Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1912-07-21
BELMONT GAVE
 QUARTER MILLION Admits Contributing Large Amount for the Campaign of the Demcratic Party
 In 1904.
EXPECTED NO REWARD
August Belmont Testifies Before the Senate Committee Investigating
 Campaign Contributions.

dhiOuuI WHICH August BGlulOnC, LcSC- fying Tuesday before the Senate com mittee Investigating campaign contri- buttons, placed upon his gift to the Democratic National Committee in 1904. He was not osure that was the sum but was satisfied to let it go at that
 My habit has been that if I feel responsible for anything, my obiga ton is not measured by dollars and cents,'' said MT. Belmont when Sena- tor Paynter asked if his large contr- buttons embarrassed him. MT. Bel mont was member of the campaign executive committee that year.
 He told first of advancing $50,000 to the Democratic National Commit tee. He said he had been reimbursed $42,O0O.
 Those committees always start out that way he explained ''They ask for advances and then begin to raise funds. Later they reimburse me so that balance of $8,00O was only con- tribution.''
 The capitalist remembered he had paid two small items' of $1,000 each to Maurice Cucor, Hungarian lead CT, in New York.
 Senator Jones asked MT. Belmont for the total of his contributions.
 The witness thought he could not remember.
 Was it larger than $50,0o0?'
 "Oh, yes.
 "$10o, ,00O?'
 "It must have been more than that.'
 'sWas it. $25O, ,oOo?'' pursued Senator Jones'
 s'I doubt it. I tried to remember but ! I. find I cannot said Br. Belmont
 Senator Jones tried a new tack.
 .Did you contribute by cash or checks?''
 .'very often by cash"
 "And checks?' queried Senator Paynter.
 .'Seldom by check. cannot remem- Der the exact amount, but l am satls- fled with an estimate of $25o,oO0.'
 Senator Jones asked MT. Belmont how much he contributed in addition to the $250,O0O given to the national campaign. The witness replied he always contributed to the campaign in his own locality and to the State campaign. He was not able to tell how much he contributed in addition to the $25O,0O0.
 .sDo you care to give any reasons why YOU contributed so large sum! inquired Senator Jones.
 CT was very active in the nomlna- tion,'' began MT. Belmont, and had been selected to serve on the com mittee and when funds did not come in I inst contributed. l never intend- ed to make any such contributions but when deficits came I contributed
 MT. Belmont was asked if he had any understanding of reward rom Judge Parker, the presidential candl- date.
 s'From the very outset Judge Park or was a free and independent man and remained so."
 "Did you expect any favors?
 "On the contrary, Judge Parker uh- derstood from me that there would De nothing I could accept. l was very much interested in the campaign and contributed purely as Democrat
 ..Nor did you expect to have any snecial legislation?' Senator Paynter suggested.
 "None whatever. There was no ln- terest in which I was concerned that could be helped by special legisla- tion.'
 Before your day you had the ex- ample of father who was lperai campaign contributor, did you not! continued Senator Paynter.
 q did; I remember as a boy attend ed the convention of 1S6S.'
 MT. Belmont was unable to give an accurate estimate of the total of the funds at the disposition of the Demo- cratic National Committee in 1904. When Senator Clapp asked if it were million dollars, MT. Belmont guess ed'' it was not nor ethan $6oo,oOO or $7O0.00O.
 q never asked for the specific amount" added MT. Belmont, by way of explanation.
 s.You see these things are not con- ducted like business concern. Keep ing accounts is expensive. and l doubt