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mailers and scalawags and scoundrels to link his name in such a scandalous purpose as this. I think there ought to be some way to prosecute these people for defamation of character, for slander, for forgery, for perjury; and I trust that this committee will investigate it to the bottom and report such action to the Senate as will make an example of these crooks and scoundrels for all time to come.

The CHAIRMAN. We thank you very much, Senator Heflin. Senator HEFLIN. Is there anything else the committee would like to ask me?

The CHAIRMAN. Nothing else.

(Senator Heflin left the witness chair.)

The CHAIRMAN. Is Senator La Follette here?

Senator LA FOLLETTE. Yes.

The CHAIRMAN. Senator La Follette, the committee has just been handed a paper, apparently dated May 12, 1926, which purports to be an order by the President of Mexico to the Secretary of the Treasury of Mexico, directing the payment of $15,000 to his excellency "Senator R. M. L." There is no further identification of the Senator, but as the initials are yours, the committee did not want it to become public without at the same time making public anything that you might care to say about it, and we shall be glad to hear anything you wish to say.

Senator LA FOLLETTE. Mr. Chairman, are witnesses in this investigation to be sworn?

The CHAIRMAN. That is entirely according to your preference. We do not ask you to be sworn.

Senator LA FOLLETTE. If they are I desire to be sworn.

The CHAIRMAN. Very well. You will hold up your right hand: Senator La Follette, you do solemnly swear that the evidence you are about to give touching the matter under investigation by this special committee will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?

Senator LA FOLLETTE. I do.

The CHAIRMAN. You may be seated there, in the witness chair.

TESTIMONY OF HON. ROBERT M. LA FOLLETTE, A SENATOR FROM WISCONSIN

(The witness was duly sworn.)

The CHAIRMAN. Senator La Follette, do you want to see this paper I have here?

Senator LA FOLLETTE. Yes; if you please.

The CHAIRMAN. Here is a translation of it I think, if you want to see it.

Senator LA FOLLETTE. I should like to see the translation.
The CHAIRMAN. I do not find it.

(Thereupon, the interpretor, Commander Cusachs, translated the paper handed by the Chairman to Senator La Follette.)

Senator LA FOLLETTE. Mr. Chairman, inasmuch as these initials correspond with those in my name, and inasmuch as there is no other Senator in the Senate at this time or in the Senate at the time that this alleged document is purported to have been executed with similar initials, I appreciate the opportunity afforded me by this committee to make a statement.

The attempt to link my name with the charges before this committee is an infamous and cowardly fraud. I have never been approached, either directly or indirectly, by a Mr. Haberman or anyone purporting to represent him; nor have I been approached, either directly or indirectly, by any other person or persons in connection with the relations between the United States and Mexico.

It seems to me that the committee is under obligations to prosecute this investigation to the limit, to the end that the authenticity of these documents may be established or that their falsity may be proved.

I am not unmindful of the fact that these charges appear in newspapers published by Mr. William Randolph Hearst and his numerous corporations. I am not unmindful of the further fact that these newspapers have been among the most ardent supporters of the present administration. I am not unmindful also of the fact that I have been one of those who, in the Senate, on the public platform, and in the magazine of which I am editor and publisher, have resisted to the utmost the policy which was pursued by this administration with regard to Mexico: and the dastardly attempt to link my name with the charges pending before this committee will not cause me to deviate so much as a hairsbreadth from the course which I have marked out for myself with regard to the attitude of this country: toward Mexico or any other power.

I should be very glad to respond to any questions which the committee may desire to propound.

Senator BRUCE. I would like to ask you categorically whether you have ever received any part of this $15,000 mentioned in thesedocuments?

Senator LA FOLLETTE. I have not.

Senator BRUCE. As yet you have not answered as responsively and directly as I am sure you would like to do.

Senator LA FOLLETTE. I have not received any money, any things. of value, or emoluments of any kind from any person or persons,. either directly or indirectly.

Senator ROBINSON. When did you first learn that your name was mentioned in some of these documents, Senator?

Senator LA FOLLETTE. Some days ago, Senator: I can not say exactly when, but it was brought to my attention by Senator Borah that he had been informed, although he was not certain of the fact,. that the probabilites were that his name and my name were among those mentioned in the deleted documents, as published

Senator ROBINSON. Do you remember if it was before or after the passage of the resolution under which this committee is proceeding? Senator LA FOLLETTE. I think it was about the time of the publication, but I can not be exactly sure; that is, I can not be sure whether it was before or after the resolution was introduced, but it was shortly, I think, after the publication of the documents.

Senator ROBINSON. State whether you were, yourself, considering the introduction of a resolution, and whether you discussed the matter with me prior to the introduction of the resolution by Senator Reed?

Senator LA FOLLETTE. I discussed, in a conversation with you which was held, I believe, on the floor of the Senate on the day on which these documents were published-I discussed with you the

question of whether or not there should be an investigation. As I recollect the conversation, you brought up the subject and asked me for my opinion with regard to the question of whether or not there should be an investigation, and I replied that I thought that there should be an investigation, because every Senator then a Member of the Senate was under a cloud of suspicion which could only be dispelled after a thoroughgoing investigation of these alleged documents, and the charges and inferences which might be drawn therefrom.

Senator ROBINSON. That is all.

The CHAIRMAN. That is all, Senator.

(The witness was excused.)

The CHAIRMAN. Mr. Coblentz.

TESTIMONY OF EDMOND D. COBLENTZ, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF.

(The witness was duly sworn by the chairman.) The CHAIRMAN. Your full name, Mr. Coblentz? Mr. COBLENTZ. Edmond D. Coblentz.

The CHAIRMAN. Where do you live?

Mr. COBLENTZ. San Francisco is my legal residence.

The CHAIRMAN. And what is your occupation?

Mr. COBLENTZ. Editor.

The CHAIRMAN. Of what paper?

Mr. COBLENTZ. Of the New York American.

The CHAIRMAN. Where is your business office?

Mr. COBLENTZ. Two hundred and thirty-eight William Street. The CHAIRMAN. Mr. Coblentz, I am going to ask you to stand aside for a moment so that the committee may hear Senator Borah, if he cares to address us.

Mr. COBLENTZ. Certainly.

(Thereupon the witness was temporarily excused.)

TESTIMONY OF HON. WILLIAM E. BORAH, A SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF IDAHO

(The witness was duly sworn by the chairman.)

The CHAIRMAN. Senator Borah, the committee has this morning been handed, by Mr. Hearst, a considerable number of papers, including, among others, what purports to be a ledger sheet from the auditor's department of the Mexican Government, which shows that on August 4 an entry was made indicating the payment out of the Mexican Treasury of $1,200,000, of which Mr. William E. Borah is supposed to have received $500,000.

Senator ROBINSON. There is a correction there, Mr. Chairman. That document, as I understand, does not show or purport to show that Senator Borah received anything; that is merely an order to

pay.

The CHAIRMAN. Yes; let me correct my question: It purports to show that that money was taken out of the Mexican Treasury for the purpose of being paid to Senator Borah. I think that is an accurate and correct statement.

Senator ROBINSON. Yes.

The CHAIRMAN. And there are other papers here, Senator, on which I can not lay my hand at the moment, which pretend to show the withdrawal of money to the amount of $100,000 for the purpose of paying it to you. That is in March, 1927-the second withdrawal. The committee will be glad to hear anything you have to say about it.

Senator BORAH. Mr. Chairman and members of the committe, my first information in regard to this matter reached me about the time that the first documents were published. A Mr. R. M. McFarland, I think his name is, a newspaper gentleman who had spent some time in Mexico in the last two or three years, came into my office and referred to the publication of the documents. He said that while in Mexico he had learned of these documents. I did not understand that he, himself, had seen the documents, but that an American doctor practicing in the American colony had told him that the documents were in existence; that in those documents were documents which indicated that money had been drawn or ordered to be paid to four or five United States Senators; that one of those United States Senators was reported to be myself. I did not make any particular inquiry about the matter. I did not go into details with him about it because he did not seem to know much except the general report. I heard no more about it and paid no more attention until the publication took place in which the names were deleted, and then again it was rumored that my name was one of the names mentioned in the documents.

Now, Mr. Chairman, it is rather difficult to deal with this kind of a subject. All I can say is that no one ever approached me with regard to a matter of this kind in any way, shape, or form. I had no communication with any person or persons in connection with this matter, either personally, by letter, or telegram, or in any other way. The CHAIRMAN. The pile of correspondence and papers, Senator, appears to indicate that this money was to be transmitted to New York to Mr. Elias, the Mexican consul and agent. The correspondence further seems to indicate that Mr. Dudley Field Malone was supposed to be the intermediary between Mr. Elias and the Senators mentioned in these papers. Did Mr. Malone ever mention the subject to you?

Senator BORAH. No; I have not had any communication with Mr. Malone, either personally or otherwise, for five or six years. I used to know Mr. Malone when he was more active in politics here, but I have not had any converse with him about anything, this or anything else, at any time. I have not seen the gentleman. And Mr. Elias or Calles I have never had the pleasure of meeting.

The CHAIRMAN. You had never met Mr. Elias, you say?

Senator BORAH. No; not to know him, and I think I would have known him, perhaps, because I have reason to believe I would know him from his pictures; but I have never met him. Has Mr. Malone been subpoenaed?

The CHAIRMAN. Mr. Malone is here.

We might as well use these numbers that are already on these letters, I suppose?

Senator ROBINSON. Yes; I think so.

The CHAIRMAN. I show you a letter numbered 56, purporting to be written by President Calles of Mexico to Mr. Elias in New York,

dated March 30, 1927. It is written in Spanish, but the purport of it is that $250,000 had been asked at that time by Senator Borah, but that the Mexican Treasury was in such shape that only $100,000 could be paid. Commander Cusachs will translate that for you, if you wish.

(Thereupon Commander Cusachs acquainted Senator Borah with the contents of the paper referred to.)

Senator BORAH. Well, Mr. Chairman, this is all Greek to me--or Spanish, anyway. Of course, as I said before, this matter has never reached me in any shape or form. I know nothing about it, except what is being developed here in this hearing.

The CHAIRMAN. Had you ever heard of any such performance as is indicated in that letter?

Senator Borah. No; I never heard of it. That is to say, except these rumors that I have spoken of. No one ever mentioned money to me in regard to the proposition in any way.

The CHAIRMAN. I think it would be best to put all these letters in at one time in the record, accompanied by the translations. If that meets with the committee's approval I will withhold them for the present.

Senator BRUCE. Senator, your statements come to this: That there is not the slightest foundation for the accusation that you have received this sum of money, or any portion of any sums of money, or had any interviews or correspondence about it.

Senator BORAH. Quite right; that is exactly the situation. I never received any money, and no one offered to give me any money.

The CHAIRMAN. Were there any overtures made, Senator, which, as you look back on it now, could possibly have referred to any such proposition as this?

Senator BORAH. Not the slightest. I never was in communication with anyone in connection with the Mexican Government, either casually, directly, expressly, or impliedly, in any way, shape, or form relative to any matter of this nature.

The CHAIRMAN. And you have never had any suspicion that anyone was leading to this sort of a situation?

Senator BORAH. Not the slightest, and neither was there anyone leading up to it. I ask the chairman to understand that I never had any communication with any official, or with anybody who represented or purported to represent Mexico, upon this subject, or any other relating to it?

The CHAIRMAN. We are very much obliged to you, Senator. We wanted this statement of yours to go out at the same time as the paper itself.

Senator BORAH. I am very much obliged. If there is any other question, I would like to answer it, but I have nothing further new. The CHAIRMAN. Thank you very much.

(The witness was excused.)

Senator JOHNSON. Now, Mr. Chairman, one other Senator is mentioned. Senator George W. Norris has been mentioned. He is confined to his bed with sickness at this time. I suggest, if you deem it appropriate, that the committee go to Senator Norris's house and take his statement, although I do not think it necessary, because I do not place the slightest credence in anything that hase been said about any of these Senators. But in justice to Senator Norris, if you

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