The CHAIRMAN. Have you seen documents similar to that? The CHAIRMAN. And similar to that in its body? Mr. BOSSERT. I have; yes, sir. The CHAIRMAN. You saw them while you were grand dragon, did you not? Mr. BOSSERT. I do not know whether this is the form that we used or not. The CHAIRMAN. It is substantially the form? Look at it and tell me. Mr. BOSSERT. It is a good deal like it; yes, sir. The CHAIRMAN. As far as you can say, it is the same kind of a form, is it not? Mr. BOSSERT. Practically follows the same form. The CHAIRMAN. So much the same form that it is identically the same form, is it not? Mr. BOSSERT. Not altogether. There were some used without any heading. The CHAIRMAN. How as to the body of it? I do not care about the heading. Mr. BOSSERT. As to the body, yes, sir; yes, sir. The CHAIRMAN. Look down there and see what that is about a man when he is neutral. Read it. I have forgotten just what it says. Mr. BOSSERT (reading): Where a man is recorded as favorable, he has manifested concern and is interested in our Americanization program. He will assist and otherwise lend his influence in all practical sound programs which we undertake. Where a man is reported neutral, he takes no stand or attitude in any way upon the programs of our organization. He is rather indifferent, or does not consider the organization an important factor in American life. The CHAIRMAN. What does it say about a man who is favorable? Mr. BOSSERT (reading): Where a man is recorded as favorable, he has manifested concern and is interested in our Americanization program. He will assist and otherwise lend his influence in all practical sound programs which we undertake. The CHAIRMAN. Yes. So that when you find the statement "He is favorable" upon this dissertation here on Mr. Watson, that would indicate, unless there was somebody else marked "He is favorable," that they were to support Watson, would it not? That is the very kind of business you were opposed to having go on in the klan? Mr. BOSSERT. Yes, sir. The CHAIRMAN. Look through that list and see if there is any candidate for the long term on the Republican ticket except Watson who is marked, "He is favorable." Mr. BOSSERT (after examining the document). There are just two candidates here, Mr. Watson and Mr. Adams. The CHAIRMAN. Yes. What did it say about Mr. Adams? Mr. BOSSERT. It says, "He is neutral." The CHAIRMAN. Taking those two statements together, what does that amount to as an instruction to klan members? Mr. BOSSERT. Taking the official document here, of course it would mean that they are favorable to Senator Watson. The CHAIRMAN. And that the klan members should line up for him? Mr. BOSSERT. According to your instructions; yes. The CHAIRMAN. It was just that sort of work that you were protesting against, was it not? Mr. BOSSERT. Yes, sir. The CHAIRMAN. Now, you see that Mr. Lee Smith, your successor, who you say was a Democrat-God save the mark! [laughter]-sent out this document, and in view of what you have said, is there any doubt in your mind now that he was trying to throw the force of the organization back of Senator Watson in that primary? Mr. BOSSERT. Not taking those two documents together; no. Mr. BOSSERT. That was an official document. The CHAIRMAN. So that you belonged to a faction opposed to Watson, and there was opposition to you because you would not take an active part; and you resigned under the circumstances you have detailed. The man who succeeded you sent out this literature, which indicated that the organization was to line up for Watson. We have gotten that far. Mr. BOSSERT. Yes. The CHAIRMAN. And we can agree that far, can we not? Mr. BOSSERT. Yes, sir. The CHAIRMAN. Who was it that put this successor in? The CHAIRMAN (continuing). For you? Mr. BOSSERT. The authority is in the hands of the imperial wizard. The CHAIRMAN. And the imperial wizard is this distinguished gentleman, Doctor Evans? Mr. BOSSERT. Dr. H. W. Evans; yes, sir. The CHAIRMAN. So that Evans asked you if you had your resignation ready, and you said you had, and there it was, and it was accepted, was it not? Mr. BOSSERT. Yes, sir. The CHAIRMAN. Then he very shortly thereafter appointed the man who did the things that you would not do. That is where we come out, is it not? Mr. BOSSERT. I want you to get my position. Not only with regard to Senator Watson or any other candidate, but I would not do it in regard to any candidate at all. The CHAIRMAN. Any candidate? Mr. BOSSERT. Yes, sir. that you would not do. as indicated by this piece of paper, ExThe CHAIRMAN. But this man immediately undertook the work hibit 278? Mr. BOSSERT. According to those documents there. The CHAIRMAN. Yes. Mr. BOSSERT. That is the first time I have ever seen any of those documents. The CHAIRMAN. So the upshot of it is that your resignation was accepted by Doctor Evans, and you resigned because of this pressure, and then a man was appointed who looked after Senator Watson? That is where we come out, is it not, just out of that particular hole? Mr. BOSSERT. I would not state it just exactly that way. Mr. BOSSERT. I would say that my resignation was accepted in January, and that Mr. Smith was appointed as successor, with these other qualifications that I made heretofore. The CHAIRMAN. And then Mr. Smith did the thing that you would not do? Mr. BOSSERT. According to that document there, yes. That was against my policy. The CHAIRMAN. And one of the things that you would not do was to indorse Watson or anybody else, and try to use the klan for promoting any candidate? Mr. BOSSERT. I have never believed and do not believe now in it, and my experience in the klan has taught me that it is not the thing to do and should not be done. The CHAIRMAN. We will let that go. I guess that is an answer. Well, I guess we will not get anything out of this. I think that is all, Mr. Bossert. Mr. BOSSERT. What I want to know, Senator, is this. I have got to go into a lawsuit to-morrow, and I am willing to come back at any time, but The CHAIRMAN. I will excuse you, with the understanding that if I want to ask you to come back, you will do so. Mr. BOSSERT. Yes; I will be glad to come back. The CHAIRMAN. I do not want to interfere with your lawsuit. I hope you will have time to talk to your witnesses before you put them on the stand. Mr. BOSSERT. Thank you. TESTIMONY OF CLYDE A. WALB (The witness was sworn by the chairman.) The CHAIRMAN. Please state your full name. Mr. WALB. Clyde A. Walb. The CHAIRMAN. Your place of residence? Mr. WALB. La Grange, Ind. The CHAIRMAN. Are you the chairman of the Republican State Committee of Indiana? Mr. WALB. I am. The CHAIRMAN. Did you write a letter to Senator Borah with reference to the present senatorial contest going on in Indiana? Mr. WALB. I did. The CHAIRMAN. Have you a copy of that letter with you? Mr. WALB. I think I have, Senator. It may take me a minutes to find it, but I will get it for you. [Producing letter.] The CHAIRMAN. Yes, sir. Is this document, now marked "Exhibit No. 287," a correct carbon copy of the letter you sent to Senator Borah? Mr. WALB. Yes, sir; my understanding is that that is the carbon copy. The CHAIRMAN. It reads as follows [reading]: EXHIBIT No. 287 ОСТОВЕН 192, 1926. Hon. WILLIAM E. BORAH, United States Senate, Washington, D. C. DEAR SENATOR BORAH: Your name is being mentioned by the Indiana press in connection with the Indiana political affairs. As chairman of the Republican State committee I issued a statement this morning, and am inclosing herewith a copy, which I earnestly request that you read carefully. Secretary of Labor Davis took breakfast with me this morning, and we reviewed the Indiana situation completely, and we are absolutely convinced that the whole situation in Indiana hinges around Senator Watson and Senator Robinson opposing the League of Nations and insisting that the foreign debt be paid. There is evidence everywhere that international bankers on Wall Street have their money in every precinct of this State in the hands of the fakers who pretend to have something up their sleeves and are putting on a probe, and at every hand we see the activity of this outfit attempting to defeat our Senators and Congressmen on account of their stand in the United States Senate and Congress on the League of Nations and the payment of foreign debts. This is the political story in Indiana. Sincerely yours, CHAIRMAN REPUBLICAN STATE COMMITTEE. The CHAIRMAN. That was signed by yourself? Mr. WALB. Yes, sir; I signed that letter and sent it out. The CHAIRMAN. Mr. Walb, I first want to ask you to state what you know within your own knowledge, not hearsay and not rumor. 1 may come to that later. Do you know of any international banker or bankers who have put money into any of the precincts of Indiana? Mr. WALB. Know the names of the men? No; I do not. The CHAIRMAN. No; the facts. Mr. WALB. I do not know the name of anybody. The CHAIRMAN. Do you know of any money-I am not speaking now of hearsay, but do you know of any money-that was sent into the State of Indiana by international bankers to be used against Mr. Watson or Mr. Robinson? Mr. WALB. I have evidence that that is being done. The CHAIRMAN. No. I am asking you what you know. Do you know of any? Mr. WALB. I did not see their money; no, sir. They do not show me their money. I do not have that kind. The CHAIRMAN. Can you give me the name of any person who does know, of his own information—or, I mean, of his own knowledge that money was sent in? Mr. WALB. I would say that Jacob Meyers, who has an office in the Occidental Building, could give you that information; but now he has gone to Kansas City and is operating there. think The CHAIRMAN. I am not asking you what you suspect or what you now, but I am trying at this moment to get at the question whether you have seen any money delivered to anybody by any of the international bankers, or any checks, bills of exchange, or other instruments by which money can be obtained. of Mr. WALB. No; and I did not say it in my letter. The CHAIRMAN. All that you do know, then, touching the matters referred to in your letter, is something that you gained from the statements of other people than yourself? Mr. WALB. I have the literature that was paid for by somebody here that goes to the folks. I think that cost money. It does when I put it out for my committee. The CHAIRMAN. You know that there is literature? Mr. WALB. Yes. The CHAIRMAN. But you do not know who pays for the literature, do you? Mr. WALB. No; I have not seen the man who paid for it, and I do not know. The CHAIRMAN. You do not know? Mr. WALB. No. The CHAIRMAN. The statements made in your letter, then, which you sent to Senator Borah, are based upon statements that other people have made to you, and upon the fact that you know certain literature has been sent out, or certain activities have been carried on by the Democratic committee. Mr. WALB. I did not name the Democratic committee. Mr. WALB. Yes. The CHAIRMAN. Very well. You spoke of literature that was being sent out. Mr. WALB. Yes, sir. The CHAIRMAN. And you do not know who paid for it? Mr. WALB. No. They did not operate through me, Senator. They are a separate outfit. I do not know who paid for it. I presume you could find out. The CHAIRMAN. I presume your committee sends out literature too? Mr. WALB. Very much, indeed. The CHAIRMAN. And is some literature being sent out by somebody in opposition to Mr. Watson? Mr. WALB. Oh, yes. The CHAIRMAN. And you do not know who pays for it. Now, do you know who sends it out? Mr. WALB. Jacob Meyer's office has been sending it out. Mr. WALB. Jacob Meyer has an office in the Occidental Building, I think it is room 830. That is, he has had until he moved to Kansas City this week. On the door is "League of Nations, a society for peace of the world." He has several stenographers and speakers for the State. The CHAIRMAN. Yes. Mr. WALB. Speakers going out. The CHAIRMAN. He is carrying on a propaganda in favor of the League of Nations and the World Court, is he not? Mr. WALB. He is, yes, sir; and the cancellation of foreign debts. The CHAIRMAN. Can you tell me where he is in Kansas City? Mr. WALB. No, I do not trail the gentleman. I do not know where he is. The CHAIRMAN. Could you ascertain for me his address? |