Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1905-09-27
Head of N. Y. Life
Springs Sensation
at Investigation
Stout Denial Prompt
From the Defeated
Candidate


contributions OF the New York Life
Insurance company and the connec-
ton of Andrew A. Hamilton OF AL
bany with the alleged political activ-
ity OF the company were the points
around which the hearing before the
legislative insurance investigation
turned yesterday.
President John A. Mccall OF the
New York Life Insurance company
was the chief witness, and for several
hours was ubjected to a fire OF ques-
tions by Charles e. Hughes, counsel
for the committee, concerning money
paid for political purposes.
The climax was reached when Nc
Call declared that the soliciting of
funds for campaign purposes was not
confined to the republican party N
the campaign of 1904 and announced
my life was made weary by demo
cratic candidates chasing me for mon
ey 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
took, looking for money.
zone day tie candidate himself,
Judge Parker--if he would show up
his books when he was chairman of
the democratic state committee, it
would -ive you a fit. He never re-
ject ed a dollar in the world. He would
take every dollar that was paid to
him"
Judge Parker was chairman of the
democratic state legislative commit
tee in 1885 McCall's statement was
greeted with wild cheering, which con-
tinued until threat was made to
clear the room of listeners if the
crowd did not restrain itself With
great care the account of Andrew A.
Hamilton with the company was
analysed by Hughes who asked Nc
Call about every item, and made it
GEAR that a search was being made
for political contributions.
Mccall stoutly maintained that he
had given Hamilton no money to be
used in influencing legislation at AL
hany, hut the admission was obtained
from Mccall that Hamiiton's expenses
at Alhsry were paid from the com
pany's funds and that his accounts
were not submitted to audit.
1t was shown that $235, 900 has been
paid Hamilton, with only verbal ac-
counting to Mccall, and that at pres
ent Hamilton owes the company
100000 but Mccall said he felt sure
that Hamilton, who is now in Europe,
would repay this sum upon the COM
pany's demand.
Parker Says It's False.
Judge Alton B. Parker, democratic
candidate for president in 1904, last
night gave the Associated Press a
statement concerning McCall's testi-
mony relative to the soliciting of
funds from the New York Life Insur-
ance company by the democrats in
1904. In this statement Judge Park
er said:
1T is evident that Mccall was la
boring under great excitement in
making his reply, for it is very inco-
herent, but If his answer is intended
to convey the impression that in the
campaign of 1904. l, either directly
or indirectly, solicited from him or his
CORPORATION, or any other corporation,
any money or valuable thing, his
statement is absolutely false On
the contrary, | repeat now what
said before the election, that I ex-
pressly notified and directed the
chairman of the executive committee
of the nationa! committee that no
money should be received from cor
porations
William F. Sheehan's attention was
called to the testimony of Mccall and
he said:
Il was chairman of the executive
committee of the democratic national
committee. There was not a single
man connected with the democratic
national campaign that solicited a
do lar from Mccall If any such per-
son made any such solicitations Nc
Call should name him."
Mccall Qualities.
New York. Sept 2l-President Nc
Call. referring to his testimony before
tie legislative committee in relation
TO contributions to the democratic
party said last night:
THE meaning I intended to convex
when | mentioned Judge Parker was
this: Judge Parker. when a candi-
date for the presidency last year. did
not personally ask me for campaign
funds. but friends of his did so re-
peatedly.
Judge Parker, as chairman of the
state democratic committee several
years ago. did, however. accept pro
offered contributions TO the cam.
paign fund"