The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1912-07-17
CAVE LARGE sum
TO AID ELECTION
August Belmont Admits Do
mating S25O,OOO in 1904.
NOT CERTAIN OF AMOUNT


investigating Campaign contribu.
tons Witness Tells of Making Large
Allowances to the Democratic Ma.
tlonal Committee in Behalf of Judge
Parker.
Washington, July IA quarter of
million dollars was the estimate
which August Belmont, testifying be-
fore the senate committee investigat-
Ing campaign contributions, placed up
on his contribution to the Democratic
national campaign in 1904. He was
not sure that was the sum, but was
satisfied to let it go at that"
"My habit has been that if | feel
responsible for anything, my obliga-
ton is not measured by dollars and
cents" said Mr.. Belmont when Ser.
ator Paynter asked if his large contri-
button embarrassed him. Mr.. Belmont
was a member of the campaign eXecu-
tive committee that year.
Mr. Belmont told first of advancing
$4,000 to the Democratic national
committee. He said he had bean re-
imbursed $4,000
Those committees always start out
that way" he explained. They ask
for advances and then begin to raise
funds. Later they reimbursed me so
that the balance of $S, 600 only was a
contribution.
The capitalist remembered he had
paid two small items" of 1000 each
tc Maurice Cucor, a Hungarian lead
er in New York.
Senator Jones asked Mr.. Belmont
for the total of his contribution. The
witness thought he could not remem-
ber.
WAS 1t more than s50OOO?"
"Oh, yes"
"One hundred thousand dollars?"
"It must have baen more tnan tnar-
"Was it S250,000?" pursued Senator
Jones.
II doubt 1t. | tried to remember,
but find cannot" said Mr.. Belmont.
Senator Jones tried a new tack.
did you contribute by cash or
check"
Very often by cash"
"And check?" queried Senator Payn-
ter.
Don't Remember Exact Amount.
Seldom by check. ! cannot remem-
Der the exact amount, but | am salts
fed with an estimate of S250000."
Senator Jones asked Mr. Belmont
how much he contributed in addition
to the $25e,O00 given to the national
campaign.
The witness replied he always con-
tributed to the campaign in his own
| locality and to the state campaign.
He was not able to tell how much that
made in addition to the s250000.
do you care to give any reasons
why you gave so large a sum-" asked
| Jones.
Il was very active in the nomina.
tion," began Mr. Belmont. "and had
been selected to serve on the commit
| tee and when funds did not come In
| just contributed. never intended to
| make any such contribution, but when
| deficits arose I contributed"
| Mr.. Belmont was asked If he had
any understanding OF reward from
Judge Parker, the presidential candi
date
From the very outset Judge Parker
was a free and Independent man and
remained So"
"Did you expect any favors?"
"On the contrary, Judge Parker un
derstood from me that there would bt
nothing | could accept. ] was very
much interested In the campaign anC
gave purely as a Democrat"
Mr.. Belmont was unable to give al
accurate estimate of the total OF thu
funds at the disposal of the Demo
cratic national committe In 1904
When Senator Clapp asked, IL it wer'
a million dollars he guessed" 1t wa
not more than 100000 or 100000.
Il never asked for the specifi
amount" added Mr.. Belmont by wa,
of explanation. you see these thing
are not conducted like business cor
cern."