Omaha daily bee., 1907-12-13
City SubsOribes 100000 for Use of
Organization.
CAUSES DEBATE
Southern Members Favor Acceptance
Of Only Enough for Expenses.
DAH1MAN MAKES SPEECH
Omaha Executive says Money Can he
Employed Probably by Conn
mittee--Date is SET for
July 2,

WASHINGTON, Dec. l2-After decidinn
to hold the next democratic national con-
vention at Denver, Colo. and fixing the
date Of the meeting for July Z, 1908, the
democratic national committee late today
entered upon a spirited debate ON the pro-
priety Of accepting more OF the 100000
offered by Denver for the convention than
actually needed TO pay the convention ex-
penses in that city. The opposition TO tho
acceptance of the contribution took the
form of resolution by Representative
Clayton of Alabama, declining money not
actually needed for convention purposes,
but after a long debate the resolution was
laid on the table by vote of 81 to a.
Mr.. Clayton. Representative John Sharp
Williams of Mississippi and Governor Hoke
Smith Of Georgia, spoke In favor of the
passage Of the resolution. Mr.. Smith was
especially emphatic in saying that the $780,
600 which had been offered to secure the
republican convention and refused by the
republican national committee had been
offered to and was about to be acoepted
by the democratic committee. He said the
republicans had turned down the offer he
cause It was regarded as in the nature OF
bribe and that democrats in view Of that
circumstance, could not afford TO accept
It. Mr.. Williams spoke in similar vein. as
also did Mr. Clayton.
Party Needs the Money.
Mr.. Taggart advocated the acceptance OF
the 10000 saying II would he needed now
even worse than money was needed IN iso4
and that at that time It would have been
practically Impossible 70 have opened
headquarters for Judge Parker II they had
not had the extra money secured from ST.
Louis, where the convention was held.
Senator Stone OF Missouri made a long
speech in which he favored the acceptance
OF the money.
Mr.. Clayton declared that the acceptance
OF this money would be In line with the
very practices IN campaign contributions
that had been condemned by tho com.littee.
This view was antagonixed by sApator
Stone. who declared that the transaction
was open and ebove board and this was
not to be compared with any of the propo-
sitiona that had been condemned Nam
people, he said. would go to Denver, and
the young and growing city was glad to
make this contribution for the advantages
It would receive. The money. he said,
would be badly needed in starting the cam
paign.
Mayor Tom johnson advocated the ac--
ceptance OF the money offered by Denver.
He said money for campaign purposes Is
contributed by corporations with the view
Of securing advantages IN legislation or
otherwise, while the contribution OF Denver
could not be ascribed to any such purpose
The people of Denver, he said, have a
regular organisation for the purpose OF
attracting conventions TO that city for bust
ness reasons and It was perfectly proper
for the democratic national COMMITTEES to
accept the offer
Senator Tillman opposed the acceptance
of the money. Let the local democratic
organization Of Colorado" he said, have
the money to fight their next campaign.
Guggenheim can be depended on to furnish
the money for the republicans Now give
the democrats Of Colorado a chance and
let them use the money to return Senator
Teller"
Mr.. Tiilnan, however voted against the
motion to lay the resolution on the table
DRhIman for Acceptance.
Mayor Dahlman OF Omaha expressed the
idea that the money could be prontably
employed in opening the campaign and said
he had no doubt that Denver had made It's
proposition in good faith and that It should
be accepted in the same spirit in which II
had been made.
Charles f. Wilson, sitting as a proxy
for the member Of the committee from
Colorado, assured the committee that Dem
yer had no desire to appear as unduly in
fiuencing the committee He said that
there is a Business Mems league In Dem
YER an important part OF whose business
is to secure conventions and that the
proposition to the democratic committee to
go to Denver had been made as II had
been to secure many other meetings. He
said the Denver people would be dIsap-
pointed II the entire sum was not accepted.
Vote ON Motion.
The motion to table Mr.. Clayton's motion
was made at the conclusion of Mr.. VIII
sons speech and prevailed by the follow
inG vote;
YEAS