U.S. OIL SCANDALS.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19258, 13 March 1928, Page 9

U.S. OIL SCANDALS.

QUESTION OF REPUBLICAN FINANCES. (bi cable—press association— copyright.) (AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLI ASSOCIATION.) WASHINGTON, March 11. With apparently no end to the sensational developments in the oil investigations, it is to-day disclosed that Mr Andrew Mellon (Secretary to the Treasury) admitted that Mr W. Hays sent him a package in. 1923 containing 50,000 dollars in Liberty Bonds, part of Harry Sinclair's 260,000 dollars donation to the Eepublican National Committee, and asked for the cash for them.

Mr Mellon returned them, declaring them to be a dummy to cover up the source of the funds and make up for the shortage. He thereafter contributed 50,000 dollars of his own money to the Campaign Committee. It is indicated that a Senate committee will call on Mr Mellon and Mr Butler, the present chairman of the Eepublican National Committee, and a close friend of President Coolidge, to testify. Senator W. E. Borah launched an attack on the Eepublican Party tonight. He said: Give the people the issue. You do not have to sell your soul for campaign funds. The awful conditions which have been revealed to the voters of the party are as indefensible as they are intolerable.

REPUDIATION URGED. (AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.) (Received March 12th, 7.45 p.m.) •WASHINGTON, March 11. Senator Borah in a letter urged Mr Butler to return Sinclair's campaign contribution, and repudiate the transaction. The Senate committee's records show that the contribution amounted to 160,000 dollars. Senator Borah suggested repudiation to clear his Party of "this humiliating stigma.''