Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-11-21
sen. P|LA1I
ON STAND
His Testimony Before the In
suranc,. Committee Today
Ii Sensational
III RECEIVED CONTRIBUTIONS
in Return lie Was Expected 70 lnflu-
snos leg siation When Any Meas.
srss Were Hostile 70 insurance
cornpa 4. Corruption Fund Used
60 Buy up Manning.

y : - IS. Z I = /. 4
% Buy up Manning.
New York, Nov. Senator, Thorn
as G. Plat testified before the insure
ance committee that the Equitable
had contrituted 10000 per year to the
republican state campaign fund. He
4 said the contributions were In cash
and were sent by messenger to his o.
nee. He turned them over to the state
/ committee. They were unsolicited. he
satd.
~ Piatt said that $4,000 was freQuerlt-
] " paid as an annual contribution to
/ the state campaign FUND, hut that II
was not a regular thing, that he could
not remen1ber the years In which II
was paid. The New York Life also
contributed. but not nearly so much.
NO other Insurance Companies contri-
buted, so fur as he knew. s #
platt said also ne received frequent
/ oontributions Of $4,000 each from the
mutual Lite.
Piatt said he was erpected in re urn
/ Tor contributions to influence iegtsla-
tion when any measures were hostile
% the Insurance. companies. he add
cd that no does not know Andrew
Hamilton 81. Andrew G. Fields
Plat expressed the opinion that the
afe insurance companies were Justified
In making campaign contrlbut utions
while the geld issue was ct stake. He
/ ala not care to pass upon the justifi-'
cation Of the companies IN giving mon
1 ~ for state campaigns. What ad-
yantAge acn,ld sthey set by SO contri-
buting n asked Hughes. "They got It
through me, as being connected with
the state committee, and they would
suppose that would be very likely to
defend them at times when It was
necessary; never had occasion to do
II 'IIawe they ever requested your
support in any matter7" They never
nave II understood you to say they
would expect you to support or defend
chem; now. what class Of possibilities
j had you In mind In saying that Z" ITO
see that the legislature did not enact
legislation which they thought hostile
TO the policyhold ders? 2" That's shout
what It would ambunt to. !" How could
you control that situation r" = could
not control It." How could You in
any way influence it y Il might have
: sodne influence Through the dispo-
sition OF moneys In the election OF leg
1 islators ~ "Oh, j could not say that. !"
~Isn't that the way it really comes
about, Senator, that the use OF these
contributions in the election Of can-
4 @didates to Office, puts the candidates
more or less under moral obligation
not to attack the interest supporting
them? ?" That's what naturally would
be involved" 'Isnt that really what
Ii involved p
Il should think sc"
! $50 far as you know, senator, what
have the insurance companies done in
regard to shaping legislation or pre-
venting legislation in this state ?" ask
ed Hughes.
II don't know anything they have
done; 1 never inquired into that, nor
have they sought my influence at all
In reference to it." said Platt
.sDo you know what disposition has
heen made OF the contributions by in
surance companies for state cam
paigns 2"
Il don't know anything about it, sir
II turned these contributions over to
the state committee, and then my con-
nection with them ceased"
.Do you know whether by virtue
such contributions and allotments OF
money were made for the purpose Of
helping the campaign of candidates for
the legislature ??
..There was not that I know Of
-l0QulIlGS AdNc USCh AhStuO 1IOua
time to time here with regard to the
Insurance department; what influence
had the insurance companies in re-
gard to the appointment of a superin-
tendent of insurance, SO far as you
know
Il don't think they had any infiu-
8ence, so far as / know"
.Have you ever been asked. on be-
half Of any Insurance companies, to In
terest in their favor by reason of such
conaribu eions or In connection with the
matter Of legislation Of the insurance
department."
Never In the world"
Platt said that he knew nothing
about the contributions by the Mutual
Life Insurance Company and Equitable
Deciety to the national campaign fund