The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-10-09
IT LOST TEN THOUSAND
How the Helena Herald Tried to
Bold Up Hanna.
THE STRA0DLE KILLED 1T
The Acaou OF b Republican Conven.
tion IN 1900 Euchersd the Herald
Out OF . Good Fat Thing.
Roosevelt Willing to Helm.

The story Of how the Helena Herald
lost $4,000 In the national campaign
OF 1896 because the Montana republi-
cans straddled the money question.
says the Helena Independent. was told
on the witness stand in Judge Henry c.
Smiths court Wednesday by Hardy
Bryan. who was formerly connected
with the Herald Publishing company.
Mr.. Bryan testified that he had been
In the employ Of the Helena Herald.
and that he had transacted consider
able business for the paper. Referring
to his connection with the Herald, he
said that In 1896 he had made a trip
from New York to Helena in connec-
ton with that business.
NJ Bryan" said Lawyer Z. d.
Weed. by way Of cross-examination.
you say you came to Montana in Au-
gust. 1896. OF business in connection
with the Herald?"
II did," replied Mr.. Bryan.
What was the nature of that BUSH
ness?"
The Herald management" said Mr..
Bryan. after the national republican
convention. wanted me to see the ma
tional republican committee and get a
contribution for the paper for the cam-
paign. Mr.. Daniel Fisk sent me a beg
ging letter which he wanted me to take
to the committee, but which I returned
to him, because / was not a beggar.
Then I came to Montana to get proper
credentials. and that was the object of
my trip. I got a letter from United
States Senator Carter. one from Ma
tional Committeeman A. c. Botkin and
one from United States Senator T. c.
Power. Armed with these letters I
went to Chicago. where I saw Henry
c. Payne Of the national committee.
Mr.. Payne told me / must see Mr..
Hanna. and / went to New York. There
I saw Mr.. Hanna. and after ! had spent
eight days with him and other repub-
lican leaders Mr.. Hanna gave me an
order on the national committee at Chi
cage for 5000 for the Herald. telling
me at the time that later, IL the situa-
ton seemed to justify It. they would
give another 5000. / was to get Is per
cent. commission on all I got from the
national committee. but the delay in
getting the proper credentials from
Montana lost the commission for me
and the money for the Herald. When
I arrived in Chicago I presented the or
der from Mr.. Hanna. and Mr.. Payne
refused to honor II. He said the Mon
tana state convention had straddled
the money question In UGH shape that
II was no use to pay any attention to
that state"
you said, Mr.. Bryan" said Mr..
Weed. that your expenses on that trip
were 1915. How was that?"
We'll" said Mr.. Bryan. when i was
in New York with Mr.. Hanna and the
other leaders i was trotting In fast
company. and had to spend money"
"who was your banker in Chicago?"
queried Mr.. Weed. 81 would like to
know In case I go East
AT that particular time" said Mr..
Bryan. Mr.. Hanna was. After / failed
to the republicans OF the country in be-
half of the Herald. 1t was an appeal
for contributions. and in return the
Herald was to publish signed articles
on the monetary question from all con-
tributors. or they could use the adver-
Using space in the paper to the amount
of their contributions. I also had writ
ten a letter. which I wanted Mr.. Hanna
to sign. indorsing the petition. I
showed both to Mr.. Hanna. and he said
the petition was all right. but he OBJ
jected to the letter and wrote one him
self.
After he had done that I suggested
that I had been under considerable FIX
pense in connection with the matter.
ana SdlQ tnd1 III ne "oulu ntdu lHF pc
tition with his signature. and a sub
stantial contribution, It would have a
good effect. Mr.. Hanna signed the pc
tition and put his name down for $3.50.
He gave me a check on the Globe Ma
tional bank for hat amount. and I had
1t cashed. Then ! returned to Hell
ena."
That closed Mr.. Bryan's examina-
ton on the political phases OF his con
nection with the Herald. A good sized
audience was In the court room TO lis
ten to and appreciate the story OF how
the Herald had tried to hold up" the
leaders OF its own party. and to enjoy
the advantage of a real inside tip" as
to the Hersld's loyalty to the party
during the period that II was not OBJ
serving the precept that virtue Is its
own reward"
The disclosures made by Bryan on
the witness tan did not extend to the
story of the subsequent endeavors of
the Herald to ecure a bonus as, the
condition OF its support of Mckinley.
The sequel shows that the paper did
not give up hope even when Its 5000
order, which had been so near and
yet so far" was withdrawn. or when
the $3.50 check from Hanna was more
thar eaten up by the expensive neces-
sity OF Mr.. Bryan's 'trotting In a fast
company" at a cost OF 1915 up to the
time the $3.50 donation was made. The
history OF the begging petition is al
most as interesting as the first part Of
the story.
Mr.. Bryan thought he had done pref
ty well under the circumstances. so he
returned TO Montana. But the petition
had promise OF proving a good thing.
so he thought he would push IL along.