New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-07-18
TAFT OWED NOTHING
TO CORPORATION AID
Hitchcock Says Republican
Campaign Fund in 1908 Re-
jeCted Trust Gifts.
TOTAL SUM WAS $1,655,519
With 25 Exceptions, All Con,
tributions Were Below 3d.
900, Committee Seeking
Small Subscriptions.


Washington. July l7-President Taft's
campaign fund OF 1905 was the subject Of
inquiry to-day by the Senate committee
investigating the political war chests of
that campaign and Of Alton b. Parker
four years before.
Postmaster General Frank II. Hitch
cock. chairman Of the Republican Ma
tional Committee in 1905. told the Senators
no contribution was accepted from any
corporation, and that the committee had
declined $50 900 from General 7. Coleman
du Pont of Delaware, because the gov
eminent was then attacking the powder
trust and also because Congress had for
hidden corporation contributions.
The total of the Republican fund was
s1655.5iS27. Mr.. Hitchcock said, and he
reminded the Senators that those figures
were disclosed in the report hled in Al
bany. in conformity with the laws Of New
York. Charles Z. Taft the President
brother: I.arz Anderson, Ambassador 10
Belgium; Whitelaw Reid Ambassador TO
Great Britain: Andrew Carnegie, Frank
Muusey and others were among contrib
utors named by MIR. Hitchcock.
Neither the tobacco trust nor any OF its
stockholders. that Mr.. Hitchcock knew
OF, contributed.
Handled by State Committees
Mr.. Hitchcock said that of the total
fund. S62O.lJ0 was collected in various
states and handled by the local state
committees The latter sum never was
tuned into the treasury Of the Repuo-
Iican National Committee, although tcat
committee kept account of it.
When Mr.. Hitchcock had told Of the
return Of $4,000 contributed by General
du Pont. who was a member OF the Re-
publIcan executive committee, Senator
Paynter asked if this contribution was
not then given to some other fund
Mr. Hitchcock replied that General du
Point declared he felt he was not DONG
his part and asked II he could nov give
the money in some other way. MI. hitch
cock said he had replied in the negative.
ct am positive he did not contribute IT
IN any other fund" witness added, be
cause | have talked 10 General du Pont
about IL since the campaign. lie SAID
that when the fund was returned he con-
sIdered he had given 1t 10 cause ana
placed It on special deposit"
Mr. Hitchcock insisted that with the
exception Of about twenty-five. all ule
contributions were below 5000
I'VE Agured that the more persons we
couId get TO invest. the more interest
they would take in the success OF the
al II,
Some Larger Contributions.
BEFORE the system of collecting money
Nv, 6nance committees organized In each
state was put into operation, Mr. Hitch
cock said. fortunately" friends OF the
MARTY came forward with large contrion-
tions.
The first friends" ne mentioned in that
connection were Charles y. Taft, brother
of President Taft, who contributed *SV'VVV'
william Nelson Cromwell, $4,000; Mr.. ana
Mrs Larz Anderson, $500; Andrew Car
negie, $4,000; William Smith Cochran
s15.OOo; Frank Munsey, $4,000: "hlteIaw
Re,d. $1,000: NJ c. Borden, $4,000, ana
General Corbln, for several persons
$4,000.
T.
hanks contributed $500 each. They mign'
have been interested in corporations mt
said, but he thought at any rate that was
a small contribution for them.
several Senators inquired If the books
NJ the national committee showed th'
amount collected In the states under III
direction.
wa" responded Mr.. Hitchcock. my
oh,ert =, aDnointirg the chairman OF these
,,ote Anance committees was to superln
tend the collection of funds ana 70 re
oujre the state committees 10 report U
the national committee
Were any contributions received IRON
stockholders Of the Steel CoTporsuoh'
Senator Paynter asked
~ believe some Of the men ] have men
toned as contributing at the opening Of
inc campaign are interested IN II thinh
MIR Frank Munsey is" said Mr.. Hitch
cock
And Mr.. Cochran suggested Senator
Oliver.
Yes. sir"
Senator Paynt.r asked Mr.. Hitchcock II
no were acquainted with any or the
stockholders Of the international liar
,ester Company He said he knew the
McCormicks, Frank Munsey' George !"
Perkins and Clarence S. Funk.
Did Mr. Perkins contributor asked
the Senator.
II do not think so.
"Did the McCormicks?'
Not that l remember. They would o'
more likely TO contribute to your party
air."
When asked IL Mr.. Funk contributed. oI
il he had requested him TO do So Mr.
Hitchcock replied he never talked to an!
officer Of any corporation about contribu