The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-08-20
WAS AN ''ANGEL"
HuntingtOn's Death Great
Loss to Republicans.
Always Generous Giver in the
Hard Campaigns.
POLITICAL HISTORY.
Helped Party Out of Many
Financial Dilemma
Donated $4,000 to McKinIey's
POLITICAL HISTORY.
Donated $4,000 to Mckinley s
Aid in Last Election.

New York, Aug 2O.-The death of c. P.
Huntington is a great loss to the Repub
Hcan party, for he was perhaps the larg-
est regular individual contributor to its
campaign fund. He was always good for
$4,000 on off years. and $25. 900 on presi-
Dental years, and expected to be called
upon for an additional subscription when
the committee ran short las it usually
does just before the election. The Repub-
lican managers always depended upon
him when they were in a tight place.
Mr.. Huntington contributed $4,000 to the
election of President Mckinley, and
raised a large amount among his business
associates. 81 am getting up little purse
for Hanna's committee he would say to
them. land have put you down for $4,000
Cor $4,000 or 600, a the case might be).
You give me your check this morning
or send it over to my office, payable to
my order AS the persons for whom he
subscribed in this way were under obli>
cations to him and dependent on him di-
rectly or indirectly, very few had the
courage to refuse, and he was able to
send in a handsome sum in addition to
his own contribution. He always asked
Senator Platt to actsas his representative
in political affairs, and usually forwarded
his contributions through him so that he
should not be publicly known in the mat
ter. Mr.. Platt was authorized to explain
to those who had the right to know where
the money came from, but Mr.. Hunting
TONS name never appeared on the records
of political committee.
Last night Mr.. Platt told two interest
ing stories of Mr.. Huntngton's contribu-
tons in the Garfield and the first Harri-
son campaigns. Both years he gave his
SIS, 900 as usual early in the campaign, and
later added 100000 to help the Republican
committee out of a dilemma
On the eve of the October election in
secretary of the Republican committee,
teiegraphed from Indianapolis that he
must have 100000 at once or the Demo-
Gratis, would carry the state. Marshall fIaI
upon Whitelaw Reid, who went to MI
Huntington and asked him to provide the
money. After considerable negotiation,
covering several days, Mr.. Huntington
agreed to furnish the funds provided Mr..
and supervise their disbursement. Mr..
Platt was given absolute authority and
was to act according to his own 1udg-
ment
The money was brought to Mr.; Platt's
office in small bills and packed into
trunk. Mr.. Reid took the trunk upon a
carriage to the railway station and es-
Platt met him. and Reid then returned.
Upon his arrival at indianapolis Mr.. Platt
took the trunk to his room. and after go
and the chairman of the committee, gave
them only $4,000, which he said was suffi-
General Carried. who was passing
through indianapolis on a speaking tour;
asked that the rest of the money be
turned over to the Ohio committee. Mr.
Plat refused because he was without au-
thOritY. but after Geographic cOrre-
spondence with Mr.. Huntington gave Gen
eral Garfi be d. $4,000 and carried i, the re-
it vas deposited to Mr.. Huntington's
credit.
even more interesting. A few days before
the election in 1888 Mr.. Elkins, Mr.. Clark
members men Of the Republican campaign
committee, called upon Mr.. Huntington;
described to him their predicament, and
asked him to assist them in raising $780,,
900, which they must have at once or lose
the eiHcuq On tbe r d qn ad9;ld them to
consult Mr.. Platt. They did SO, and Mr..
Platt came to see Mr.: Huntington the
next day, supporting their appeals with
great earnestness and making it a per-
sonal matter. When Mr. Huntington in
Mr. Platt explained that in the event of
Harrisons election he was to be secretary
IF I was sure you would be secretary
of the treasury would give them that
$780, 0O0," said Mr.. Huntington.
Il have General Harrison'S assurance,
circumstances that occurred at the Chi
ca go convention where the New York del
egation left Sherman and supported Har-
rison upon the assurance from the latter,
might have his pick of all the appoint
ments under the admni str tar Mr;
only one office he would accept and that
was the head of the treasury department.
apolis and returned the next morning,
saying that it was all right New York
threw its vote for Harrison and he was
nominated.
After the election, when he was making
up his cabinet, General Harrison refused
to appoint Mr.. Plat. He claimed that
there had been a misunderstanding; that
Mr.. ESlkinS was not authorized to promise
the treasury department; that no cand1-
date ever pledged the positions of cabi-
net officers, for they were members OF
his official family, occupied confidential
relations to the president, who could not
be expected to offer them as rewards for
political services or use them to pay po-
litical debts. Mr.. Platt might select any
other office, but he could not be adj
cause of the GOODNESS between President
Harrison and the easy boss" of New
York.
When Mr.. Platt related to Mr.. Hunt
ington the negotiations that had been car
ried on through Mr. Elkins at the national
been given. Mr.. Huntington said:
Il will give you my check for 100000 II
you will give me your notes for that
amount, payable on demand in case you
are not appointed secretary of the treas
ury; 49,
at once made out three notes, one for $50,-
600 and two for SIS. 900 each, and handed
them to Mr. Huntington in exchange for
his check. [ saw one of these notes last
night. Mr.. Platt had it in his pocket
book The death of Mr. Huntington
brought back to his memory <these pecu-
liar circumstances with great force, and
notes were returned to him Cancelled by
Mr.. Huntington soon after Harrison
cabinet was nominated. with a humorous
letter admonishing him to be more eau
tious about trusting politicians
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