The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-07-18
Republicans According to
Hi chcock Rejected Con-
trlbution in 1908
SOURCES OF FUNDS
TOLD BY WITNESS
w. +. Sheehan of Democratic
National Executive Com
mittees in 1904 Will
Take Stand Today

w aSftiNtS il tf4N, July lt.-~i cSlIi&S-
ter General Frank I'll. Hitchcock today
told the Senate committee investigat-
ing campaign contributions of 1904 and
1903 that the records OF the fund used
III President Iatt's election as filed in
Albany, \, s., were absolutely correct.
and that he could not supplement those
reports by testimony.
MIR. Hitchcock said the total collected
through various agencies of the com
mittce in 1908 was I.655. a1S.27. OF
that amount $620,15o was collected in
various States and handled by the local
State committees. The latter sum
never MAS turned into the treasury OF
the Republican national committee.
although that committee kept account
OF il.
Mr.. Hitchcock promised To furnish
the investigating committee with cop
les or the financial records OF the cam
paign.
No Corporations Contributed.
No contribution was received by the
Republican committee from a corpora
lion. Mr.. Hitchcock said. because Con
gress had just passed a law prohibit
ing such contributions. In this con-
nection the former chairman Of the
national committee told OF the only
near contribution lie could remember
of having rejected,
The rejected contribution was offer
cd BY Gen. r. Coleman du Pont, OF
Delaware then member OF the Re
publican national committee. actively
assisting Ia the management OF the
campaign. II amounted TO $4,000
He turned ii over to the treasurer
George r. Sheldon" began MT Hitch
cock When learned OF II ] sent TOR
Mr.. du Pont and told him that / dtd
not think we could accept ii because
the government had "a civil suit against
n corporation In which ne was inter
ested. I instructed the treasurer TO
return IL. aud he did so.
Not Given TO Any Other Fund.
Senator PAINTER asked IL this CON
tri6ution was given to some other
f4nd Mr. Hitchcock replied that
Gen du Point declared he felt ne was
not doing his part. being member
Of the executive committee, and ask
ed II he could not give the money IN
some way The witness said he re-
piled in the negative,
Nearly All Below s., 900.
Mr. Hitchcock insisted that with
the exception OF some twenty five all
the contributions were below $4,000.
we figured that the more persons
NE could get TO invest the more IN r.
terest they would take in the success
OF the venture" explained the former
chairman.
Before the system OF collecting
money by finance committees organic
ed In each State was put into opera
ton, Mr. Hitchcock said fortunately
friends OF the party came forward
with large contributions. The frst
Friends" he mentioned in this cate
CORY were {. p. Taft. brother of Pres
,dent Taft. who contributed $4,000;
William Nelson Cromwell, $4,000;
Mr.. and Mrs Larez Anderson. s26,-
600, Andrew Carnegie, $4,000 Will
liam Smith Cochran. $4,000: Frank
Munsey, $4,000: Whitelaw Reid.
$4,000; NJ. G.. Borden. $4,000, and
Gen. Corbin. for a number OF per
sons, $4,000.
several Blanks Contributed.
During the xamination Mr., Hitch
sock remembered that number OF
hanks contributed $1,000 each, and
that they might" have been interest"
I'd la corporations, but at any rate
'fnfs was u sma7f contributors for
them, ......
Members OF committee inquired n
the books OF the national committee
showed the amount collected In the
states under the direction or the com
mittee.
"Yes. sir" responded Mr. Hitchcoek,
The object In my appointing the
chairmen of these State finance COM
mittees was to superintend the col
lection of funds and to require the
State committees to report 10 the
national committee.
No Tobacco Money" Given.
.Did the tobacco trust contributor
inquired Senator Paynter.
mo, sir came the response
ANY Of its stockholders?
Not to my knowledge, Not that
am aware of. i am not especially
familiar with the stockholders.
know by name those who are chiefly
interested in 1t, and / do not have
any knowledge OF such Contributions
being received"
"Anw from stockholders of the steel
corporation?
Il believe some OF the men l have
mentioned as contributing at the
opening OF the campaign are inter-
ested in 1t. l think Mr.. Frank Mum
sey is
And Mr. Cochran" suggested SEN
ator Oliver
Yes, sir
Senator Paynter asked the former
chairman II he was acquainted with
any OF the stockholders of the Inter
national Harvester company. He re-
sponded that he knew the McCor-
micks, Frank Munsey. George Per-
kins and Clarence S. Funk, general
manager.
did Mr.. Perkins contribute" con-
-tinued- the senator.
Il do not think So
did the McCormicks?"
Not that remember. They would
be more likely to contribute to your
party. sir"
With the statement from Senator
Clap that the committee might de-
sire to ask about the connection of
some contributors with corporations
after examining the treasurer's books,
MIR. Hitchcock was excused.
Tomorrow William r. Sheehan. Of
the Democratic national executive
committee In 1904, will testify before
the committee