New-York tribune., 1912-01-24
CULBERS0N IN ATTACK
Texas Senator Accuses RepubIi-
can Committees of Corruption.
DEMANDS AN INVESTIGATION
Intimates That Ambassadorships
were Given as Rewards
for Contributions.

Washington. Jan. 23.-Asking for an IN
vestgation into campaign expenditures In
1904 and 1903, Senator Culberson, of Texas
, in the Senate to-day made charges OF cor
ruption against the Republican commit
tees for those and other years Indirectly
he charged that foreign ambassadorships
were bestowed as a reward for campaign
contributions, and inferentially he alleged
that President Roosevelt had condoned the
use OF money in politics.
Mr.. Culbersons speech was made in ex-
pectation of an unfavorabe report by the
Committee on Contingent Expenses on his
resolution providing for an investigation
lie said that the limitation OF the proposed
inquiry TO 1874 should not be construed as
a confession that there had not been i'm
proper practices before that period.
Referring especially to the campaign OF
1908. Mr.. Culberson said that contributions
10 the Democratic fund had been made by
1900 persons. with $500 as the largest.
while those to the Republican fund were
made by 1880 persons, with Charles +.
Taft brother Of the Republican candidate
for President at their head with gift OF
$1,000. Among the contributors mentioned
were Ambassadors Reid and Kerens and
Minister Larz Anderson.
Mr. Culbcrsun said that George B. Cortel-
you was chairman OF the Republican Ma
tional Committee in the campaign OF 1901,
while he was Secretary OF commerce and
Labor. and intimated that Mr.. Cortelyou
Lad taken advantage OF the secrets OF cor
porations whose affairs might be investi-
gated under the federal law to obtain
money for the campaign
''It has been estimated" he said, that
the enormous and unconsCionable sum OF
81, 90 Oc0 was raised and probably eXpend-
cd that year by the committee or whlch
he was chairman. The very size ana
audacity Of this fund II approximately
correct. smack OF extortion. profigacy and
curruption Who contributed and where
cid II come FROM
Mr.. CuIborson said there should be an in
oury to answer these questions.
He went into some detail regarding news
papcr charges that T. II. Hartman had
raised the fund 81 s2sr.noo 10 which he
himself had contributed $1,000, in support
Of the Republican ticket in the campaign
of 1904 lie said that within the last few
vcoks an effort had been made to clear up
this charge. and added: This attempt to
unload
dlsgracef,1 transaction. which is said 10
have changed hfty thousand votes IN the
civ Of New York alone, may be significant
IN several ways. II may he IN" common
end ordinary case of malefactors waiting
for the absconding or death or witnesses.
or II may prcsagc political movement "
national consequence and magnitude.
Contending that his resolution ala no'
ro hack Of 1905 Mr.. Culberson said TINS
was due 10 the necessity Of fixing hmit
ord was not because Of the fact that
money had been corruptly used before that
time
Men high in party councils, h" sal''
49,. 90 tbcr afterward attaining the
Vlce-presidency. and then the PresioehcS'
laughed and rejoiced In 1850 around inc
banouot board that soap was potenua'
IN elections. It IS we'll remembered no"
lanes u. Foster. president or the hepuo
l,can League in 1855, would nave I'e"
the fat out OF special and protecteo III
,orostq IN force campaign Contributions
tIonest and patriotic men viii never cease
IN recall the shame and moruhcatloh tha'
NTH g. notes Dudley noaters were organ
ized into blocks OF five in the election III
Indiana that year. Nor have foreign am
bassadorships been only recently meas
ured by fat contributions. for the pnolc
revolt against Van Allen and hyde y
fresh in the memory Of the well IN
formed"
In reply to questions from Senator Cal
linper. Mr.. Culberson said that the hgures
regarding campaign contributions had
been taken entirely from newspaper re-
norts He added hts conviction that they
were fairly we'll authenticated. but that
,bev should be officially investigated.