GRAFT SCANDAL IN U.S.A.

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 May 1930, Page 8

GRAFT SCANDAL IN U.S.A.

REPUBLICAN “BOSS” INVOLVED.

NEW YORK, March 22

Mr Claudius Huston, chairman of the Republican Party machine, is requested by party leaders to resign his office. If he refuses they will press a resolution asking for his expulsion.

This crisis in the affairs of the Republican National Committee follows the Senate investigation which disclosed that Mr Huston, after telling the Union Carbide Company that money was imperatively needed for “lobby” purposes, diverted £7,000 they sent him to his private brokerage account, which was badly in need of more margin. Actually the committee has full power to displace Mr Huston and elect a successor, but it is expected that President Hoover, rather embarrassed by Mr Huston’s proceedings, will himself forestall action by the party machine by demanding the resignation of the Republican chairman.

Democrats are pleased with the result of the Senate investigation, be’cause it was Mr Huston who supplied much of the strategy for the campaign in the South which cost Alfred Smith five States, normally democratic, in his fight for the Presidency. Mr Huston was the leader of the forces which nominated Mr Hoover for the Presidency, and was Assistant Secretary of Commerce when Mr Hoover was chief. In return for Mr Huston’s services, Mr Hoover personally selected him as the national chairman.