The Atlanta Constitution
November 13, 1920

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f "ATLANTA, aA, SATURDAY MORNING, N OVEMBER 22, 1920. | | Pike County Representa- tive Declares That He 5 Has Sensational Affida- vits to Prove Allegations. | SOLICITOR IS READY FOR INVESTIGATION — Boykin Says That -He Will Start to Work on Case As Soon As He Is Furnished Tangible Evi- dence. , Declaring that he had sensational evidence in the shape of affidavits from a number of prominent Geor- ‘gians concerning the use of women, liquor and money by lobbyists in in- : > fluencing state legislators in pro- -moting the passage of new county bills, especially that of Lamar ’ county, Representative S. S. Barrett. of Pike, stated over long distance to The Constitution late Friday night : that he was prepared to push his charges by taking the matter up ‘with Solicitor General John A. Boy- _ kin, of the Atlanta circuit. Not only will Mr. Barrett request Immediate investigation of all charges against the lobbyists, but -will also employ a special attorney to assist Solicitor Boykin in the probe. The Pike county represen- tative said he would complete the gathering of all evidence which he has underway and turn this over to Mr. Boykin, who stated last night he would start the investigation as soon as tangible testimony was placed in his hads. 2 Will Do His Part. “I am very interested in the sit- uation created by charges in the Municipal League Bulletin,” said Representative Barrett, “and I in- tend to do my part toward wiping out the use of bribe money, wom- en and whisky in influencing legis- lators in their votes on new county bills, as well as other legislation. I now have in my possession evi- dence which shows that some leg- islators have accepted money for their votes, so much ag $5,000 he- ; fng offered to each of two repre- sentatives fér their ballots on the Lamar cougty bill. | “The two particufar men are said “>. - itn ne Scheme Had to Do With ber, and Was Almost Consummated When Dis- covered by Investigator. SHIP BOARD OFFICIAL AIDED THE EX-CONVICT CR cahintee! Meehan Tells of Alleged Political Ac tivity to Influence the ‘Board, and Mentions the Name of William G. Mc- Adoo. | *% New York, November 12.—A story of how an “ex-convict,” a forme? employee of the Emergency Fleet corporation, had attempted to “pus over” a deal in the sale of excess lumber owned by the shipping board by collusion with a head of the lumber department, was related today to the Walsh investigating committee by John T. Meehan, dep- uty chief of the board’s bureau 6f investigation. The deal, had it been consum- mated, Mr. Meehan testified before the W alsh committee, would have re- sulted in a loss of more than $1,000,- 000 to the government. He said that in July, 1919, the board had on hand approximately 139,000,000 feet of excess lumber Bids for the sale of this lumber was submitted in that month. Among the bidders, he said, was a Chicago wrecking firm which filed a bid with a certified check indicating the bid to be for approximately $3,900,000. “Dictaphones” Used. The department had been on the trail of a tormer employee of the board, the witness said, by the ‘name of E. S. Kiger, then believed subsidiary company of the bidders. By means of “‘dictaphones” and other means of obtaining informa- tion, it was disclosed that Kiger was in communication with J. K. Fawcett, then head of the. lumber department.of the Emergency Five. ‘poration. The department of investigation, he declared, learned that the ‘firm's bid was “mislead- ing” and that the tender of the certified .chesk was “Intended ‘to cover up” what the witness said experte- afterward declared to be an Bctual bid for about $2}400,000. Kiger, who, the witness stated, was engineering the deal, previous- ly had been discharged because of his past record, which showed that he was not only out on parole from } Detroit authorities, but also under indictment in New York ‘for al- leged offenses committed in 1912 under anvuther name. McAdoo and Political Activity. Alleged “political activity” pre- viously referre@ to in testimony and reports before the committee Was again touched upon in testimony to- day. Congressman Israel M. Foster, questioning John T. Meehan, asked if there had been any loss to the government through “political in- fluence.” The witness replied that he could not say there had. Asked if there had been any com- plaints of such influence, the - criticism of William G. McAdoo, aft- er he had resigned the office of sec- retary of the treasury. It was charged, or rather complained of, the witness added, at Mr. McAdoo had appeared: before the board on behalf of the Morse’ interests. “I do not want to be understood,” the witness continued, “as saying that it is even inferred that Mr. McAdoo has interfered with, or has been harmful to the board in any way.” He ¢explained he was testi- fying only as to criticisms he had heard. Meehan also said that while most of the investigations of his depart- ment had been of the activities of minor employees, his department had not overlooked “officials.” He Centinued on Page 4, Column 4. Railroad C locks Must Be Correct Or Railroads Pay, Mobile, Ala, November 12.—The | Alabama supreme court today in the case of Ellen Clark vs. the Leuisville an: company, ruled that when a rail- | road puts a clock orany other time- | piece in the gaze of the public it is bound by duty to its patrons to keep it so regulated as to furnish reasonably accurate time and fail- ing so to do; it is responsible for any damage such error in time may bring to its patrons. The woman sued the railroad for ; ‘ ? Bae SB Cee” the waiting room of the Union. sta- tion at Decatur, Ala., was slow as a result of which she missed a train which was carrying the body of her son to Hartselle for burial. The court rendered judgment for $500. It was alleged that a train was scheduled to leave Decatur at 6:30. o'clock in the morning, but that jas a matter of fact it left at 6:23. according to the. clock. in: the wait- ing room. As a consequence, the body was carried to Hartselle, but | the plaintiff'was unable to take the og until the afternoon. the Sale of Excess Lum- Client Is Charged With the Fe orgery Thomas McHugh and At- torney Fred E. Harrison Figure in Unique Case in One New YorkContractor| the Fulton Courts. Swears He Paid $32,000. to President Brindell of Building Trades Council. One of the most unique cases of a possible miscarriage of justice de- veloped Friday when Thomas Mc- Hugh, an aged Irishman from Ohio, was indicted on a charge of forgery, and Fred E. Harrisofi, who had de- fended McHugh on two former 6c- casions, appeared before the Fulton county grand jury’ as the prosecu- tor. According to the records now on file with the clerk of the Fulton su- perior court, McHugh was indicted, convicted and two to three years on a charge of forgery the May term of this year in the erfminal division. Mr. Har- rison defended the Irishman and was so solicitous for his clent’s wel- fare that he urged Judge John D. Humphries to set aside the sentence and let the old man out of jail. J. H. Dillon, who cashed the forged check, wrote Judge . Humphries a note telling him that he understood that the defendant’s health was bad and he, as prosecutor, would be glad to see the old man free again. On October 16 Judge Humphries signed an ordér releasing McHugh, who had already been in jail over six months, the judge ordering that this six months be the sentence im- posed upon him. | A few days ago McHugh was ar- rested and charged with taking an- other man’s pocketbook. He was taken to the _ stationhouse and searched and’ the other man’s purse was found on him and at the same time a check for $25 signed by Fred E. Harrison. City Policeman R. A. Rakestraw took charge of the check and said nothing about it—until later. In the meantime McHugh called Mr. Harrison and engaged him to ap- pear in the pocketbook case. Mc- SCENES OF DISORDER MARKED THE HEARING Mayor Hylan Accused of Turning Investigation Into “Generat Beer Gar- den”—William Jennings Bryan One of Spectators. a New York, . November 12.—(By the Assoriated Press.)—After another tumultuous session with Mayor Hy- lan, the joint legislative committee investigating the “building trust” today heard testimony alleging the payment of $32,000 by a building contractor to Robert P. Brindell, president of the Building Trades council, for “strike insurance.” Testimony by Hugh S. Robertson, of Todd, Irons and Robertson, that he had paid this amount as part payment on an agreement to pay the labor leader $50,000 for protec- tion against strikes came as a star- tling climax to the afternoon 8€S- sion of the committee, which spent the greater part of the day prob- ing into the city’s school limestone contracts, “General Beer Garden.” Despite protests by Samuel Unter- myer, the committees counsel, that Mayor Hylan was trying to turn the hearing into a “circus” and “this or- derly investigation into a general OfLawyer ’sName sentenced’ to from) beer garden,” the mayor persisted “ throughout the session to get a let- ter before the committee exonerat- Hugh told Mr. Harrison that he had been in the room of the man.who had lost his purse and that they to be connected with an alleged} gave the letters to newspapers for ness said that he had heard some; ing him of any responsibility in having the school building contracts changed from terra cotta to lime- stone. Failing in this, the mayor might have changed pocketbooks. So a search of the room in question was made and McHugh’s pocket- book was found. When the case was called before Recorder Johnson he dismissed the pocketbook case, but fined the de- -publication. Many times the committee’ s hear- ing was interrupted by scehes of unusual disorder in which the spec- tators wha jammed the room par- ticipated,. expressing their.’ disap- proval of the committee’s. ruling at one time with a sterm of hissing. One of the interested spectators It was here, that Mr. Harrison re- ceived a little surprise.-~ Policeman Rakestraw presented’ the ‘check to him and asked him if he had signed it, and he replied that he had not. Here the policeman told Judge eedines was William Jen-~- , aad vec Leela was eted with | Johngon that ‘he wanted to swear lause when page @ into the wr, Harrison tg testify against: Mc- chamber and to a seat e the ros- , ittee. where he| Hush. © The lewyer told the judge ee Soloed ty Mayor, that he did not want to prosecute was joined by Mayor Hylan. Mr ' Bryan said there was Foy signif’. McHugh, but Rakestraw refused to guave td “his presence, Dut ne allow the case: to be dropped.’ As the result Mr. Harrison and “merely dropped in as a visitor.” He steved but a short time. Policeman Rakestraw appeared be- fore the grand jury and-a true Dill The testimony by Robertson, | whose concern has building con- charging forgery was returned against McHugh. tracts for the Cunard Pier terminals in New Jersey, @ project involving between $35.000, 900 and $40,000,600, revealed a new form of alleged graft, as the builder said he paid the money not only for insurance against strikes, but for a “lot of in- formation as to future labor condi- a Agreed te Pay $50,000 Total. Robertson testified he had agreed to pay Brindell a total of $50,000 for his protection and advice and made the first payment of $20,000 on March 23, follewing a_ dinner with the labor leader in tre Commo- dore hotel. About May 7, after ancther, dinner with Brindell, the witress said he rode “around the block’ with ‘the labor leader and left $6,149 on the seat when he left the machine. The; third payment of $3,851, he said, was made on May 14, and two more payments of $1,000 each, Robertson added, were made to’ Brindell in ySeptember and October after “a ride around the block” and a hotel dinner. Robertson said the checks drawn to furnish the cash for Brindell had been charged to “preliminary ex- penses” and that the-amounts were added to. the contract figures. GARRETT DENIES HE WAS DRUNK, AS POLICE SAY Washington, November 12.—Rep- representative Garrett, of Tennes- see, who was arrested Tuesday night after. his automobile had struck a young woman, denied in a formal statement today that he was intoxicated as charged by the po- lice. At the same time he made public letters from Representatives Wingo, of Arkansas, and Flood, of 4 Virginia, to the District of Colum- bia authorities, in which they stat- ed that they had seen Mr. Garrett a short time before the accident and that he not only was not intoxicat- ed. but that there was no Siam a he had been drinking Pederated Union to With- hold: Aid to Red Cross Until It “Does Its Duty by Ireland.” New York, November 12.—The Central Federated union, at its weekly meeting tonight, voted unanimously to ignore an appeal for aid from the American Red Cross, the union, and other speakers had urged the delegates to withhold their support until the organization “does its duty by Irelgnd.” A letter from Miss Elizabeth A. Cullen, associate director of the Red Cross, describing its member- ship enrollment campaign and ask- ing the support of the 350,000 men represented by the unit, was hissed. Letters received by dele- gates from friends in Ireland tell- ing of conditions there, were read to the delegates, whd thereupon voted against extending assistance to the Red Cross. Mgvement to Spread. Ernest Bohm, secretary of the union, expressed the opinion that a Continued on Page & Column 3. fendant $16' for disorderly ‘conduct. Red Cross Banned ByNew York Labor: For Irish Policy after John Sullivan, treasurer of Features for Everybody In Sunday’s Constitution In addition to its unparalleled news service The Sunday Constitution offers a wealth of interesting teading, both of a general nature and of a kind with a special appeal-to the man or the woman. and Mark Sullivan. ions in colors; another page interest to the housewife, and, Current Events, complete in In the political field, for instance, there are Frank Simonds For women there are a full page of fash-_ A few of the features of general appeal include: HS WIFE,” which Gagie a diy stil tr Sunday's popes SO ne tae er ent stany, ‘THE THIEF,” devoted entirely to matter of of course, the Club page and novel, “HIS FRIEND AND SALES AND ANNOUNCEDFRIDAY EXCEED $000,000 $75,000 Will Be Spent on Improvements on the Le- land Hotel on Houston Street. Strikers in : DRASTIC SUNDAY LAWS ARE URGED WAREHOUSE PROPERTY SOLD FOR $137,500 $600,000 Involved in 20- Year Lease .of Bonita Theater Property—Les- sees Intend to Remodel Structure. lift there having a capacity of twelve tons. The J. I. Case company, with home factories tn Racine, Wis., is one of the best known manufacturing concerns in Amegica, and will de- vote its Atlanta plant wholly to the distribution and storing of farmi:u.g implements, although it is Intended to assemble some of the machinery here. $75,000 Improvements. Improvements involving an ex- penditure of $75,000 will be begun immediately on the Leland hotel, on Houston street, which will make of the present structure an upto-date hotel of 60 rooms, catering to t transient public, Wade H. D owner, announced Friday. The remodelied hotel will be com- pleted by March 1 of next year, and will have a handsome front of ter- ra cotta and pressed brick on the level of the street. The building and its fixtures will be modern in every respect, it is stated. T. J. Anderson, present lessee of the Marion hotel, on Pryor street, has the structure for a period of ten years. J. W. Jenkins will be architect and builder. Will Repair Building. F, G. Corker, owner of the Cor- ker building at 445 Peachtree street, which Was recently gutted by flames causing heavy damage, obtained a permit from the office of city building inspector Friday for repairs which he estimated will cost $40,000. At the time of thé fire the building was uplied the er Motor some w, " me obtained by t at Company of the South and the concern will pay an aver- age yearly rental of $30,000 for a period approximating twenty years. the praperty | “The | The deal was handled through the: real estate firm of A. S. Adams- | IN MLE REPORT Committee Will Ask Ban on Interstate Trains, Newspapers and All| Forms of Labor on That | | | Day. DEBATE IS EXPECTED ON RESOLUTION TQDAY \ $24,125 Has Been Raised in This Section for Aid of-Superannuated Minis- ters, Widows and Or- phans. BY DR. THOMAS M. ELLIOTT. Drastic Sunday laws will be in effect in Georgia—changes that will appear Puritanical to the great | mass of people will be made—pro- Vided plans that will be presented either today or Monday to the North Georgia conference, now in session at the Wesley Memorial church, meet with the favor of the confer- ence and are authorized by the law- makers of the land. ‘The committee on Sunday ob- servance has. already indorsed and will submit to the conference for adoption a resolution that asks con- gress to enact a law forbidding the operation of interstate trains on Sunday, the publishing of Sunday newspapers, the opening of postof- fices on Sunday, all forms of labor on that day and the granting of a full day’s rest to all governmental employees, | lowed an appeal Cork Jail Call Off Their Strike The Nine Prisoners Acted : on Orders of Sinn Fein Chief, Who Said It Was Useless to Continue the Strike. 4 CORK HUNGER STRIKE STARTED ON AUGUST 11 | Originally There Were 11 Strikers, But 2 of Them Died of Starvation—The Men Are in Wretched Condition, But It Is Thought Lives May Be Saved. — Cork, November 12.—The hunger strike of the nine Irish prisqners in the Cork jail was called off today, the ninety-fourth day of the strike. This was revealed when a mes- sage received by Lord Mayor O’Cal- laghan from Arthur Griffiths, foun- der of the Sinn-Felp organization, | was given out. ° “IT am of the opinion,” read the message, “that our countrymen in the Cork prison have sufficiently Proved their devotion and fidelity and that they should now, as they were prepared to die for Ireland. prepare again to live for her.” This message has been trans- mitted to the nine surviving hunger strikers In the. jail. The men were reported today in a deplorably low state. The announcement of the receipt of the Griffiths letter closely fol- made by Bishop Cohalan, of Cork, that there be a cessation of the strike, which be declared would only be a waste of lives. MacSwiney’s Death Enough. “Lord Mayor MacSwiftey’s strike accomplished the purpose of at- tracting world attention,” he added. “The nation got value for his life. but the continuance of the present strike is only a waste.” | A movement to this effect was or- ganized in the Tennessee conference some months ago and efforts are ferences to unite in the appeal to congress for the enactment of Such a national-law, Rev. Noah P. Coop- er, of the Tennessee conference, ad- dressed this conference on the sub- Ject Friday and appealed to the members to uphold the recammenda- tion that the committee will submit | either to@ay or Monday. No “action or expression was made by the con- ference regarding the matter Fri- day, hence there is no definite way Sh ecg how the conference wil} e 1@ matter w si will doubtless pro- Charles Ww. Smith, chairman of the finance board in the conference, an- nounced to the body Friday after- noon that the sum of $24,125 haa ‘een raised by the Methodists in this _Continued — on | Pane e 13, »_ Column 2 Washington, November 12.—Preg- ident Wilson issued his Thanksgiv- ing proclamation tonight, saying that “in plenty, security adn peace, our virtuous and self-reliant peo- Ple face the future,” and setting aside Thursday, November 25, for the usual observances. The. text follows: “The sesaon approaches when it behooves us to turn from the distractions and Preoccupations of our daily life, that we may contemplate the mercies which have been vyouchsafed to us, and render heartfelt and un- feigned thanks unto God for His manifold goodness. “This if an old observance of the American people, deeply im- beded in our thought and habit. The burdens and the stresses of life have their own insistence. “We have abundant cause for thanksgiving. The lesions of the war are rapidly healing. The great army of freedom, which America sent to the de- fense of liberty, retur rping to the grateful embrace of"the na- tion, has resumed the useful pursuits of peace, as simply and promptly as it rushed ms in obedience to the coun- try’s call. The equal justice of our laws has received steady Vindication in the support of a law-abiding people against various and sinister attacks, which have reflected only the baser agitations 6f War, now happily passing. “In plenty, security and peace, our virtuous‘“And § self-reliant people face the future, its du- ties and its opportunities. we have visi to disedtn our duties, the strength, both of hand and resolve, to discharge them; and the goodness of heart to realize that the truest a unities are those of serv- ce “In a spirit. then, of devotion and stewardship, we should give thanks in our ag ane dedicate ourselves to-the : ice of God’s merciful and oe in urposes to His children. herefore, I, Woodrow Wil- president of the United | . States, do hereby 4 te the ‘25th we NS : next, as a 7 © ving and ; now being made ,t0 get other cone | Nourishment is being administer- ed to the nine men, it was stated at the prison this evening. “It will be anxious work, but°>we men through,” said Dr. Pearson to the Associated Press today. “The first nourishment will consist of infant’s food, the white of eggs and beef juice. We are feeling our way with each case and the outlook is distinctly favorable.” Dr. Pearson denied reports that the prisoners began to take food several days ago. He declared they had had nothing whatever to eat until today. Some of the strikers at first showed reluctance to com- ply with Mr. Griffith's advice to cease their fast, but al] of them finally consented. The cessation of the strike creat- ed little surprise here, in view of the efforts begun lagt week by the bishop of Cork to end it. Strike Began Attigust 11. The Cork hunger strike began August 11. There were originally eleven of the strikers. One of them, Michael Fitzgerald, died Oc- tober 17, and another, Joseph Mur- phy, October 25, the latter within a fow. ‘hours of the death of Lord Mayor MacSwiney, of Cork, Brixton prison, on the seventy-third day of the lord mayor’s hunger atrike. The nine survivors are: John (Sean) Hennessy, Burke, Matthew Rellly, Donovan, Joseph Kenny, Christo- pher Upton, John Power, John Crowley:and Peter Crowley. The eieven men’ were arrested early in August In connection with disorders in Ireland and announc- ed their intention to abstain from Continued on Page 8, Column 3, Thomas are quite hopeful of pulling all the § nud Michael> The Weather FAIR, Washington. —For t: south rti on sunés tai ae a portions; ra - tinued cold. - — Local Weather Repert. Highest temperature ......... Lowest temperature @eeeeeveaecen Mean temperature ......-ccscee- Normal temperature ......s6s. Rainfall in past 24 hrs. in..... Deficiency since ist of month .8! Excess since Jan. 1, inchesg....15.10 7 am. Noon. 7 pm. Dry temperature ..36 44 39 Wet bulb ee+eeeetee 3 Rel. humidity .....79 aad Sta WEATHER. ATLANTA, clr.. B’ham. clear ... Boston, — ene Beetalo. clear .. Ch » GH see Chicago, clear . Denver, clear eee Des Moines, clr. Galveston, cly .. Hatteras, cly ... Havre, clr ...<é«- Jack’ville, cly .. Kan, City, cly... Memp his, clr eee Miami, clr ..scol / Mobile, elr wheal 7 p.m. | High. T T 4 Vicksburg, cir’ 4 Wash’ton, clr .,. 3 Piet Bae *ESF 24 bre. * toches,