Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-10-03
CORPORATIONS AIDED
ROOSEVELT'S ELECTION
SHELDON TESTIFIES

after his examination by the Clapp In
vestigating committee yesterday after.
noon George r. Sheldon, treasurer of the
1908. republican committee, testified. Sen.
ator Dixon did not reveal the authority
upon which he had made his sweeping
charge that enormous sums had been ex.
| pended in behalf Of the other candidates
for the presidential nomination. When
Senator Dixon demanded of Senator
Pomerene whether Gov. Armon had
made public statement of his expendi-
| lures. the Ohio senator half rose, grasped
the arms Of his chair, glared at the wit
ness. and said: II you'll step outside,
| I'll answer that"
Large Corporation Contributions.
Mr.. Sheldon testified that 73 per cent of
| Col. Roosevelt was a candidate. was sup
pied by corporations. Standard OIL con-
| tributed 100000 through John D. Arch
poid, and 100000 each was given by J. P.
Morgan & Co. H. c. Frick, a large stock
holder in the United States Steel Corpora
ton, and George J. Gould. representing
one of the great railway systems Of the
country.
| Mr.. Sheldon said Mr.. Bliss gave him a
ne noted these large contributions and
| that he was positive no record appeared
! of the $1CO.OCO Archbold contribution hav-
ing been returned.
The Hartman Contribution.
With equal positiveness, he swore that
the records showed the disputed Edward
IL. Hartman fund of $24O,OOO had been
received by Mr.. Bliss for the New York
| republican state committee, headed by
| B. B. Odell, jr
THAT fund of s24O,OOO was raised at
the request Of B. b. Odell," said Mr..
Sheldon. land turned over to his commit
tee in its entirety. Mr.. Bliss records
showed 1t was entirely apart from the
funds spent by the national committee"
Mr. Sheldon said he had no personal
knowledge Of the contributions. but that
the late Cornelius N. Bliss, then treas
urer, had shown him his report.
When | took charge of the treasurer
ship in 1908. Mr.. Bliss handed me a list
of large contributors in 1904
What percentage was contributed by
corporations?'
'"To be frank. 1872 per cent"
Mr.. Sheldon said he remembered the
contributions of Archbold, Morgan, Frick
and Gould because of their size.
Senator Paynter took up with the wit
ness the Hartman contribution of 1904,
and asked him to detail its circumstances,
as he had given them on his appearance
before the committee several weeks ago
Mr.. Sheldon said that his letter about
the Hartman fund was written as the
result of talk with Col Roosevelt. The
letter gave an account OF b. =. Oden get
ting the late Mr.. Bliss to raise 600.
state committee Mr.. Sheldon said the
records of Mr.. Bliss showed that the fund
of $24O,O0O had been paid direct to the
national chairman. Mr.. Bliss. land paid
by him direct to the state committee.
He said that the Hartman fund had
not entered into the funds collected for
and spent by the republican national
committee for the Roosevelt national
1904 campaign Mr.. Sheldon could recall
no spcific contribution by life insurance
would not say there were none He could
recall no contribution by Mr.. Havemyer
or by the sugar trust"
Contributions and the Tariff.
REPRESENTATIVE John Weeks of Massa-
chusetts was questioned as to campaign
contributions by New England industries
in 1903, prior to the tariff revision of 1909.
He said he had handled more than $11O-
coo in national, congressional and state
campaign funds that year. but that none
of it came from corporations, and none
of it was made as a result of tarin agi-
taton.
He said he knew nothing of a reported
conference in Boston in 1903 between
Speaker Cannon, Representative Mckin-
ley of Illinois and representatives of tex
tile industries of the state. at which the
impending tariff revision was said to
have been discussed.
Roosevelt Refuses to Discuss Testi-
mony.
OYSTER BAY, n. Y, October 3-Col.
Roosevelt shut himself off from the out
side world today to rest at Sycamore
HILL He gave instructions that no one
should be permitted to see him and that
no messages be taken to him. He spent
the day riding and playing tennis.
Col. Roosevelt had nothing to say re-
garding George r. Sheldons testimony
before the Clapp committee yesterday
that corporations contributed the major
portion of the republican campaign fund
in 1904, reserving his comment on cam
paign contributions until he should ,ap-
pear before the committee tomorrow. he
plans to leave New York late this after
noon to dine tonight with number OF
his political associates. At this meeting
plans for the remainder of the campaign
will be discussed. At midnight he will
leave for Washington.