Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-06-04
.|NS|DER D|SCLOSES
INTIMATE SECRETS
OF CANT PA|GN FUND
Charles HI. Duell Uncovers
MOnell's Scheme to
Underwrite Wood.
FINANCIER WANTED TEN
100000 CONTRIBUTIONS
Witness Declares General Was
Well Aware of Million
Dollar Plan.
RAISED 100000 AS STARTER
Sprngue Is Flntly Contradicted by
Testimony, Coming as Big
Surprise.
RAISED SfoO,O0O AS STARTER
Sprague Is Flntly Contradicted by
Testimony, Coming as Big
Surprise.

WASHINGTON. June 3.-Au tho
golden details of New York finan-
ciers' plans for launching the prcsi-
dental candidacy of Major-GeneraI
Leonard Wood In sea of money
were laid bare by the Senate political
expenditures investigation TODAY.
when Charles Fl. Duell, New York
attorney, who admitted his Intimate
Knowledge Of the details Of tho af-
fair, testified on the 'slush fund"
General Wood himself was in tho
home of Ambrose Mcneil at New
York City the night the plans for
tho underwriting of his candidacy
to the extent of sl.0o00oo was dis
cussed and he acquiesced." was tho
statement of Mr.. Duell, who has since
severed all Wood connections.
Mcneil is connected with the Inter-
national Nickel Midvalc Steel and
American Bank Note Companies.
The sum-up of his indictment of
the Wood candidacy as ono linked
with big moneyed interests was as
follows:
/. That Ambrose Mcneil conceived
the plan to have ten men under
write tho campaign for s1.00o.oO0.
each to be responsible for 100000,
indicating Willingness personally
TO accept responsibility up to $780,
600.
Raised s4GO,ONO mt One Time.
.. That just as n starter" for tho
campaign. 100000 wns raised at n
meeting in the Plaza Hotel. ut which
Mr. Mcneil. Colonel w. c. Proctor
and General Wood himself were
present. This was after the break
between General Wood and John II.
King. which ended Mr.. Duelrs con-
nection with the campaign.
3. That Mcneil proposed Robert
*. Cassatt. son OF the late president
of the Pennsylvania Railroad, as a
100000 underwater of the Wood
candidacy, and Mr.. Cassatt. in Gen.
cral Woods presence, declined to ac-
cept that financial responsibility,
although friendly TO tho Wood
cause.
4. That during the period follow
Ing, Mr.. Mcneil developed into a
quiet collector" for the Wood cam
paign, raising money in huge sums,
but maintaining the strictest secrecy
with reference to his operations. Mr..
Ducll said that the collector" spoke
OF n $4,000 collection at ono time.
but never gave any other informa-
tion.
w. b. Burtt Real Treasurer.
On the heels OF Mr.. DueIrs testi-
mony came the revelation that the
real Keeper OF the Wood exche-
quer" had been connected with Mr..
prior to the opening OF the cam
Thnt II
tired brigadier-general. who was
sent to the committee with the Wood
cash records.
II was connected with Mr.. Mcneil.
but 1 had no knowledge OF any
money being given to the campaign
by him." protested General Burtt.
why, it has been started hero
already that Mr. Mcneil loaned $780,
900 to the Wood committee. Didn't
you know anything about that?"
asked Senator Reed. of Missouri.
Il wasn't referring to that trans
action and l had nothing to do with
it personally" General Burtt in
sisted
From General Burtts records the
committee got an interesting insight
TO the Wood policy applied to- ex-
penditures. 1t was shown that ap-
proximately $4,000 worth of vouch-
ers issued against Indiana eXpendi-
lures were signed by General Wood
personally.
What significance is to be at
tached to this circumstance In con-
nection with the fact that Indiana
laws limit expenditures by COM
mi oh nj apin ctri.,
tion upon tho amount which can be
spent by candidate himself?" asked
Senator Pomerene. OF Ohio.
Followed Prevalent Customs.
mo significance whatever" re-
piled the witness. I'VE did just what
every other candidate does. We COM
piled with the laws in Indiana. >
Nothing more
The only testimony aside from that
furnished by tho Wood ''fnanciers,"
bore upon the Lowden funds "drop-
ped" so conveniently In Missouri. W.
l.. Cole, tho Republican state chair
man. who received both Lowden and
Harding money, denied that he knew
the Lowden money came from tho
Illinois Governor, when 1t was given
him fdr campaign expenses in
congressional district.
General Burtt. who styled himself
assistant to Colonel w. C. Proctor,
Wood manager, who himself con-
tributed approximately 100000. told 4
tho committee that since no retired
as n brigadier OF the army serving
abroad. no had been employed In a
confidential capacity by Ambrose
Mcneil.
rs this the Mcneil, head OF tho
International Nickel Company, who
~ l(ContInued -on SS1coTd- 1TTo-Y Y- & 4 4