The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-01-02
FRIEND OF ODELL TELLS OF PLEDGE Promises Were Made to Sen-
 ator Depew HE WAS TOGET THE FUNDS According to the Story, President Roosevelt Was a Party to Prom
 ises Made to the
 Senator.
HE WAS TO GET THE FUNDS

An interesting story of the raising of the immense republican fund of 1904 was told by man who is known to be one of the closest personal, political and busi- ness friends of former Governor Ben jamin B. Odell.
 The story told by this man is that Pres ident Roosevelt himself was party to the deal by which Senator Depew was guaranteed either reelection or an am- bassadorship in return for a big eontribu- ton to the national campaign fund by New York financial interests.
 The story, as set forth In the Brooklyn Eagle tonight is that near the close of the campaign of 1904 the republican na- tional committee found itself in hard straits for money. George B. Cortelyou had been selected for chairman of the re- publican national committee on the theory that he, working with Cornelius N. Bliss as treasurer, could raise the largest fund of anybody.
 Cortelyou was not so successful as it was anticipated he would be. The cor porations were cold toward the President for the attitude he had taken on many questions Matters got to such pass that a conference was called. It was held fin Oyster Bay, and President Roosevelt, Cortelyou and a third man, who Is understood to have been Henry c. Prick, were present.
 Pledged to Depew.
 After the situation had been discussed the third man suggested that he could raise the necessary money. His friends required. however, that Senator Depew should be taken care of, either as ann bassador to France or by reelection to the Senate. There may have been other understandings, but Odells friend would not admit that there were
 The words Mr. Roosevelt is alleged to have used when the proposition was put up to him were:
 That will be all right; we'll take care of Senator Depew'
 It is said that the sources of the eX- pected campaign contributions were men toned at the time-the big life insurance companies, the railroads and other cor norations. It is also said that contrbu- lions from similar sources were gone over, and if was decided that some were not large enough This was said to he the reason why the Equltable's contribution was made in two amounts of $2o,0oo each.
 The friends of the corporations and of President Roosevelt made good. IS on record that Cortelyou received $e0,OO0 each from the Equitable, the New York J,i-s and the Mutual Life and $2OCO from tho Prudential The amount raised by this last appeal Is said to have been s250, GOO.
 Met With a Rebuff.
 When the campaign was over the man who was responsible for getting the cash heard that MT. Mccormick was to be chosen ambassador to France. He went to President Roosevelt in behalf Of Depew and his friends, and reminded him or the Oyster Bay pledge, and asked If 1t was the intention to return DepeW to the Senate instead.
 'I am not interfering in the politics of New York state," is the reply the Presi- dent is alleged to have made.
 If was about this time that MT Roose- welt suggested to Governor Odell, accord ing to the latter's recent statement, that 1t was a shame to have New York rep resented by two "senile old men
 Accordingly, ''as Odell says.the ex-Gov- ernors friend continued, ''he set about to secure the election of ex-Governor Frank s. Black l don't know whether Mir, Odell was aware that Depew was not to be sent to France. Anyway he tried to fall in line with the suggestion that Black would make a good 1'1an. He had not gone far before he found that all the federal office holders were for Depew, as he says.
 MT. Odell only slSirted the rim of the Depew story in the interview he gave last week. He hoped that would be suf- fieient The real reason why he was com pelled to give up Black was not that Roosevelt deserted Black but because he found the whole matter up to him. He found himself also. the only one who acknowledged that pledges were made to be kept.
 You can rest assured that he was re- minded strongly enough of his tacit part in the agreement that had been made. The financial people came down on him like mountain of granite. and 1t is a peculiar coincidence that 1t is just year ago today that he threw up his hands.
 odell Was Loyal.
 "Why doesn't Odell tell this story?"
 How can hep was the response. "He believes that. although he was not present in the conference. as he had been con suited and agreed to the arrangements made. he would be considered just as rec sponsibe as the others and an informer to boot.
 Has Odell ever told the story to ex Governor Black?"
 "I understand not His sense of loyalty to the head of the republican party was so strong that he considered it disloyal act to even tell 1t to MT. Black at the time. Of course he was justified in ex- plaining the matter to Black. but he mads a mistake in sending merely messenger to tell Black bluntly that 1t was all off. Black has never forgiven him. He thinks he was sold out. Now it is too late probably to convince him."
 Why wasn't Cortelyou called by MT. Hughes in the insurance inquiry and asked about the truth of the story?''
 Because, in the first place, only four men knew of the agreement, and two of them would not be apt to repeat it. That left Odell and the man who raised the money Odell felt that he could not give away a secret of the national republican party. Of course If they put it onto him too hard he may, and I think he would. be justified in so doing.
 '"rhen there Is the influence that can be brought on the chairman of the in- surance investigation committee by cer- tain Higgins Roosevelt powers"