Ottumwa tri-weekly courier., 1912-08-15
Former New York Cover
nor Tells Senate Commit
tee Roosevelt Asked Mag
nate to Raise Fund.
TAKES ISSUE WITH
SHELDON TESTIMONY
Declares Fund Of $24O,0 900
Went to National Com
nittee and 100000 to
State; Roosevelt Knew It.

0tatS, hOOSGVelC hneW IL.
Washington. D. c., Aug. 14-Former
Governor Benjamin B. Odell or New
York, told the senate COMMITTEES a.
vestigating campaign funds, story 81
EDWARD II. Harriman's $4,000 con.
tributlons OF 1904 SO different from
mat told to the committee by Geo. r.
sheldon that members OF the com.
mittee asked Mr.. Odell how he ac.
counted for the variances.
The former governor remarked that
Cornelius N. Bliss, treasurer Of ths
republican national committee in 1904.
might have ''told some white lies" to
MI Sheldon about it. Sheldon was
associated with Bliss unoficially In
1904 and was treasurer in 1908.
The substance Of Mr.. Odell's testi.
mony was that President Roosevelt
asked Mr.. Hartman In 1904 to come
to the white house to talk about cam.
paign funds. Following that talk.
said Mr., Odell, Mr.. Hartman raised
$240,000 for the campaign and turned
1t over to the republican national
committee. Mr. Odell said he received
100000 Of that contribution for the
New York state campaign and the bal.
ance remained In the hands of the
national committee.
Takes i.suo Win sssIdon \ TSstj iino,sy. ",
Mr.. Odell testified that Mr. Harri.
man had told him, Col Roosevelt had
agreed that II necessary, he would helm
out In the New York senatorial situar
ton by appointing Senator Chauncey
M. Depew ambassador to France. thus
leaving the senatorial contest clear Tor
Frank s. Black, former governor Of
New York. Mr. Sheldon had testified
that the contribution had been ar.
ranged between Mr.. Bliss and Mr.. Har.
riman and that Col Roosevelt never
knew about 1t until long time after
election He denied that 1t had been
q subject Of correspondence between
the former president and Mr.. HART.
man. Mr.. Sheldon had further tcsti.
fed that Mr.. Odell had come to Mr..
Bliss to see about raising money for
the state campaign and that later Mr..
Hartman and Mr.. Bliss got together
"about $250,O0O," which was handed
over to the state committee and never
went to the national committee.
Hartman Got Summons From =. Il.
Chairman Clapp introduced the sub.
ject OF the Hartman contribution by
asking the former governor what he
knew OF Mr.. Hartman having stated
in letter to Sidney Webster, that
Mr.. Roosevelt asked Hartman to come
to Washington during the campaign
of 1904.
"1n October of 1904" began Mr..
Odell, II was requested by Mr. Harrl-
man to lunch with him. went to his
Office and during lunch he showed me
q letter from President Roosevelt ask
Ing him to come to Washington. I was
chairman Of the state committee that
year. Mr.. Hartman asked me what
I supposed the president wanted.
II told him my opinion was that ho
wanted to consult with him as to New
national committee. Mr.. Hartman
said he did not want to go but after
talking II over, he told he he would.
II requested Mr.. Hartman to bring
the presidents attention to the sem
atorial situation in New York and tell
him that the organization was In favor
Of Gov. Black for senator, but as vet
had a kindly feeling toward Senator
Depew and would like to have him
taken care Of; that II Mr. Roosevelt
could do so, it would be happy sol,i-
tion for him to appoint Mr.. Depew
ambassador to France.
Hartman Asked to Help With Fund.
"Mr. Hartman came to Washington
and few days afterward I again
lunched with him" continued Mr.. Odell.
His narrative was uninterrupted by
questions and every senator gave close
attention.
"IIe told me was correct-that the
president was anxious about the hnan-
cial condition OF the national COM
mittee and would like to have Mr.. Har-
riman's help. Mr.. Hartman said he
asked about the senatorial matter and
the president said that II it was nee.
essary he would do as requested.
"Mr. Hartman said he was ready to
help the national committee. sug.
gested that he wait until the commits
tee exhausted other sources before
giving assistance.
Hartman Paid Over Money.
subsequently, Mr.. Cortelyou came
to my ONCE and said he was unable
to raise the rest of the money for the
state committee. The rest amounted
to about 100000. said 1t was an
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