Mr. Upshaw ejaculated:

"As to my accepting expenses and a modest honorarium for my platform work for the league, I not only confessed that fact some weeks ago when the press carried the story, but I declared, as I again declare, that I am proud of the distinction of such comradeship."