The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-09-21
Sensational Utterances
of President M'Can.
THE JUDGE DENIES 1T
Says Mccall Was Laboring Under
Great Excitement. Brands the State
ment as Absolutely False. Sheehan
Says Not One Dollar Was
Solicited.
(By the Associated Press.)

New Ofk, sept. ZU.--I OIltlCdl Coil-
tributions of the New York Life In
surance Company and the connection
of Andrew A. Hamilton, of Albany,
with the alleged political activity of
the company. were the points around
which the hearing before the Legisla-
tive Insurance Investigation turned to-
day.
President John A. Mccall. of the
New York Life Insurance Company,
was the chief witness, and for several
hours he was subjected to fire OF
questions by Charles T.. Hughes. coun-
sci for the committee, concerning the
money presented for political pur-
poses.
The climax was reached when Mr..
Mccall declared that the SOLICITING of
funds for campaign purposes WAS not
confined TO the Republican party in
the campaign of 1904, and an
nounced:
MY life was made weary by the
Democratic candidates chasing me 70,
money in that campaign. Some of the
very men who today are being inter-
viewed in the papers and denouncing
men who contribute to campaigns were
CROSSING my path every step l took
looking for money. One day the cam
didate himself, Parker. if he would
show up his books when he was chair
man of the Democratic State Com
mittee, it would give you a fit. He
never rejected a, dollar in the world.
lie would take every dollar that was
presented to him.
Judge Parker was chairman of the
Democratic State Legislative Commit
tee in 1885.
Mr.. McCall'S statement was greeted
with wild cheering, which continued
until a threat was n:adc to clear the
room of listeners if the crowd did not
restrain itself.
With great care the account of An
drew A. Hamilton with the company
was analyzed by Mr. Hughes, who ask
ed Mr.. Mccall about every. item and
made it clear that a search Twas being
made for political contributions
Mr.. Mccall stoutly maintained thas
he had given Mr.. Hamilton no money
to be used in influencing legislation at
Albany, but the admission was OBJ
tanned from Mr.. Mccall that Hamil-
tons expenses at Albany were paid
from the company's funds and that
his accounts were not submitted to
audit.
been paid to Hamilton with only a
; verbal accounting to President Nc
Call and that at present Hamilton
owes the company about $60.OO0. but
Mr. Mccall said he felt sure that
Hamilton, who is now in Europe. Will
repay this sum upon the company :
demand.
The $235,OOO Mr.. Mccall said he
was sure would be paid by Mr.. Ham
ilton on demand of the New YORK
Life Insurance Company.
"If it is not" said Mr.. Mccall, Il
be responsible and I'll pay it.
Hamilton received for legal SER
vices he said. about 100000 a year
from the New York Life Insurance
Company He was given charge OF
work all over the United States III
the matter of legislation and tax IS
and represented the New York Life
before legislative committees.
Taking up the campaign contrlbu-
tions Mr.. Mccall said that in 1896
he contributed to the defeat of the
Democratic party. In other cases oi
campaign contributions Mr.. Mccall
preferred to characterize them as
contributions to the support OF the
gold platform rather than TO the Re-
publican National Committee. He de-
MED that any contribution had been
made to either State or mulclpal
campaigns at any time. He assumed
the entire responsibility.
OF the campaign contributions
made by Mr.. Mccall and George Per-
k1nS FOR the New Ofk Lie IilSuIdlcS
Company i'm 1904 Mr. Mccall said ne
did not care how many of his policy
holders agreed with his action. lie
said he consulted no one but Mr. Per-
kins. 81 did it on my own hook. |
don't justify the USE of campaign
funds. / justify the use of this money
for the benefit of the policy-holders.
Replying to Mr. Hughes, he said
81 honestly believe in this instance
il was justified. If you ask me IT |
approve of campaign contributions l
saw no. thousand times no"
Ibid you reallN think that in 1904
tho interests of The policyhoders were
SO seriously endangered that the COM
pany ought to contributc?" asked Mr..
Hughes.
sJ did think so when the man who
had twice voted for Bryan was can
didate on a platform framed by a
committee that had by majority of
two to cne rejected tho gold stand
ard
referring to the Democrats Mr..
Mccall, said
s'1'heir shadows were across mine
every move ] made.
81 thank God that Bryan and free
silver were beaten and that ] had a
share in their defeat"
Applause followed this statement,
but the demonstration was checked bv
the chairman. who said he would have
the room cleard of spectators if or
der was not kept.
In 1892 Mr.. Mccall said there was