The Saint Paul globe., 1905-01-17
.N|[DRINGHAUS GETS
DARK[N[D OPTIC
Missouri State Senate Commit
tee Questions Truth of His
Sworn Statement

81. LOOIS, Jan. Ib.-lntereSt In the
senatorial situation is at fever heat to-
night on the even of the ba1Ioting for
a successor to Senator Cockreu The
senate committee reported it found
Niedringhaus did not contribute $21,-
600 to the Republican campaign fund
as he had been credited with having
done.
The recent investigation here by the
two legislative committees into the
charges of Representative Grace, that
local brewers had contributed largely
to the state campaign fund, in VIOLA
ton of the corrupt practices act, fol-
lowed by the story of dinner held at
the home of R. C. Kerens on Saturday
night at which, it was alleged, plans
were formulated to defeat for senator
Thomas K. Niedringhaus, the caucus
nominee, and strengthen the forces of
Mr.. Kerens, who was one Of the eandi-
dates defeated in the caucus, has stir
red the political armament.
The senate investigating committee
continued taking testimony today at
Jefferson City regarding the campaign
contributions and Representative Cook,
of Howell county, stated that an at
tempt had been made to buy his eau
Gus vote, adding new phase to the
already complicated senatorial situa-
tion. Mr.. Cock, who says he voted In
the caucus for r. c. Kerens, testified
today that two attempts were made to
purchase his vote for Mr.. Niedring
haus He declared that Postmaster
Hallenback, Of West Plains, had made
the advance to him, saying he came
direct from the headquarters of the
Republican state convention in ST.
Louis, where he had talked with Mr..
Niedringhaus, the chairman.
Today Mr.. Niedringhaus denied that
either Hallenback or any other person
sentations on his part and said:
II made no promises or pledges of
any kind to anybody, either before or
after the senatorial caucus"
Text Nof Committee Report
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo-, jan 16-
The senate committee that has been
investigating the charges that a con-
tribution to the state campaign fund
of $4,000 accredited to Chairman
Thomas K. Niedringhaus, of the Re-
publican state central committee, was
contributed by St. Louis brewers to in
fuence legislation, made partial re-
report to the senate this evening AMI
asked more time to pursue it's investi-
cations. The report finds that Me
dringhaus did not contribute the $21,-
coo as credited to him. 1t was signed
by the full committee. The commit
tee made the following findings:
First-That Mr. Niedringnaus was
chairman and the acting treasurer of the
Republican state campaign committee of
Missouri in 1904, and that he kept no
separate bank account of the founds re-
to his individual credit and in his personal
account in the National Bank of Com
merce in ST. Louis.
Second-That the said Niedringhaus on
Dec. 5, 1904, flied with the recorder of
the city of ST. Louis statement veri-
fed by his affidavit, purporting to be an
account of receipts and disbursements of
said committee during said campaign of
contains an item setting forth among the
receipts of committee a contribution to
the committee of $21,231.21 by Mr..
Third-That Mr. Niedringhaus, as act
ing treasurer of the Republican campaign
committee, did not file a complete state
ment OF receipts of his committee as re-
quired by law.
Fourth-That Mr.. Niedringhaus did not
contribute the full sum Of $21, ,23I21 to
the said campaign fund, but that $4,000 of
said amount was contributed by the
Anheuser- Busch Brewing association un-
conditionally, and $4,000 by Adolph
Busch, with the understanding that said
sums We're to be refunded to said con-
tributors in the event that said amounts
could be procured from the Republican
national committee but for the repay
ment of which sums Mr.. Niedringhaus
was in nowise personally liable
FifthzThat the Anheuser- Busch Brew
ing association. Oct. II, 1904, contributed
to, and Mr.. Niedringhaus received from
said corporation as contribution to the
campaign fund of the committee $500,
and that neither said contribution nor the
name of such contributor is set forth In
the statement filed by Niedringhaus.