The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-09-22
SOLICITING Of FUNDS WAS NOT
CONFINED TO REPUBLICAN PARTY
any time. He assumed the entire re-
spOnsibility-

spOnsibility-
OF the campaign contribution made
by Mr. Mccall and George w. Perkins
for the New York Life Insurance Com
pany in 1904, Mr.. Mccall said he did
not care how many Of his policy hold
ers agreed with his action. He said he
consulted no one but Mr. Perkins. Il
did it Oh 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:
Il honestly believe in this instance
it was justified. If you ask me if | ap-
prove Of campaign contributions, l say
no, a thousand times no."
Did you really think that in 1904
the interests of the policy holders were
so seriously endangered that the COM
pany ought to contributor asked Mr..
Hughes.
Il did think so when the man who
had twice Voted for Bryan was Il cam
didate on a platform framed by a COM
mittee that had by majority of two
to one rejected the gold standard"
Referring to the Democrats Mr.. Nc
Call said:
Their shadows were across mine
every move | made. | 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 by the
chairman who said he would have the
room cleared of spectators if order was
not kept.
In 1892 Mr.. Mccall said there was no
campaign contribution by the New
York Life Insurance Company, because
both parties had gold platforms. No
contribution to any state or municipal
campaign funds had been made by the
New York Life Insurance Company
since his connection with the company,
said Mr.. Mccall.
Just before the committee adjourned
for the day Mr.. Mccall asked and was
granted permission to make state
ment denying that he was a man of
great wealth. He said:
Various publications have stated
that1 nave amassed great wealth in a
few years, and | want to say under
oath that | am not a millionaire nor
part millionaire If [ should die to-
morrow the greatest part of my for
tune would be my life insurance"
asked Mr.. Hughes.
II pay my company So, 900 a year.
replied Mr.. Mccall, land another thing,
of the 73 syndicates in which the New
York Life Insurance company has been
making $2,4OO,OOO for the company, [
have never been in one that sold bonds
to the company"
"That will be gone into later" said
Mr. H11Uhoc
The committee then adjourned Until
tomorrow.
Judge Alton B. Parker, Democratic
candidate for President in 1904, to-
night gave the Associated Press a
statement concerning President Nc
Calls testimony relative to the solic-
iting of funds from the New York IN
surance Company by Democrats in
1904. The Statement follows:
MY attention has been called to Ger
tain testimony said to have been Civ
en- by Mr.. John A. Mccall, while a
witness before the insurance lnvestl-
cation committee in reply to Mr..
Hughes question whether he thought
That in 1904 the interests of the pol
icy holders were so seriously endan-
gered that the company ought to con-
tribute :
at was evident that Mr.. Mccall vas
laboring under great excitement In
making his reply, for it is very lnco-
herent. But if his answer is Intended
to convey the impression that in the
campaign of 1904, I, either directly Or
indirectly solicited from him or MS
corporation or any other corporation
any money or valuable thing, his
statement is absolutely false"
"On the contrary, repeat now what
I said before the election, that | ex-
pressly notified and directed the cnal1-
man Of the executive committee OF the
national committee that no money
should be received from corporations
William F. Sheehan's attention was
called to the testimony of Mr.. McCaI
and he said.
Il was chairman of the executive
committee of the Democratic national
committee. There was not single
man connected with the Democratic
national campaign that solicited
dollar from Mr.. Mccall. If any
such person made any such solicita-
ton Mr. Mccall should name him
John A Mccall, president of the
New York Life Insurance Company re-
ferring to his testimony before the leg
islative committe to relations to con-
tributions to the Democratic party SAID
tonight:
"The meaning | intended TO convey
when mentioned Judge Parker was
this:
Judge Parker, when candidate for
the Presidency last year, did not per-
/ sonally ask me for campaign funds,
but friends of his did so repeatedly
Judge Parker, as chairman of the
state Democratic committee several
years ago did, however, accept proffer-
ed contributions to the campaign
fund"