The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-08-14
OdeII Explains SheIdOn's TeSti-
mOny About Hartman Fund.
Says He May Have Been MiSin-
formed by Bliss.
ROOSEVELT KNEW ABOUT IT
Witness Saw Letter He Wrote
to Head of e. p.
Inviting Him to Come to the
White House.

Washington, Aug. 14.-Former Gov
ernor Benjamin B. Odell of New York
told the senate committee Investigating
campaign funds a story of Edward H.
Harriman's $240,00O contribution of
1903 so different from that told to the
committee by George R. Sheldon that
members of the committee asked Mr..
Odell how he accounted for the Vari-
ances.
The former governor remarked that
Cornelius n. Bliss, treasurer of the Re
publican national committee in 1904,
might have told some white lies to
Mr.. Sheldon about it. Sheldon was as
sociated with Bliss unofficially in 1904
and was treasurer in 1908.
The substance of Mr.. Odell's testi-
lnony was that President Roosevelt
asked Mr.. Hartman in 1904 to
come to the White House to talk
about campaign funds. Following that
talk, said Mr.. Odell, Mr.. Hartman
raised $4,000 for the campaign and
turned 1t over to the Republican ma
tional committee. Mr.. Odell said he
had received 100000 of that contri-
button for the New Yor-; state cam
Daign and the balance remained in the
hands of the committee.
Mr.. Odell testified that Mr.. Harri-
man had told him Col. Roosevelt had
agreed that if necessary he would heir.
out in the New York senatorial situa-
ton by appointing Senator Chauncey
NJ OSp6Ny AMBASSADOR TO france,
thus leaving the senatorial contest
clear for Frank S. Black, former gov
ernor of New York.
Mr.. Sheldon had testified that the
contribution had been arranged be-
tween Mr.. Bliss and Mr. Hartman
and that Col Roosevelt never knew
about it until a long time after cleo
ton. He denied that it had been a
subject of correspondence between
the former president and Mr.. Harri-
fr1r
titled 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
S25O,0OO which was handed over to
the state committee and never went
to the national committee.
Chairman Clapp introduced the sub
1ect of the Hartman contribution by
asking the former governor what he
knew of Mr.. Harriman's having stated
in n letter to Sidney Webster that Mr..
Roosevelt asked Hartman to come TO
Washington during the campaign of
1904.
OdeII's Story.
"In October, of 1904" began Mr..
Odell, 81 was requested by Mr. Ha1rl-
man TO lunch with him. 1 went to , is
office and during lunch he showed me
letter from President Roosevelt ask
ing him to come to Washington. 1 was
chairman of the state committee tnat
year. Mr.. Hartman asked me what
1 supposed the president wanted.
Il told him my opinion was that he
wanted to consult with him as to New
York and the financial conditions of
the national committee. Mr.. Harri-
man said he did not want to go but
after talking it over, he told me he
would
Il requested Mr.. Hartman to bring
to the presidents attention the sena-
tOrial situation in New York and tell
him the organization was in favor of
Black for senator, but as yet had i
kindly feeling toward Senator Depew,
and would like to have him taken
care of; that if Mr.. Roosevelt could
do so, it would be a happy solution
for him to appoint Depew ambassa-
dor to France. Mr.. Hartman came
to Washington and a few days after
ward 1 again lunched with him.
His narrative was uninterrupted by
questions and every senator gave
close attention.
He told me was correct-that the
president was anxious about the fin
ancial condition of the national COM
mittee and would like to have Har-
riman's help. Mr.. Hartman said he
asked about the senatorial matter and
the president said that if it was nee
esSary he would do as 1 requested.
Mr. Hartman said he was ready
to help the national committee l
suggested that he wait until the COM
mittee exhausted other sources before
giving assistance