The Washington times., 1912-10-26
BEvER|OGE TELLS
CLAPP COMMITTEE
. Of RETURN|NGCASH
Former Senator Gave Back
$57, 500 to Perkins and
Mclean in 1904.

Former Senator Albert J. Beveridge
OF Indiana appeared before the Senate
committee on campaign contributions
today and, in simple and eloquent fash
ion, told the story OF the receipt by
him OF contributions amounting to
sb7, 900 In 1904 and his return OF the
money to the men who gave It, George
w. Perkins, Edward L. Mclean, Of
Ohio, and Gifford Pinchot
senator Beveridge's version OF the
matter left him In even better light than
ever. IL his enemies In Indiana have
hoped to break him down In any way
by disclosures with respect to this mat
ter, they have failed signally. 1t ap-
peared that Senator Beveridge was giy-
en- the money ~ the first place e. purely purely
contemplated using II in his Senatorial
fignt, and that he only waited until after
the election to return the money on the
advice OF his friends.
Commended for Honesty.
Not only this. but 1t appeared there
was appreciation Of his unusual action
In returning the money, for 1t was
brought out that George w. Perkins, In
acknowledging to Senator Beveridge
the return of the $4,000 which Mr.. Per-
kins sent, wired this telegram:
Letters and enclosures received. An
honest man Is the noblest work Of GOO.
Senator Beveridge told OF this tele-
gram cnly on the insistence OF the com,
mittee. He said, blushingly, he would
| rather not tell 1t. After describing ":
| he remarked he was keeping 1t to hand
down to his children.
But IL was brougt out by the testi-
| mony Of Senator Beveridge, not mere.
| ~ that he returned money sent him IN
1904. but that in this campaign, when ne ne
received 1900 from his cousin. Edward
L. Mclean, in Ohio. he returned II. Mr..
| Nc Lean is a Taft man and Senator
| iIeveridge a Roosevelt man and he fel,
he could not accept the funds under the
| circumstances. And, on receiving $lo
from J. H. Houston: an old soldier, I'm, IN
ed the money over to the State COM
mittee.
IL was perfectly apparent when Sen.
ator Beveridge got through that u the
Indiana had hoped to depress Bui
| Moose stock by the testimony on his
| line they made mistake.
Senator Beveridge made II plain Z
the committee at the outset that he fel
! IL was not quite fair for the. com
mittee to single out for investigation
his Senatorial campaign, when twenty
nine other Senators were elected II
and thirty-one In 1908.
Ready for Army Probe.
He put this up to the committed
squarely, and in reply Senator clapl
said:
III any Senatorial election Is called II
question because of the sending of fund
by the national committee 1t will b
made the subject of inquiry"
And Senator Paynter said that so IA
as he was concerned the INJURY into tn
Indiana SeSatorhl campaign was init
sted solely as th9 result of the testi
nnony concerning 1T from George w
Perkins himself.
After examining Senator Beveridg
and Henry G. Starr. of Indiana, tn
committee took a recess until after IN
election. While Senator Clapp an
nounced recess subject to the call q
the chairman. 1t Is well understoo
there will be ro further meeting unit
election is over.
The inquiry has been going on steadil
since September 30. and has brought on
NO end OF startling testimony.
today, owing to the slowness of trai
which was bearing Henry c. Starr. NJ
Starr was the chairman of the exec.
, tive committee OF the Republican Stat
Committee In Indiana In 1901. and ais
chairman OF the legislative committe
He ls a prominent ra 'lroad attorney
The testimony of Mr.. Starr threw IL
tie more illumination on the Hoosi'
Z Senatorial campaign OF 1904 than hs