The evening times., 1900-09-29
THE DEMAND ON BANKS.
Efforts of the Republican Managers
to Raise Money in Maryland.

-
to Raise Money in Maryland.
BALTIMORE, Sept. 2s.-The statement
of well-known bank president that Mr.
Hanna had demanded $4,000 from the f.
naneial institutions OF Baltimore TO aid
Mr.. Mckinley in his efforts to be re-elec-
ted caused lively sensation. The state
ment that the Clearing House had consid-
cred the demand of the Republican boss at
a special meeting met with a general de-
niaI in banking circles. Some declared
the Clearing House had not held a meeting
for months, but when asked if the execu-
tive committee was not clothed with lib
eral powers ignorance in every case was
pleaded. None of the gentlemen wished
to be quoted
One cashier, who would not be quoted
declared the story to be pure fiction. This
statement he modified by saying: ''At
least so far as our bank is concerned He
added that when the question came be-
fore the Board it refused to take a slice
out of its surplus 10 aid the Republican
party.
Another bank president gave testimony
in corrobora ton of the authorized state
ment made yesterday. He said that mem
bers of the committee intruSted with Sc
curing the campaign fund were striking
embarrassing SnagS. When the question
OF contributing was considered by several
directories there were some intractable
members who asked questions that indica-
ted doubt in their minds as to whether
II was proper for banks to subscribe to
campaign funds. Several banks, he said,
refused to make contributions on this
ground, although individuals connected
with them put down their own names One
,faTg. I
remarking that silver money would not
put him out of the banking business" He
suggested that in free silver countries
there were banks.
One OF the most prominent merchants
and business men in the city. in speaking
of the matter yesterday, said that no
amount of denials would be able to shake
the truth of the fact that the movement
had been attempted by the national banks
OF Baltimore, and most probably had been
accomplished.
In one of the banks" he said, I know
that the effort TO appropriate this money
was not successful
'As l understand the matter the scheme
was originated in the Clearing House As
ISOLATION, and whether a resolution was
passed by the association as a whole or
by the executive committee alone il
amounts to the same thing The recon-
clearing house. No specific sum was
named, but each bank was TO contribute e
voluntarily to the fund, and the money
was 10 be used for the furtherance of the
Republican campaign
1t was stated yesterday that a part of
the money raised by the banks was in
tended to go to the Honest Money Demo
cratic League of Maryland. which to all
intents and purposes is a Republican or
ganization, for the purpose OF giving the
scheme an appearance of -partisanship
and to satisfy any member of the board
with Democratic tendencies.
The subscription rate OF one-tenth of
one per cent. of the capital stock If paid
by the banks would amount to about sI2,-
COO The same rate would get about 500
coo from the trust companies, but the
heaviest subscriptions are expected from
individual contributors. II is stated that
about $4,000 was raised in 1896 for the
use of the Honest Money Democratic
League Many of the subscribers to this
fund were On the lucky side of some OF the
big financial deals during the past few
years and feel in more generous mood
toward tie present attempt to raise
money.