Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-10-21
Objects to Being Lectured.

Mr.. HlIieS back ana COmpel MIN 10 MAKE
good
Objects to Being Lectured.
Here Senator Oliver interrupted with
an objection to the committee being lee
tured. The committee. he said, would
decide its course for itself.
| Mr. Perkins apoIogized. and. proceeding
in calmer mood. he contended that it
would be easy to prove what had been
contributed to the campaign fund by the
harvester company. He said he was a
member of the board of directors of
that company and chairman Of the
finance committee. and knew that not a
| cent Of the company funds had been
given to aid Col. Roosevelt
Mr.. Perkins told the committee Of his
activities in the 1904 campaign, when,
he said. he was the head of a local COM
mittee that collected funds in New York
for the republican national campaign. He
said that in the 1908 campaign he fought
bitterly for publicity Of campaign con-
tributions.
To Washington Offices, $32, 500.
Mr.. Perkins testified that his total con-
tributions to Col. Roosevelt's preconyen-
ton campaign amounted to $122.5OO The
largest item was $32,50O. to the Wash
ington offices.
Thomas F.. Ryan, the first witness OF
the day, told the committee that he gave
$40O,OUO to the democratic national funo
in 1904.
Mr.. Ryan said he gave between $4,000
and $SO.OOO to the Harmon preconven-
ton fund this year and more than $3O.OUO
to the campaign of Representative IN
derwood.
The committee recessed for luncheon
with Mr.. Perkins still on the stand.
Mr.. Ryan Gave $45O,oOo.
Mr.. Ryan told the committee that he
| shouIdered $35O.OOO Of the debts Of the
democratic national committee in 1904.
Early in the campaign" he said. Il
| gave $5O,OOO to the fund.- although l was
opposed to the nomination of Judge Par
ker. 1 gave probably $4,000 in smaller
| contributions.
when the end of the campaign was
drawing near and it was quite apparent
that Mr. Parker could not be elected some
of my friends came to me and told me
that the campaign would collapse unless
the committee received financial assist
ance. l finally agreed. in order to pay
the party workers and preserve the m
tegrity of the party, to furnish $3oO.OOO.
This made total of $45OOOO l gave
| throughout the campaign. This was
personal contribution and did not repre-
sent any one except myself.
elect Parker the witness continued; Il
merely wanted to preserve the demo-
cratic organization
In reply to questions concerning the
preconvention campaign OF i9l2. Mr.
Ryan said that he had contributed be-
tween $4,000 and $4,000 to Gov. Har-
mons campaign and more than $4,000
to Representative Underwood's.
Thought Prospects Good.
when / came back from Europe in
1911 l made up my mind that the pros
poets of democratic success were very
bright. 1 thought any democrat except
Mr.. Bryan could be elected. and was will
ing to aid any other man. He had led
the party to defeat three times and I re-
garded him as the only cloud on the
any one. but I had known Gov. Harmon
Of Ohio for twenty-five years and be-
lieved he would make good President.
/ gave his managers somewhere between
$4,000 and $4,000. Later on my friend.
Senator Bankhead, manager for Mr.. IN
derwood, came to me with an argument
in favor of a southern man for Presi-
dent. That appealed to me. and l gave
him thirty-odd thousand dollars" He
added: II was not asked to aid Mr..
Clark or Mr.. Wilson. but would have
given them assistance II / had been re-
quested.
Mr.. Ryan said he was convinced that
Judge Parker could not be elected before
he was nominated The $3jOOOO was
given, he said. after Judge Parkers de-
feat was assured.
Mr. Perkins was the next witness. He
gave his occupation as retired working
man.
Asked as to the campaign of 1904. Mr..
Perkins said that he was asked by Treas
urer Bliss to take a place as a member
of a local committee in New York to aid
in collecting funds for the campaign.
Worked With Mr.. Bliss.
81 worked in New York." said Mr. Per-
kins, with Mr. Bliss. These We're semi
lar committees in Philadelphia. Pitts
burgh, Boston and Chicago"