The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-01-20

V conferred upon him for the great ser- vices that he had rendered the party and the great pecuniary sacrifices he had made. The argument was put forth by his campaign manager that he had contributed the princefy sum of s2I,o0o and that it was this gift that contributed more to the success of the Republican party than any oth- CT factor. That other men aspiring to this position questioned this contribu- tion and the claim was indulged in that others besides Nfedringhaus con- tributed. and that the names of the contributors were being suppressed.
 Swore to statement. 1 ''Ou the third day of December Thomas K. Niedringhaus, as Chair man of the Republican State Commit tee. and as acting Treasurer of said State Committee. filed an affidavit as provided by the statutes of this State. The law requires that this statement Niedringhaus made affidavit to the truth and correctness of this report and by reason of this fact ali questions as to his contributions were silenced and a great many members of the General Assembly were influenced to give him their support.
 'On the 5th day of January, 1905, the Republicans of this Legislature were called together In caucus and Mir. Med ringhaus was nominated as a result of that caucus. A few days thereafter, resolutions were introduced in the House and the Senate demanding an investigation of the report that was filed and pursuant to those resolutions committees were appointed by both Senate and House.
 "The Senate made report in which all members concurred. Republicans as we'll as Democrats, that the result of their investigation developed the fact that Thomas K. Niedringhaus had not contributed s21.000: that sf2.500 of this contribution was made by Adoiphus Busch, President of the Anheuser- Busch Brewing Company; that $6.500 additional was made by Otto Stifel. another brewer of St. Louis, and that in fact the only contribution made by Mir. Niedringhaus did not exceed the sum of $14.000.
 Would Not Have Kseen Nominee.
 Had these facts been known prior to the holding of the Republican eau GUS, Mr. Niedringhaus would not, in our Judgment. have been the nominee of the party.
 We feel that it would be a great injustice to the Republicans of this O<A&AN~A% position of United States Senator who Is tainted in this manner.
 "We are convinced that caucus was forced on the party nearly two weeks in advance of the usual time for holding a caucus. that the speakership influence was to be used: that he en- tered into an alliance with the Federal office- holders of this State and that the said Federal ofiice-holders have prostituted their positions by becoming active participants in Mir. Niedring- hauss behalf and have come to Jeff ferson City in great numbers to in fiuence the action of the members of the General Assembly. assuming to represent the national administration at Washington.
 "The Federal holders have swarmed here In great numbers and have so far forgotten the dignity of their positions as to so on the floor of the house and senate and personally his nomination.
 For His Personal Advancement.
 "We further deplore the fact that Mir. Niedringhaus, as candidate for the United States Senatorship and as chair man of the Republican State Commit tee. has used the party machinery for his own personal advancement.
 The position we nave assumed IS m the interests of the Republican party. We know our duty and the obligations we are under to the party of this State and we would be recreant to our duty as party men if we permitted MT. Nie- dringhaus to be elected Senator, and so believing, we have voted against him and will continue to do so.
 "J. l.. Bittinger, c. F. Elliott, James Roach. F. R. Cook, George Hatzfelt, 10. NJ. Kirkman, Glover Branch. Oliver J. Grace"
 When Thomas K. Niedringhaus was shown this signed statement he said he had no comment to make regarding if