The Washington herald., 1912-10-27

SON. S2oS.ooo: Harmon. $4,000:
Underwood. $4,000: Clark. $780,
900.
After listening to the testimony Of for
mer Senator, Albert J. Beveridge, of In
diana, relative to the return Of 1850.
which Was offered him during the cam
paign Of 1904 In Indiana, the Clapp In
vestisatinE committee yesterday adjourn.
ed subject to call Of the chairman. This
r.eans that the committee will not re-
sumo Its sessions until after election. and
1t may mean that there will be no more
hearings ~ to campaign contributions to
the national and Congressional campaign
since 1901
Beveridge was the last witness before
the Senate committee investigating po-
l!tical campaign funds yesterday. His
testimony was moro or less dramatic.
A delineation by Beveridge Of his
Damon and Pythias friendship with
George w. Perkins. who tried to con-
tribute $4,000 to Bevsridge's 1904 cam
paisn. was . feature Of the hearing.
friends?" Senator Paynter observed
'Yes. but" Beveridse expostulated.
''Oh. I don't mean that as any reflec-
ton upon you" Paynter explained.
Perkins His Best Friend.
Perkins and have been the closet Of
friends since early manhood" said Rev-
eridge He is the godfather Of my son.
as Clifford Pinchot IL of my daughter.
are my most devoted friends in the
whole world. When the Senate walked
cut on me and ! was supposed to be
broken and humiliated. and I was sup
posed to be ended. Perkins stood by me-
He 10 the Oldest friend ! have since
David Graham Phillips was assassin
ated''
er $5. 900 in 1904 from his cousin, e. l..
Mclean. and returned II as he had Per-
kins' $4,000. Mr.. Beverage disclosed In
c!dentally that he had received 81. 900 for
his gubernatorial campaign this year
from the same cousin. but declined 1t
because his cousin was supporting
President Taft.
Asked IL Perkins acknowledged the re-
turn OF the $4,000. Bevendge replied
that Perkins wired:
AN honest man Is the noblest work
Of God
Financed Own Campaign.
Beveridge said he always financed his
own campaigns and never received a
cent for speaking tours for the Progress
sives this year. He also said he never
accepted a railroad pass or telegraph
frank" when in the Senate and caused
passage of the "anti-pass'' law. The
Progressive leaders disclaimed knowl-
edge OF any other political contributions
in 1904 or 1908, except that he heard
much money was being spent In the
State in 1903.
The Indiana Bull Moose showed a dis
position to complain Of the committee
for looking into his campaign fund. and
not investigating other Senators elected
that year and since.
but may 1 be permitted to ask why l
have been singled out for this honor"
inquired the Senator.
The committee heard one other witness. |
Henry c. Starr. Of Chicago. general
counsel for the Wisconsin Central Rail- |
road and chairman Of the Indiana Re-
public Executive Committee in 1904. The
witness testified that the National Com |
mittee sent $125. 900 into Indiana that year |
to aid the Republicans.
Expect Remedial Recommendation.
When the committee next meets 1t Is
1t will be to consider its re-
port and to make recommendations as
to the best means Of putting a stop. |
through legislation, to the extravagant |
use of money In national campaigns.
While the hearings have been extremely |
partisan in their nature, that the rep
Of the different factions en-
gagged in the present fight used every
possible weapon within their knowledge
and reach. in an effort to grind out good
material for use against their
opponents. 1t IL believed the report will
deal little with the partisan nature Of the
and will confine itself prin-
cipally to a statement of facts and to a
that Congress set a def
mite limit on the amount which an indi-
vidual may contribute to any one candi-
late.
This may take the form Of a bill limit
ing individual contributions to $4,000 and
prohibiting banks from pouring any
'unds into campaign war chests Of the
1ioits corporations from making contri-
buttons. There undoubtedly will be an
attempt. possibly by Chairman Clapp. to
have the recommendation take the form
If a Federal appropriation for campaigns
and prohibiting the raising Of other
'unds by the various candidates and
heir friends. It Is considered improba-
1ic, HO"SNcI. tuc IUdJOTity
II the committee, II there should be
more than one report. will declare in
avor OF this means Of remedying the
conditions aimed at
Eject ON Public Mind.
The only benefit which can be hoped
or as a result Of the hearings Just
losed must be found in the deep impress
ion made on the country by the vast
PERSONAL and corporation contributions
which have been brought to light While
he committee was unable to establish
ny connection between these large con-
ributions and favors conferred by the
10, the successful can
people at large are not ex-
ected to disbelieve that some such con-
lection. perhaps harmless In itself. ex-
sted. Because Of this belief II Is ex.
'ected that the country will be ripe and
he voters ready to demand some reme-
ial legislation to make popular cleo
Ions as independent ~ possible Of
money. One Of the heaviest contributors
o anv fund was William Finn. Of Pitts.