The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-10-02
TWO DIRECTORS TELL
Discuss Over Signatures Han
mas Call For Funds.
Blame Clearing House. Inside History Of How
Demand Of Republican Boss Was Met
BY One Bank. q
Baltimore Sum-

Further evidence in writing and over
tional bank connected with the Balti-
more Clearing House Association has just
come into the possession of the Sun fully
confirming the story of the demand made
on these banks for contributions for the
Republican campaign fund. One of these
directors writes as follows:
"Messrs. Editors: l want to thank you
for informing your readers of the action
of the Baltimore Clearing House few
days ago in regard to voting a certain per
cent. of the capital of the banks of Balti-
more to re-elect Mr.. Mckinley President
of the United States.
81 happened to be present when the
measure was brought to our board, and
must confess / was utterly astounded and
opposed the passage of the resolution with
all my power. If there be any national
bank or banks in Baltimore where all the
stockholders are Mckinley men, that
bank has right to give as much of its
money to elect it's Republican candidate
as it pleases, but in our bank and hope
in some others. there are a few Demo
Democrats do.
HAS the Baltimore Clearing House a
right to pass a resolution that our money
should be voted to the election of Mr.. Nc
Kinley?
"Emphatically no.
"They have as much reason to vote our
money to the Gear of Russia as they have
to vote it to the would-be Gar of the
United States. think this daring effort
on the part of the managers of the nation
al banks of Baltimore is an outrage that
cannot be expressed in language too
strong.
Thanking you again for the exposure
of this measure, am yours truly.
Baltimore, Sept. rs.
HOW THE DEMAND CAME.
In talk with reporter of the Sun yes
terday the writer of the foregoing said:
1.-THE routine business of the meeting to
which | referred in my letter was finished
and, in fact, motion to adjourn had been
made when the president said:
81 have another matter | want to call
to your attention. AT the Clearing House
meeting this morning it was decided to
call upon the banks for a contribution to
the campaign fund
81 asked what campaign fund was
meant.
Ellis reply was: why, for Mckinley,
of course
81 could scarcely contain my indigna-
ton, and holly retorted: 1 am not Tor
Mckinley. am for Bryan, and shall not
vote for any such contribution Another
director also protested and the matter was
dronped."
The bank in which this gentleman is a
director is easily recognizable by those
who were present when this incident oc-
Cured.
The director quoted above has au-
thorized the Sun to use his name if the
statement is denied by any officer Of the
bank indicated.
ANOTHER DIRECTOR TELLS 1T.
Another director of the same bank pre-
pared and sent to the Sun yesterday the
following written statement:
1T is true that proposition was sub
mitted to our bank to contribute certain
sum to the Republican campaign fund.
Our understanding was that the request
came from either the Clearing House AS
ISOLATION or from a committee of that
body and with the knowledge and assent
of it's executive committee. Our bank
did not act upon the proposition"
The gentleman who is the authority for
the above is a man of large business in
terests, and while a firm believer in the
national banking system, is opposed to
such institutions having anything to do
with politics In speaking of this he de-
clared that such acts as demanding money
from the banks for the Republican cam
paign fund did the banks incalculable
harm, as it gave the enemies of the ma
tional banking system a seeming founda-
ton for their attacks.