Quick Work

Senator James A. Reed--that rara avis a Democratic irreconcilable-- proposed and the Republican majority assented. Several weeks ago Senator Reed presented a resolution, one of many, for an investigation. The resolution lay contently in the Committee on Audit and Expenses. But Reed, whose anti-League of Nations activities had moved former President Wilson to suggest that he be not reelected (and who nevertheless was reelected in 1922 by an increased majority), had resources. His anti-League proclivities gave him a certain standing in the Republican camp.

Last week he asked Senator Keyes, Republican of New Hampshire, and Chairman of the Committee where the resolution reposed, that it be reported. Senator Keyes obligingly called his committee together and immediately reported the resolution favorably. The Senate passed it without a dissenting vote. Two hours later Senator Cummins, President of the Senate, announced the personnel of the Committee (including Mr. Reed). Before the day was over the Committee had organized and taken action. Edward W. Bok and Esther Everett Lape (Chairman of his Peace Award Committee) were summoned to testify as to their activities.

The Investigation. By the terms of the resolution the Committee is authorized "to investigate and report to the Senate whether there is any organized effort being made to control public opinion and the action of Congress upon legislative matters through propaganda or by the use of money, by advertising, or by the control of publicity, and especially to inquire what if any such methods are being employed to control the action of Congress upon revenue measures, and whether or not the profiteers of the War are now contributing to defeat the soldiers' adjusted compensation bill by money or influence, and what if any such influences are being employed either by American citizens or the representatives of foreign governments or foreign institutions to control or affect the foreign or domestic policies of the United States."

If any witness refuses to testify he is, by the rules governing Congressional investigations "punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000 nor less than $100 and imprisonment in a common jail for not less than one month nor more than twelve months and "no witness is privileged to refuse to testify to any fact or refuse to produce any paper, respecting which he shall be examined by either House of Congress, or by any committee, on the ground that his testimony or production of such paper may intend to disgrace him or otherwise render him infamous."

The Committee. The body of investigators is divided into five parts: Senator George H. Moses of New Hampshire (Rep.), Chairman; Senator Frank L. Greene, of Vermont (Rep.) ; Senator James A. Reed of Missouri (Dem.); Senator T. H. Caraway of Arkansas (Dem.) ; Senator Hendrik Shipstead of Minnesota (Farmer-Labor). Three of them are irreconcilables. One other, Greene, the new Senator from Vermont, is simply a regular Republican--hence anti-League. Mr. Caraway is the only pro-Leaguer of the group. This alignment had been prepared in advance by Senator Lodge and other Republican leaders--presaging a strong attack on the Bok plan by the irreconcilables.

The Peace-Awarders. Mr. Bok and Miss Lape immediately replied to the committee that they would be glad to testify. The committee in charge of the Award, and the Jury of Award also signified their willingness to testify.

When Mr. Bok, first witness called, was placed on the stand, he declined point blank to give the amount of money which had been placed at the disposal of his Peace Award Committee for carrying out the terms of the Award, except to say that he had placed no limit on it. He denied knowledge of most of the details of the Committee's procedure. He also denied that his Award was designed to influence Congress, declaring that it was devised merely to determine whether the American people endorsed such a plan as was presented. He justified his refusal as follows:

"In my case and in the case of the American peace award I consider I am quite within my right to spend any amount of money for the benefit of the American public that I choose. You must remember that the money that I have comes to me from the American people. Barring a certain sufficiency for my family and myself, I have given over my life to give that money back to the public in constructive work, absolutely. Now that is the only spirit in which I work. I do not think it is a question for the American people how much I spend for it. I am willing to spend all I have for the benefit of that public, considering what it has done for me and to me."

Meanwhile the investigation kept the Peace Award on the front pages of the daily press; William G. McAdoo endorsed its "noble purpose" Postmaster General New denied it the privilege of placing the ballot boxes for its referendum in postoffices; John W. Davis prepared to present a check for $50,000 to the prize winner (still known only as No. 1469) publicly in Philadelphia on Feb. 4.