New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-24

1000 or $4,000, and stated at the
time or subsequently that he would
! like 10 have his name considered in
connection with a diplomatic mission,
whereupon tho contribution was at
once returned TO him.
Q.-You have not only testified TO,
but believe there is contained directly
or by implication in the publication OF
which we are complaining, reference to
the evil Of undiscloSed contributions.
Why did you think that that matter
was important in 1914, and why did
you not in 1904, If you then entertained
such notions, make an investigation as
to who passed the hat for you. to
whom they were passing, and how much
they got?
Al knew who was collecting the
money, as | told you. | myself Sc
lected Messrs. Bliss and Cortelyou. end
selected them because they were men
Of stainless probity, on whose word |
could absolutely rely, and selected
them because, when | had their guar
antee that not a dollar was taken i'm
properly, the result bore me out. Never
did Mr.. Cortelyou or Mr.. Bliss ask me
TO take or refrain from taking any
single action of any kind because of any
contribution that had been handed in
to elect me or in aid of the party in
any way, and the only request that was
ever made
Odd you see any connection what
ever between business and politics IN
contributions Of 100000, $4,000 or
100000? A.-No more connection than
there is when those same men contrib
ute to the Young Mems Christian AS
ISOLATION. | mentioned that because
Iii Il tafr
the time that he was contributing so
heavily to the compaign funds has con
tributed much more literally to the
building of the Young Mems Christian
Association, and the contribution from
Mr. Perkins of 5000 might be con
siderably less than a contribution OF
S25 from the station agent at Oyster
Bay, and | should feel as grateful TO
the one man for the S25 as to the
other for the $4,000 contribution, and
| should be incapable of acting for
either in any way because of that con-
tribution.
Q.-Do you mean to say that you
would regard contributions of $1,000
900 to a political campaign fund from
business men in a campaign where you
were running for President as being in
the same class and category as con-
tributions to the Young Mems Chris
tian Association? A.-Yes, precisely,
and with no more hope of reward.
Tribute to T. F. Ryan.
Q.-Do you place Mr.. Ryan's con-
tributions TO Mr. Parker, which
amounted to something more than half
a million dollars, in the same category,
for instance, as Mr.. Ryan's contribu-
tion for the building of st. Joseph's
Church in New York City? An his
case have no question that it was
done in the same spirit. Mr.. Ryan was
very strongly opposed to me and
wished to beat me, and | believe he
was entirely sincere in his desire to
do it.
Q.-Given that spirit and given that
sincerity, do you see any evil IN these
contributions A.-When they become
too large | think there is a real evil.
Q.-When they become too large
at what point beyond 100000? A
That couldn't tell you.
Odd you make any such sugges-
ton while you were President of the
United States? Al did not.
Q.-Have you any recollection Of the
Republican national campaign Of 1908?
Al have not.
Q.-Who nominated your successor?
A-The Republican National Conven-
ton.
Q.-Who dictated his nomination?
Al don't think any one dictated his
nomination.
Q.-Who suggested it or recommend
ed it? Al was one of those who
suggested and recommended it.
Q-You suggested it while President
of the United States? Al did it
while President of the United States,
because / found that if didn't sug-
gest or recommend the nomination Of
somebody | would be nominated myself.
o. didn't ask you that. Your coun-
sci can ask you later. | asked you a
question and would like to have an
answer. Al suggested 1t. | wasn't
the first TO suggest it, but | was one
of those who Joined in the suggestion.
Fought 1t Tooth and Nail.
Q.-As a matter of fact, was there
not at that time a pretty strong move
ment or impulse toward your own re-
nomination? A-There was; ! had to
fight it tooth and nail.
Q-Now, do you remember on the
night of your election to the Presl-
dency, in November, 1904, having made
any announcement with regard to the
possibility of your running again? A.
/ do.
Mr.. Wins read the statement, which
said: Under no circumstances will |
be a candidate for or accept another
nomination"
Q.-Now, did you make statement
to the representative of "The Omaha
Bee" in 1905: "You are authorized TO
state that | will not again be candl-
date for the office of President of the
United States. There are no strings
TO this statement. | mean it,? Al
don't remember the statement.
Q.-Now, to return TO the nomination
of Mr.. Taft. There was considerable
pressure on you at that time from one
quarter or another to run? A.-Ihere
was great pressure.
Q.-And, in order to stop 1t, you
personally took part in determining
who should be the nominee, did you
not? Personally to the extent OF
expressing my preference.
Q.-You recognized, did you not, that
the expressed preference of Presl-
dent of the United States who himself
was being strongly urged to run again
was somewhat unlike the ordinary pref
erence of the man in the street? A
Entirely alike. recognized that the
expression of that preference was
strong factor, but that it would not be
n decisive factor if the man did not
have other strength; also that It would
be a decisive factor in all probability
if he had the other strength.
Taft As a Candidate.
Didn't you know that there was
considerable question at that time
about the advisability of nominating
Mr.. Taft? Al knew there was oppo-
sition TO ii.
Didn't you know that there was
opposition TO Mr.. Taft IN the state OF