Omaha daily bee., 1912-07-18
HITCHCOCK GIVES
REPORT ON FUNDS
President Taft's Campaign Manager
Appears Before House
Committee.
STATEMENT FILED IS CORRECT
Nothing Supplementary to Give to
STATEMENT FILED IS CORRECT
Nothing Supplementary to Give to
These Figures. A
NO CORPORATION MONEY Ia
Law Passed by Congress Was Fl
lowed to the Letter.
COMPLETE RECORD IS KEPT
More Than Million and Half Col
lected and Expended--RepOrt
Filed with, New York
Secretary of State,

WASHINGTON. Juy 17.-Postmaster
General Frank Hitchcock today told the
senate committee investigating campaign
contributions Of 1904 and 1908 that the
record Of the funds used in President
Taft's election as filed in Albany, N. Y,
were absolutely correct and that he
could not supplement these reports by
testimony.
Mr.. Hitchcock said the total collected
through various agencies of the commit
tee in 1908 was 81, 655, ,5lS.T. OF this amount
s620,l5 was collected in various states
tees. The latter sum never was turned
into the treasury Of the republican ma
tional committee. although that commit
tee kept account Of 1t.
Mr. Hitchcock promised to furnish the
investigating committee with copies Of
the financial records of the campaign.
No contribution was received from
corporation, Mr.. Hitchcock said, as con-
gress had just passed law prohibiting 1t.
He told of the only subscription he could
remember having rejected.
Dupont's subscription Rejected.
1t was offered by General T. Coleman
Dupont of Delaware, then a member of
the republican executive committee, ac-
lively assisting in the management Of the
campaign, and amounted to $4,000.
HE turned 1t over to the treasurer.
George r. Sheldon" began Mr.. Hitch
cock When l learned of 1t, told Mr..
Dupont I did not think we could accept
1t because the government had a civil
suit against a corporation In which he
was interested. l instructed the treas
urer to return it and he did So"
Mr.. Hitchcock replied General Dupont
declared he felt he was not doing his
part and asked IL he could not give the
money In some way. Mr.. Hitchcock
said he replied in the negative.
Il am positive he did not contribute It
to any other fund.-" he added, because
have talked to General Dupont about
1t since the campaign, He said that
when the fund was returned he considered
he had given to cause and placed it
on asspecial Deposit
''It may come In handy7" remarked
Senator Oliver aside.
rs he Roosevelt man?' inquired SEN
ator Paynter. The question was unan-
swered. 1. .---..s...
Mr.. Hitchcock insisted that with the
exception of about twenty-five, all the
contributions were below 5000.
I'VE figured that the more persons we
could get to invest, the more interest
they would take in the success of the
venture" explained the former chairman.
Before the system Of collecting money
by finance committees organized In each
state was put into operation Mr.. Hitch
cock said: fortunately friends Of the
party came forward with large contri-
buttons.
Larger Contributors.
The first friends he mentioned in that
connection were Charles P. Taft, brother
of President Taft, who contributed $780,
900; William Nelson Cromwell, $4,000;
Mr.. and Mrs. Lars Anderson, $4,000;
Andrew Carnegie, $4,000; William Smith
Cochran. $4,000; Frank Munsey, $4,000,
Whitelaw Reid $4,000; NJ. C. Borden,
$4,000, and General Corbin, for number
Of persons, $4,000.
Ibid the Tobacco trust contributor"
inquired Senator Paynter.
mo, SIR"
Amy of its stockholders?'
mot to my knowledge. 1 know by
name those chiefly interested and l do
not have any knowledge of such con.
tributions being received"
Amy from stockholders of the steel
corporation?'
Il believe some of the men have mell-
toned are interested In II. I think Mr..
Munsey is."
And Mr.. Cochran" suggested Senator
Oliver. -
Yes, SIR" =...
Senator Paynter asked Mr.. Hitchcock
II he were acquainted with any of the
stockholders of the International Har-
vester company. He said he knew the
McCormicks, Frank Munsey, George Per-
kins and Clarence S. Funk
did Mr.. Perkins contributor" asked
the senator. +.
II do not think So
did the McCormicks?"
MOT that remember. They would be
moro likely to contribute to your party.