The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1908-09-02
SOLICITING FUNDS;
EVAD|NG THE LAW
Bold Scheme of the Re-
publican Committee,
SIGNED LETTER AS EVIDENCE
Republicans in Dire Distress
Adopt a SmOOthe Scheme
To Get Money.


Chicago, ILL.,, Aug. 31.-The fact
has developed. that the Republican
National Committee is ignoring the
Federal statute making it unlawful
TO solicit money for political purposes
from corporations. A letter address,
d to a Chicago corporation urgently
appealing for funds was issued August
81 from Republican national headquar-
tiers on stationery of the Republican
National Committee. This letter was
signed by Fred W. Upham, assistant
treasurer of the Republican Commit
tee. At the top of this stationery
was the name of Frank H. Hitchcock,
the Republican National Chairman,
and the names of all of the officers
Of the committee, of which he is
the directing head. For fear the ap-
peal for corporation aid might be ov-
erlooked Mr.. Upham Enclosed in his
letter a self-addressed envelope in
large print, which directed that the
return Of the sinews of war be made
to him at the headquarters Of the
Republican National Committee 234
Michigan avenue, Harvester building,
Chicago, Ill.
While addressing this appeal for
financial aid 10 corporations, Treas
urer Upham was careful to say;"YOu
are requested 10 bring this matter to
the attention of your business asso-
ciates and ask each to send check"
In other words, Mr.. Taft's campaign
managers are doing by indirection
that which, If done directly, would be
violation of the Federal laws of the
land. Here is Mr.. Upham's' fat-fry-
ing letter:
August 81, 1908, Chi
cago, Ill.-Gentlemen: Both the New
York and Chicago headquarters of the
Republican National Committee have
been opened and the work of the cam
p2ign is well advanced The election
of Mr.. Taft and Mr. Sherman is es-
sential to the welfare of this country,
and perfect organization is necessary
t. elect them. To secure a perfect or
ganization the National Committee
must be literally supplied with
funds. Congress recently enacted a
statute making it unlawful to solicit
money for political purposes from cor
porations. All the funds, therefore, for
the campaign must be supplied by in
diviGuals. You are requested TO
BRING this matter - the attention of
YOUR business associates and ask each
to send a check.
Please be as liberal as possible, as
il will take large amount of money
to pay the expense of organization
the postage, printing, speakers bu-
reau and various details that are abb
solutely necessary to success.
Yours very truly,
FRED w. UPHAM,
Assistant Treasurer.
This is a clever scheme for evading
the Federal statute in collecting cam
paign funds, and it shows that Mr.
Taft's managers are relying on cor
poration aid for the conduct of their
campaign. Following this plan of hat
passing, it is reasonable to suppose
that a letter of like kind has been
or will be sent to the Standard Oil
Company with the expectation of re-
ceiving a contribution from John d
Rockefeller and his multi-millionairt
associates who share in the royalties
of the greatest of all corporations.
Early in the campaign leading Re-
publicans said it was all right fol
corporations to make campaign con-
uibutions 1t was their purpose, judg
ing from the utterances of the party
leaders. to start out for funds in the
regular way. One of the leading Re
publicans who defended this method
of fat-frying was none other thai
George r. Sheldon, treasurer of thu
Republican National Committee. An
other Republican authority said /
was all right for corporations to con
tribute in campaign, and that the!
had as much right to do so as d.
: farmers whose business interest
might be affected in a local campaign