Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-10-17
so ASSURED ROOSEVELT
Deposits for Republican National
Committee in October, 1904.
BANK ACCOUNT PRODUCED
James o. Murfin Charges Lavish
Use of Money by Taft Support
ers in Michigan.


eating Campaign contributions a copy of
the bank account for the republican ma
tional committee in 1904 at the Fourth
National Bank of New York 1t showed
deposits, among others. of $4,000 in the
last few days of October; $4,000 October
p, 100000 October 2S and $1O5, 600 Oc-
tober 81. This was about the time the So
called Hartman fund was collected.
George B. COrtelyou, chairman of the
national committee in 1904. was ques-
toned about John d. Archbold's testi-
mony that the Standard Oil Company
contributed S1O00OO to the republican
fund that year. Mr.. Cortelyou said the
question had been brought to his atten-
ton by letters and kilograms from Presi-
dent Roosevelt in the last days of the
campaign of 1894. When he spoke to
Treasurer Bliss about it the latter had
said there had been no such contribu-
tions
Mr.. CortelyOu said that he had not
thought it necessary to go to Mr.. Bliss
with further kilograms from the Presi-
dent inauiring about the Standard Oil
contribution. because he supposed that
Mr.. Bliss original statement covered the
case.
Gave Roosevelt Assurance.
II told the President at that time just
what Mr.. Bliss told me-" he said.
Mr.. Cortelyou could not remember Mr.
Bliss having arranged for him to meet
some of the STANDARD Or people. II
know Of no such incident" he said
He said he never had asked J. p. Nor
gan for any contribution for any purpose.
Mr Cortelyou said he knew little Of the
SO-called Hartman fund, but insisted ii
was raised entirely for the New York
state committee. He denied that early in
the 1904 campaign he had promised B.
b. Odell, jr., $500. eco for the state CAM
paign.
Did Not Order Books Destroyed.
T. Mr.. Cortelyou denied he had ordered
the books Of the 1901 campaign Destroy
ed or that any gathering or COMMITTEE"
OF New York financiers was formed to
underwrite the republican campaign.
He disagreed with George r. Sheldon's
estimate that 73 per cent of the 1904 re-
publican fund was contributed by corpora
tions and declared the bulk of the fund
was given by large individual con-
tributors.
Mr.. Cortelyou at length defended his
conduct OF the 1904 campaign. and re-
Piled vigorously to criticism of his ap-
pointment as chairman. following his
service as Secretary Of Commerce and
Labor. with supervision of the bureau OF
corporations. He protested he know moth
ing of the so-ca'led secrets Of CORPORA
t;ons," and wished to shoulder ali re-
possibility for his associates on the 1904
committee.
President Roosevelt was not active in
the management Of the 1904 campaign, he
In his charge, as chairman, and the
President did not interfere The com.
mittee recessed for lunch with Mr.. Cor
telyou on the stand.
Lavish Use of Money Charged. .
Prior to Mr.. CorteIyou's examination,
James o. Murfin. a Detroit lawyer.
charged that lavish use of money was
made by the supporters of President Taft
m the Michigan primary campaign.
Mr.. Murfin said that when he and a
Capt. Alger raised 81, 900 and offered it to
John d. Mckay, in charge Of the Taft
campaign. Mckay said ''he had plenty Of
money-more than he had ever had be-
fore in any campaign"
Murfin testified he understood Mckay
to say that candidates for delegates to
the county convention were holding him
up Tor as much as $500 each.
1t is matter of general knowledge
that the primaries in Detroit this year
were the most corrupt on both sides
that Were ever known" said Muriin.
1T was just about as bad on one side
as on the other. but our people were
the most skillful and We got the dele
gates. But both were absolutely rot
ten.
Il asked Charles 3. Warren how much
money was To be used in Wayne cOun-
ty. He asked me how much I thought
was necessary. I told him that not
more than s2.5O0 could be honestly
spent. He told me Mr.. Mckay insisted
on having $1,000 before he started.
'Well.' 1 said, well have a rotten
campaign and we did," declared the
witness emphatically. 1T was the
worst campaign we ever saw.
why senator" he exclaimed, an
swering Senator POmerene, both sides
bartered for these delegates like so
many sheep. Some of them accepted
money from both sides. OF course, 1
don't know the details. but that was the
general situation"
who would know the details?" asked
Senator Pomerene.
John d. Mckay