New-York tribune., 1920-03-27
w ood Leaders
Call Borah's
Charge Absurd
Vigorous Denial Answers
Allegations of Huge Slush
Fund Used i'm Effort
to Buy the Nomination

Representative Norman J. Gould and
Colonel Thomas w. Miller, Eastern
managers of the Leonard Wood cam
paign committee, replied vigorously
yesterday to insinuations by Senator
Borah and rumors from various sources
to the effect that the Wood managers
are debauching the country with a
lavish expenditure of money to accom-
plish the nomination of General Wood
in the Chicago convention in June.
"The Wood managers are perfectly
willing to go to the bat on Senator
Borah's statement" said Mr.. Gould.
"The charge that the Wood managers
are trying to dominate the Chicago
convention is ridiculous. We are try
ing to bring General Woods charac-
ter, personality and achievements be-
fore the public so as to crystalline the
widespread popular sentiment for him.
Attack Based on Hearsay
"There are six candidates seriously
contending for the Republican nomi-
nation, and it is rather peculiar that
one of them is singled out for such
an attack upon hearsay only and not
on facts. Perhaps this antagonism has
been aroused following another victory
for General Wood in the South Dakota
primaries, which, while it might arouse
fears in the hearts of our opponents,
should not impel them to go to such
lengths to discredit a candidacy that
springs directly from the people, and
one which wins the popular choice
whenever and wherever the people have
an opportunity to express their choice
in the party primaries.
"The statement made in the Senate
that E. c. Doheny, head of the Mexi-
can Petroleum Company, had contrib
uted to the Wood campaign commit
tee was denied over Mr.. Doheny's sig
nature in a statement to the press. In
view of Mr.. Doheny's denial we can
say further that until his name was
brought out in the Senate no ore at
these headquarters knew him or had
heard of him. This speaks for itself u
Colonel William Boyce Thompson,
chairman Of the ways and means com
mittee of the Republican National Com
New York World" explicitly denying
that he was a contributor to the
"million-dollar" Leonard Wood cam
paign fund, as stated by that news
paper.
Denial by Colonel Thompson
81 am constrained to advise you,"
sertion as to my connection with the
matter is absolutely false. l have not
directly or indirectly contributed to
General Woods fund or to the cam
paign fund of any other candidate.
II have the very highest regard for
all Of those men who are candidates
for the Republican nomination, and
shall do all that | can consistently and
honestly do to elect the nominee, all
to the end that we may conclude the
bankruptcy of the Democratic leader
ship in Washington. l have not, how
ever, participated in nor shall l par
ticipate in any way in the pre-c convention
activities in the selecting Of the candi-
date. My effort, as is we'll known, is
es chairman of the National Ways and
Means Committee, in the endeavor to
help the Republican national organiza-
ton prepare for the campaign by de-
veloping and executing their plan of
decentralized giving and the obtaining
OF small contributions from great
number, that the evils of large dona-
tions may be permanently avoided.
This plan is an open book, and l am so
occupied, with many others, in it's
development that | have not had time
nor inclination, nor indeed have
thought it proper that I should con-
cern myself in any way whatsoever in
the matter of candidates.
~ am assuming that you will in
justice to The World in justice to
General Wood and other candidates,
any Of whom may be the beneficiary
of these efforts, and in justice to my
self, give to this statement of the
lCantlnund threaA