The Detroit times., 1912-08-15
my DEAR HARTMAN NOTE
FIGURES IN INVESTIGATION
OF 1904 CAMPAIGN FUND
Former Governor OiDell Told by
Hartman Roosevelt Was I'm
easy About New York
HARTMAN GOT $4,000
Money Was Needed to Keep
Pledges to Workers in
State Campaign
HARTMAN GOT $4,000

WASHINGTON, Aug La H.
Hartman, the late railroad king who
helped the Republican campaign in
New York state in 1904. and Harri-
mans conferences during that year
with President Roosevelt, figured IN
testimony given 10 the senate cam
paign contributions investigating COM
mittee today by Ben b Odell, former
governor of New York, and In 1904.
manager for the Republican state
campaign. Odell prefaced his exam
nation with the declaration that all
records OF the finances OF the state
campaign that year had been de-
stroyed.
at was customary in those days.
he explained.
The witness explained that in 1904
the state committee collected $780,
900 outside the national committees
assignment of 100000 for their work.
Odell was asked If his attention had
ever been called 10 letter purport-
ing TO have been written by Hartman
TO Sidney Webster in 1906. In which
Hartman was SAID to have stated
that in 1904 President Roosevelt had
sent request for him TO come 10
Washington
Il have seen the letter" the wit
ness answered
do you know anything outside OF
what appears in it, asked Senator
Cispp.
II do" said Odell. Early in
October, 1904. was invited by Mr..
Hartman 10 lunch with him. | &C
cepted and during the luncheon he
showed me a letter from President
Roosevelt. asking him TO come TO
Washington. We had some converse
ton as 10 why the president wanted
TO see Hartman. told Hartman
that in my opinion the president
wanted 10 ask him as 10 political con-
ditions In New York and consult him
as TO the financial situation
Mr. Hartman came TO Washing
ton and saw Col. Roosevelt. A few
days later had breakfast with Har-
riman and he told me | was correct
In my opinion as to the conference.
Ii was shown in that conference that
the president was uneasy concerning
the state ticket in New York
Continuing Odell said that the ma
tional committee had advised him of
its inability TO raise even $780, 00 of
the $500,00e promised the New York
state committee for the campaign.
Then 1t was that Hartman was called
upon. and he raised ttnd of sax, eee
which h.a-sturnedE over TO Treasurer
Blis, Ut the national committee.
Bliss. Odeil, said gaye-the state COM
mittee cneck for $500 900 OF this
fund. .-.--. ~. < ---.- /, a..
'yTlis m,dey;% the witness said.
was used TO Garry out agreements
had made with county chairman and
1890 district workers 10 furnish
money az needed in the campaign.
About 100000 was used to make a
canvass OF New York city. and SOC, 900
for manning the polls for registration
day"
How much did you understand that
Treasurer Bliss received from Harri-
man." asked Senator Clapp.
my understanding was that Harri.
man had collected all OF the $246, 900
fund. That vas what Hartman. told,
me-"
''You had no fear as to the result OF
the election in New York state. and
dius hOb abh lOT 4SOV,OVO TO prevent
certain deteat?"
Il needed the money for pledges
made to party workers early in the
campaign. did not ask for the
money to meet a special emergency"
Then the money was to meet obi.
gations?"
That was the case. The fight was
won"
Odsll sad ~ understood lat HAr-
riman contributed $4,000 TO the ma
tional committee IN 1904.
Was the national committee in
touch with local organizations in the
state?" asked Senator Clapp.
No the witness replied. What
ever the rational committee ordered
done was done by me-"
Odell said there had been no con.
tributions 10 him by trusts or men
prominently identified wiz trusts.
He also said that he paid little at.
tention to the financial feature OF the
campaign leaving that in the hands
Of Col. Fox, the treasurer.