The Washington herald., 1912-08-06
NORMAN {. MACK
EXPLAINS FUND
Former Chairman Of Democratic
National Committee Tells Of
/, Campaign Gifts.
LEADER MURPHY GAVE $4,000

Norman E. Mack. chairman OF the
Democratic National Committee in the
1905 campaign. was witness yesterday
before the Senate investigating commit
tee as to Presidential campaign contri-
buttons and expenditures. In the course
Of Mr.. Mack's examination questions by
Senator Jones required him to testify
about the refusal of the committee to
refuse a contribution offered by Col
James w. Guffey Of Pennsylvania. Sem
ator Jones asked IL Mr.. Mack recalled
the rejection of any contributions offered
to the National Committee.
Yes; there was one such case. an
swered the witness. "Col. Guney offered
5000 to the committee, and 1t was not
accepted"
Because he was connected with the
Standard Oil Company" asked Jones.
"Col. Guffey may or may not have been
connected with the Standard Oil Com
pany," said Mr.. Mack, but the impress
sion of people generally was that he was
conr ected with that company. After the
election 1 accepted a contribution OF
s., 900 from Col Guffey. The committee
found at that time that the funds were
$4,000 short of the expenditures. III
Bryan had been elected ] would not have
taken Col. Guffey's money"
did he say it was a personal contri-
bution?" asked Jones.
'Yes; that was what he said to me"
Murphy Gave $4,000.
In the organization of the campaign
Mr.. Mack said William ]. Bryan, the
candidate for President directed the
committee not to accept any contribu-
tions from corporations and, OF course
they had complied with his directions.
What was the largest contribution!
asked Jones.
THE largest contribution, $4,000. was
gwen by Mr.. Murphy. Former Senator
Clark of Montana gave 5000 each to the
New York and Chicago headquarters"
Mack was not asked to identify Mr..
Murphy" but the implication was that
he referred to Mr.. Murphy, of Tammany
Hall Mack was shown the financial
statements Of the campaign. given to the
committee by Herman Ridder, OF New
York, when he appeared as witness
You assisted in the preparation Of
these reports?' asked Chairman Clapp.
Yes" said Mack. ''and that 1t con-
tains a practically full list of contribu-
tions. I want to go further than that"
continued Mack. THE record shows
every dollar received by the commit
tee"
Mack said there were more than 100.-
00O subscribers to the campaign fund.
This was due to the fact that many
Democratic newspapers received small
contributions and the totals were cred
tied to the newspapers in the record.
The committee, Mack said, received s90.
900 in amounts of 500 and over; S115, ,3o5
in amounts from 25 cents to SIS, and that
the committee had si2, 500 left over from
the Denver convention. Mack said that
in his county there were 1900 contribu-
tors to a fund that amounted to $4,000.
More than 100000 Gave.
In the campaign of 1904. Mack con-
tinued, he was a member of the Demo-
cratic National Committee. but devoted
practically all his time to the campaign
in New York State. He had nothing to
do with the raising of money in that
campaign and knew nothing of contri-
buttons except what he had read in the
newspapers.
Mr. Mack said in an interview after he
had left the witness chair:
Il am glad of the opportunity to eN-
plain to the country through the COM
mittee that instead Of 5000 contributors
to the fund of $500 600 which the National
Committee had in 1905, there were really
over 10000 contributors. That is to say.
the average contribution was approx
mately S6. ! am firmly of the opinion
that fund of l,0O0. 900. gathered in small
sums, ranging from 81 to SO each, is far
more valuable to the managers of a cam
paign than a fund twice as large would
be II. collected from a few corporations
and wealthy individuals"