The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-01-01
d q
WILSON'S BACKED
BY PRINCETONNEN
Presidential Candidate Getting
His Funds From Col
legians.
NOTHING FROM "lNTEREsTs'
Many Contributions Are Small,
$1,000 Being Largest
Received.
NOTHING FROM TNTEREsTs''

New York. December 3l.-ln the
discussion throughout the country OF
the availability OF Governor Woodrow
Wilson. of New Jersey, os Demo
cratic nominee for President the ques-
ton is often asked:
Where DO his friends obtain the
funds necessary for tho ante-conven-
ton campaign that is being conducted
on his behalf2"
This question was put yesterday
by al reporter to William +. McCombs,
Il lawyer at as Broadway, n Princeton
graduate and close personal friend of
the Governor, who 80 far has directed
the Wilson propaganda looking toward
his nomination for President
81 do not quite understand why that
question In asked of the friends of
Governor Wilson. rather than those
who are heading the campaign OF
other candidates for the Democratic
presidential nomination" said Mr.. Nc
Combs. II am quite certain that IL full
publicity was had 1t would be found
that with the exception OF Congress-
man Underwood the advocates OF other
candidates have spent a. great deal
more money than wc have to promote
the ends they are seeking. At least
1 should Judge so from the amount and
character OF the literature they are
sending out
1T has been suggested that your
campaign up to date has cost as much
Us 100000" AIr. McCombs was told.
That is ABSURD" was his reply. We
keep books in which every cent re-
ccivcd and expended is entered. Con-
scqucntly ] am in j position 10 give
you the exact amount OF our cXpcndi-
ture. Up TO date We have disbursed
exactly $22."93.e3'
Are you ready to open the books
and give the list oil these who have
contributed 10 the fund.-" Mr.. McCombs
was asked
''As far as | am concerned" was his
reply. Il would be quite willing to
hang list OF our contributors 10 tne
Icnce Of Trinity Church yard. We have
nothing to conceal. But l feel that
without the permission of those who
have contributed we should not make
their names public. You can readily
sec why some Democrats who are aid
ing the wilson campaign might prefer
not to have that known TO the Demo-
cratic l>aders in their home localities
al the present -'r-e.
Not one cent of nc money we have
received" Mr.. Nice nbs added, has
come from Wall street. or from what
Is generally called big business The
source of every contribution has been
carefully scrutinizcd. Not single
contribution has been made or offered
from any quarter that might have an
Interior motive In giving to his cam
paign fund Not u solitary dollar Of
the money spen. in furthcring the
cause OF Governor Wilson has been
given with a Wow of prejudicing him,
and there Is nothing in the entire HIST
that would tend TO compromise him in
the eyes OF the people. were the list
to be made public to-day"
colonel George Harvey. who is
looked upon as the representative OF
certain interests in Wall Street. has
appeared as one OF the warmcs; spon-
sors OF Governor Wilson. Did he make
q contribution"
We have not received any contri-
button from Colonel Harvey or from
any OF his friends In Wall Street" said
Mr.. McCombs. He added that the bulk
OF the contributions had come from
princeton graduates in different sec
tlons OF the country.
The biggest contribution we have
received from any source is $1,000"
said Mr.. McColnbs. "Arodestv forbIds
me 10 tell YOU who contributed that
money. There have been some checks
for $1,000. some for $1,000. several for
$500. more FOR 5000 and 500, and we
have received amounts rs low as SO
and 81, In fact, we had ono check for
each Of those amounts"
1t was learned that tho receipts are
only slightly In excess OF the disburse-
IT