The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-10-22
HARMON $4,000 AND
UNDERWOOD 10000
Says Harmon Was Good
Presidential Timber and
That Senator Bankhead
Asked Him to Help I'm
derwood-Was Not Asked
to Aid Clark or Wilson.
BIZ ASSOCIATED PRESS.

Washington, Oct. 21.-Thomas For
tune Ryan was the first witness to-
day before the senate campaign con-
pibutton soz-1mittee.
Mr.. Ryln told the committee that
he sho,ldered $3.50, 900 of the debts of
the Democratic national committee In
1904.
Early in the campaign" he said, 'T
gave $4,000 to the fund, although I
was opposed to the nomination of
Judge Parker. I gave probably $4,000
in smaller contributions. When the end
of the campaign was drawing near and
1t was quite apparent that Mr.. Parker
could not be elected, some Of my
friends came to me and told me the
campaign would collapse unless the
committee received financial assist
ance. I finally agreed, in order to
pay the party workers and preserve
the dignity Of the party, to furnish
$350,000. This made q total Of $780,
600 / gave throughout the campaign.
This was q personal contribution and
did not represent anybody except my
self. did not give the money to try
to elect Parker. I merely wanted to
preserve the Democratic organization"
FOR HARMON AND UNDERWOOD.
In reply to questions concerning the
pre-convention campaign Of 1912, Mr..
Ryan said he had contributed between
$4,000 and $4,000 to Gov. Harmons
campaign and more than $4,000 to
Representative Underwood.
when I came back from Europe In
1911 / made up my mind that the
prospects of Democratic success were
very bright he ssId. II thought any
Democrat except Mr.. Bryan could be
elected and I was willing to aid any
other man. He had led the party to
defeat three times and regarded him
as the only cloud on the horizon.
had no special interest In any one, but
had known Gov. Harmon Of Ohio for
twenty five years and believed he
would make a good president. / gave
his managers somewhere between $75,-
600 and $4,000.
EANkHEAD ASKED FOR MONEY.
Later on my friend, Senator Bank
head, manager for Mr.. Underwood,
came to me with an argument in IA
vor of southern man for president
That appealed to me and gave him
thirty thousand dollars. I was not
asked to aid Mr.. Clark or Mr.. Wilson,
but would have given them assistance
II 1t had been requested"
Mr.. Ryan said that before Mr.. Par
ker's nomination he was convinced he
could not be elected.
PERKINS A WITNESS.
George w. Perkins was the next
witness. He gave his occupation as
retired workingman-'
Asked as to the campaign Of 1904
Mr.. Perkins said that he was asked
by Treasurer Bliss to take a place as
q member of local committee in New
York to aid in collecting funds for
the campaign.
Il worked In New York" said Mr.
Perkins, with Mr. Bliss. There were
similar committees in Philadelphia,
Pfttsburg, Boston and Chicago"
Mr.. Perkins fatty denied that he
knew OF any concerted political ac-
ton by the financial interests In Wall
street He said that as he remem-
bered it. he gave $4,000 or $4,000 to
the fund in 1904
Il was connected with the New York
Life Insurance Company and I knew
OF that company's contribution" said
Mr.. Perkins. and he produced long
statement regarding the contributions
of the New York Life Insurance Com
pany. The statement quoted at length
frnu4fuued oy, para Yshraa