Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-09-30
Son Of Republican Cam
paign Committee Treas
urer Testifies.
MILLIONS TURNED OVER
But Holder of Money Consider
ed 1t Mans Right to Be Pro-
teCted in Giving.

Washington. Sept 3O-The senate
subcommittees renewal Of the inves-
tigation of presidential campaign con-
tributions today marked the beginning
ot hearings that are expected 10 bring
many leading financiers, politicians
and candidates to the witness stand
in the next two months.
Ormsby McHarg. contest manager
for Roosevelt at the Chicago conven-
tion, who organized the south for the
colonel, was on hand when the COM
mittee convened. His story of the
preconvention campaign and contests
he managed for Taft in the 1903 cam
paign, were expected 10 be his chief
testimony.
BLISS HEARD FIRST.
Cornelius n. Bliss, Jr., was the first
witness. He said he was executor OF
his fathers estate.
Have you found any papers bear
ing on campaign funds handled by
you father" asked Chairman Clapp.
He said the records did not show
any contribution by John d. Archbold
or the Standard Oil company.
Members of the committee examin-
ed records which were placed in evi-
dence by Bliss. No names of contri-
butors to the 1904 campaign fund ap-
peared in the records. Bliss read
his fothers letter of resignation to
Harry S New. The letter set forth
that the late Bliss held confidential
the names OF contributors and the
amount of their contributions in the
last four presidential campaigns in
which | acted as treasurer"
s3.OOO.OOO IN 1900.
Il persistently refused to make
these reports public" the letter read,
because ] regard the relations OF
campaign contributors TO the party
committee confidential. ! believe the
right to refuse to make public these
contributions as sacred as the right
of a man TO cast secret ballot at
an election" The letter added the re-
publican committees receipts in 1900
were a "trife below S3OOO,0OO." in
1896. S3.5OO.OOO: in 1892. $1,000, 900.
The witness said he discovered three
other letters OF personal and more
or less intimate nature"
FROM II. II. AND TAFT.
These were handed to Clapp. One
was from Roosevelt and another from
Taft, as secretary Of war. The com.
mittee suspended the inquiry a few
minutes while the members read the
letters privately.
The letters we're placed in the rec.
ord as exhibits. They were not read
aloud and their contents were not di
lulged at the time. Bliss said he had
no other documents and no recollec.
tion OF any conversations with his
father which would throw any light
on the subjects under investigation.
URGED FOR CHAIRMANSHIP.
Later. however. the contents of the
two letters became known. The Taft
letter. written May 6. 1904. urged the
late Bliss TO take the chairmanship
saying Roosevelt was most anxious
for II, adding. as chairman. Bliss
would secure the confidence OF those
from whom contributions may he ex
pected The letter Of Roosevelt. the
date the same. also urged him to take
the place. The witness said his fa
tier told him he allowed the books oi
the treasurer's office of the national
committee 10 be destroyed because he
the elder Bliss. believed the records
useless. They contained the names
and amounts of contributors. Since
his fathers death he destroyed a great
many papers left by the elder Bliss.
Il know nothing / destroyed could
assist this committee" declared the
witness. The cross examination fail
ed to shake his statement Bliss was
excused
Substantial portions OF the three
letters 70 Mr.. Bliss were finally made
public. Two are of no particular in
terest, while the third. dated March
20. 1905. written by Roosevelt from
the White house to Bliss. made speci
fic denial that he ever had been in
tuenced for or against any persons
or interests as the result Of contri
buttons in the 1904 campaign.
The committee decided that Orms
by McHarg would not be heard today
OIL MAN CALLED.
William n. Libby OF New York. for
eign representative OF the Standar,
Oh company. was sworn.
The campaign OF 1905 foreshadow
Cd tariff revision" suggested Clapp
What interest did your company TAX,
IN that campaign"
Nothing ! know OF in the way o
contributions" said Libby Il was in
formed by II. H. Rogers that in 800
the Standard made a very large con