Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-01-14
N|ED|NGHAUS
CAMPAIGN FUND
Missouri legislative Committee
Appointed to Investigate 1t
Holds Session,
THE ALLEGATIONS ARE DENIED.
lie Makes q Statement Explaining
Contribution OF Brewers.-lnycsu-
cation Begins

st. Louis Jan. 13.--At a special ses-
sion Of the committee appointed by the
house of representatives Of the Mis-
souri, legislature to investigate the
charges contained In a Joint resolution
that Thomas K. Nedringhaus, chair
man OF the State Republican commit
tee and caucus nominee for United
States senator had accepted $4,000
from st. Louis brewers to influence
legislation, Mr.. Neidringshaus made a
statement denying the allegations,
During the campaign he said, the la
bilities Of the state committee had run
up to $4,000, with no money In the
bank, and he was held personally re-
sponsble for the debt
About this time" continued Mr..
Niedrlnghaus, Senator Fairbanks
came to ST. Louis, and on the request
Of Adolphus Busch, who Is a personal
friend of the senator, a dinner was ar
ranged at Mr., Busch's house, at which
were former Senator Mason of Illinois,
Congressman Bartholdt OF St Louis,
Otto Stifel Senator Fairbanks and
myself.
During the dinner | explained that
| had been refused contributions by
prominent Republicans, and said, II |
had $4,000 / would guarantee that
the state OF Missouri would cast It's
electoral vote for Roosevelt and FAIR
banks
mfr. Busch then said; ! am willing
to join with yourself and Mr., Stifel 10
guarantee this $4,000. l will assume
half that guarantee " you and Mr..
Stlfel will assume the other half
~ Immediately announced that ! as
sumed my share and Mr., Stifel
agreed"
In reply to question. Mr. Niedring-
haus said that he was under no obli-
cation OF any kind on account Of this
guarantee TO use his influence TO af-
feet legislation In Missouri
Mr., Niedringhaus further explained
that the deficiency of $4,000 was re-
duced to s2i 600 by collections, and
that the latter amount was taken care
Of In accordance with the agreement
between himself Busch and Stifel,
MIR. Nledringhaus said TO the COM
mittee that he did not consider the
$4,000 pledged by Busch, Stlfel and
himself In the light Of a contribution
to the state campaign fund, as had the
money been later secured from other
sources It would have been refunded to
them.
INVESTIGATION BEGINS,
st. Louis, Jan. 13.--The senate and
house committees of the legislature
appointed to Investigate the statement
OF campaign receipts and expenditures
filed by Chairman r. X Niedringhaus
Of the Republican state committee and
Republican caucus nominee for United
states senator met separately today.
The hearings were open to the public
The closest investigation was direct
ed 70 the charge contained In the reso-
luton OF Representative oliver Grace,
that the s2l 900 reported by Chairman
Niedringhaus in his own name was IN
reality contributed by the brewery In
terests Of ST. Louis.
Among the first witnesses summoned
to appear were Chairman Niedrng-
haus, Adolphus Busch, Otto r. Stlfel
Secy c. d. Morris OF the Speakers
bureau during the campaign; Secy.
Joseph Mccoy, in charge Of the organ
ization, and Chairman j, d. Howe Of
the Republican city committee.
T, X. Niedringhaus appeared before
the house committee. which took a re-
cess to enable him to frame reply
to the Grace resolution
William p. Lightholder deputy re-
corder of deeds, appeared before the
senate committee In answer to sub
poeha ordering him to produce GER
titled copy OF the expense account filed
by the Republican state committee He
took the original copy, which showed
us its largest item the lump sum OF
S2l, 23l contributed by Niedringhaus,
The next largest was $1,000, credited to
II, c. Kerens The total OF the con-
trlbutions was given as s574SS75, The
report was filed by Il, Il, Niedrlnghaus,
acting treasurer,
E, G. Brokmyer, publisher Of the Mis-
souri, Star, who was clerk at the Re-
publican headquarters, gave testimony
relating to the charge that 81, Louis
hrewerios contributed the S2l 900 which
Chairman Niedringhaus OF the Repub-
lican state committee credited 20 him
self IN his report Of the receipts and
expenditures of the campaign. He tes-
titled that Adolphus Busch prominent
brewer, had given Mr.. Niedrlnghaus
az one time before the election a check
for S2,500, and at another time $1,000,
and that he contributed $1,000 after the
election toward Liquidation of the de-
felt which existed,
Chairman Niedringhaus told him that
Otto Stlfel Of the st. Louis Brewing as
ISOLATION had arranged 10 contribute
an amount equal to that given by
Busch.
After waiting several hours for the
appearance of Mr.. NiedrInghaus, the
senate investigating committee APP
pointed a subcommittee TO wait upon
the house committee and induce Mr..
Niedrnghaus to come before the COM
mittee.
Chairman Tubbs OF the house COM
mttee announced TO the senatorial sub
committee that Mr. Nledrlnghaus was
subject 10 the orders OF the house COM
mittee ana he refused to allow Mr..
Niedringhaus to appear before the sem
ate committee until his committee was
through with the witness,
Previous TO the appointment OF a sub
committee the senatorial committee had
Issued a subpoena for Mr. Niedrng-
hnus but the ofliocrs lntrusted with