Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-10-14
NOT APLEDGE GIVEN
mo Dollar Reflects Any
Promise" Says McCombS.
COST OF WILSON CAMPAIGN
Tells Clapp Committee Expenditures
Amounted to sos, 1893.
BEGAN HIS WORK IN MAY, 1911
Chairman of Democratic National
Committee Reveals Contributors.
Parker Explains Charges.
COST OF WILSON CAMPAIGN
BEGAN HIS WORK IN MAY, 1911

The financial operations OF the demo-
Gratis who sought the presidential nomi-
nation this year were on the program for
investigation by the Senate campaign
contributions committee today.
For a time before the committee con-
vened the gathering took on the appear
ance of IL democratic reception. National
chairman McCombs and William q. Nc
Ndoo were among the first 10 arrive and
a the other witnesses fled into the
room d general handshakins bee devel-
opcd.
Mr.. McComi,s was the first witness
called He said he Knew nothing of the
campaigns of 1904 or 1905.
Asked as to the 1912 campaign. Mr.. Nc
Combs stated that SI93,J65 had been con-
,ributed to the fund in behalf of Gov.
Wilson's nomination
Produces List of Contributors.
II began this campaign for Gov. Will
son in May. 1911 he said. For the
first month or two the campaign was
directed from my own office and 1 paid
the expenses out of my own pocket
Then / established headquarters in New
York. l think L spent about SlV,ouO my
self
Here Mr. McCombs produced a list of
contributors to the Wilson fund. Follow
fng were the principal REORGANIZATION
contributors:
Frederic c. Penfield. $4,000; William F,
:l.O-t: Charles r. Crane. $4,000; H. J.
Barrett. $500: r. B. Robert, $500:
George F. Handel. $500; r Mangill. $500
Abram l. Elkus. S12.5o Harvey Thomas,
n II N al
Fellows Platt. $500; Henry Morgenthau.
$4,000; Cleveland II. Dodge and Prince
ton friends, SIS. 500; Irving T. Bush, 81. Loo.
Joseph F. Guftey. Princeton friend 10 OF
termeyer, 5000. collected through VII
liam G. McAdoo, $1,000. of which amount
Jacob H. Schif gave $500.
Mr.. McCombs stated that he had re-
ceived a number of checks after the Bal
timore convention. but that they were
turned over to the democratic national
committee as soon as a treasurer was
appointed.
He explained that the $1,000 credited
to Fred c.. Penfield was all of the money
he had contributed. He said that when
he began the campaign he endeavored to
secure the services of Mr.. Penf1eld.
Senator Dixon Of the Roosevelt forces
on the stand had testified that he under
stood Mr.. Penfield had made huge con-
tributiOns.
Total Expenditures, $2O8, 1913.
While his prepared statement totaled
only 1888 565, Mr.. McCombs said the total
expenditures for the campaign had
amounted to sos. 1876. He asserted that
this represented all Of the money eNpend-
ed in the campaign and that to his knowi-
edge no further funds had been collected
and disburSed by the local organizations
i'm the various states.
Senator Oliver, questioned the witness as
10 a contribution of SS5,6OO credited to
Cleveland s. Dodge and other Princeton
friends" Mr.. McCombs said that Mr..
Dodge collected the money and Mr.. Nc
Combs produced a letter from him giving
the contributors as follows: Edward w.
Sheldon. $1,000: Thomas D. Jones, So
500; David =. Jones, $4,000: Cyrus H
Mccormick. $125OO, and Cleveland s..
Dodge. $5l, 900.
Under examination by Senator Pom
creme Mr. McCombs said that the Messrs
Jones. Mr.. Mccormick and Mr.. Dodge
had been on the board of trustees Of
Princeton University when Gov. Wilson
was making his efforts to democ-atize the
university.
With Gov. Wilson. and who had combined
thefr ideas with him at Princeton" said
Mr.. McCombs.
The witness said that beyond a small
fund expended by Mr.. McAdoo. his state
ment accounted for all Of the Wilson
funds.
Mr.. McCombs said that the greater part
of his funds were expended for publicity.
We had to acquaint the people Of
the United States with Gov. Wilson, he
ton was necessary
Not a Pledge Given.
II wish TO make one statement" vol
unteered the witness. There is not a
dollar in that statement that reflects any
promise express or implied. on my part
No representations were made to any one
To induce them to contribute except that
this country needs man like Wilson for
President OF the United States. Also Mr.
Mccormick, Mr. Sheldon. Mr.. Jones and
Mr.. Dodge contributed TO Mr.. Wilson 5
funds just as they would to Princeton
University. If Mr.. Wilson was president.
These gentlemen's contributions were
something of the nature Of Charles p.
Tafts contributions to his brother g
fund remarked Senator Oliver.
Just about the same" agreed Mr.. Nc
Combs
Chairman Clapp questioned the witness
As 10 the men in the various states who
conducted the campaign for Gov. Wilson
and obtained list OF names.
The witness was then excused
Judge Parker's Charges in 1904.
Following Mr. McComhs, Judge Alton
=; Parker. the democratic presidential
candidate OF 1904, was questioned con-
eernng expenditures during that CAM
paign.
DO you refer to both partieS?' lie
asked. The reply being Ito either" he
said he had no knowledge of contribu-
tions TO the democratic fund. He had
given instructions that nothing was to
lee accepted from corporations.
The witness said he had only hearsay
evidence concerning