The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-07-21
BY Associated Prss&

washington, July 20.-Herman KID
der, treasurer of the Democratic ma
tionaI committee in 1908, today pro-
duced for the inspection Of the senate
committee investigating campaign
contributions the official reports ne
had filed with the secretary of state
in 1905 ]. ]. Martin, private secre-
tary to the secretary of state, pro-
duced the reports as official custodian
for them These showed the total re-
ceipts were $620,644.77 and the total
expenditures were $619,41O.O6.
Mr. Ridder told the committee how
he raised the money for William j.
Bryan's last presidential fight
'I was the largest contributor, de-
clared Mr.. Ridder. Il gave $4,000.
Mr.. Bryan made a rule that no one
should contribute more than $4,000.
So $4,000 was subscribed in my name
and each of my sons gave $4,000
NOTHING FROM BELMONT.
did August Belmont contribute
anything IN 1908?" asked Chairman
Clapp.
NO he did not" said Mr.. Ridder.
Mr.. Belmont had told the COMMITTEES
recently that he contributed about
S25o,0 to the Democratic national
committee In 1904.
Did Mr.. Thomas F. Ryan con-
tribute in 1s0S?' continued Senator
Clapp.
'No, he didn't
Might they have contributed to
some one else?"
mo one unless Mr.. Sheehan-no
am sure they did not through Mr..
Sheehan, because the amount he con-
tributed was too small,'' said the wit
ness.
Tammany Hall contributed $4,000,
4nI1 Xh1
Robert Ewing, of New Orleans, collect
ed $37, 900, mostly in five and ten cent
pieces.
25,ooO PEOPLE CONTRIBUTED.
The witness recalled, with the aid
of the official records, that $4,000
names were enrolled on the list of con-
tributors. He picked out the largest
ones, putting into the record contribu-
tions by w. F. Sheehan Of $4,000;
John T. McGraw, $4,000; Edward M.
Shepard, 81 900; H. H. Lehman. s.. 900:
D. e. Conway, $1,000; Samuel Inter
myer, $4,000; J. Sargent Cram, 81 900;
Edward F. Goltra, $4,000; Morgan J..
O'Brien, $500; Delaney Nicoll, $1,000;
Nathan Straus, $1,250: John w. Cox,
$4,000; David r. Francis, $4,000, and
Norman E. Mack, $1,000.
Senator Clapp remarked that Mr..
Rtdder. every time he mentioned d
contribution by a Tammany man. re-
ferred to him as a good man."
do you mean to cast reflections on
the other contributors? asked the
senator.
NO" replied Mr.. Ridder. But after
Mr.. Bryan's denunciation at Baltimore
it seems necessary to explain the
qualifications of Tammany men. 1
collected the money in 1905" he added
'and 1 am sure not a dollar of it was
tainted"
No money was received from cor
porations for the campaign, Mr.. Rid
der assured the committee. 'I had
distinct orders from Mr.. Bryan he
explained, that no money was to be
taken from corporations
Have you any reason to believe
covered up by being made under
persons manner" he was asked.
None The contributions were too
small for that"
do you have any knowledge that
money was given for campaign pur-
poses through other agencies than the
national committee? ?''
mo. OF course money was given
to state committees
Mr.. Ridder testified that he had
nothing to do officially with the presi-
Dental campaign of 1904 nor the con-
gressional campaigns of 1906 or 1910.
also under investigation.
George r. Sheldon, treasurer of the
Republican national committee in 1908.
probably will be a witness next Thurs
day