Mr. O’Connell. In my judgment what would it have been?
Mr. Tavenner. Yes.
Mr. O’Connell. Well, I presume, as Mrs. Hartle states there, they were engaged in developing what she called mass organizations and so on, and this was a large organization, there isn’t any doubt about that, there was a very, very large group. I think the membership of 10,000 is even underestimated. My feeling is its membership ran closer to 16,000 just from my contact with it. I presume they would like to control it because of its tremendous effect and tremendous influence without any doubt. I know in the Democratic Party I wanted to make sure that the pension union supported the candidates of the Democratic Party. We worked hard to get them to indorse and support Democratic Party candidates and to work for them every way we knew how.
Mr. Tavenner. Did the leadership in the Washington Pension Union endeavor to influence the selection of candidates for office in either the Progressive Party or the Democratic Party while you were secretary?
Mr. O’Connell. Did the Washington Pension Union try——
Mr. Tavenner. Yes; through its leadership, try to influence the selection of individuals for office.
Mr. O’Connell. If you mean they wanted certain people elected——
Mr. Tavenner. I am not talking about supporting certain people but did they endeavor to get certain individuals selected for party nomination.
Mr. O’Connell. By that do you mean did they go out and select certain people?
Mr. Tavenner. Did the leadership in the Washington Pension Union try to influence your party organization in behalf of certain individuals in whom they were interested?