Evening star., 1928-03-08
SAYS REPUBLICANS
HELD PRESS CHAIN
New Yorker Testifies Foreign
Language Papers Were
Acquired in 1919.

oped that prominent Republicans IN
1919 had paid out or assumed obliga-
tions amounting to 100000 for an or
ganization of foreign language newsEa
pers.
James A. Patten, retired Chicago
grain operator: William v. Hodges
treasurer of the Republican national
committee, and M. j. Pessin of New
York we're the principal witnesses
From Patten the committee learned
that $25.OOO of the Continental Son0-
given to the committee by Harry F. Sin
clair had been turned over to him to
be disposed Of.
Hodges furnished names of Contribu-
tors to the party campaign chest. in
Guiding small contribution by Robert
w. Stewart, who refused to answer
Senate questions about the Continental
bonds
The testimony as to the newspaper
organization purchase was given by
pessin, who said Senator du Pont OF
Delaware. William Boyce Thompson OF
Chicago and the late John T. Pratt OF
New York were the purchasers. He
understood the deal was for political
purposes. Two hundred thousand dol
lars was paid and obligations OF twice
that amount were assumed.
How could it help politically?"
1T was supposed to have great In
fluence with the foreign language news
papers"
Pessin then explained the organiza-
tion placed advertising with the foreign
language newspapers in New YORK ana
elsewhere.
Patten revealed that he disposed of
~f al ~
boEdS, which we're tuned over 10 the
Republican national cornittee in 1873
by Harry F. Sinclair.
These bonds were part of the $780,
900 which Will H. Hays. former chair.
man Of the Republican national COM
mittee, forwarded TO the late Fred w
Upham, treasurer of the Republican ma.
tional committee. during and after the
1920 presidential campaign.
Patten said on December 5. 1923. Up
ham called on him and told him that
there was a large deficit coming over
from the 1920 campaign "and that q
lot of United States bonds had been put
up as collateral to secure the loans OF
the national committee"
Used Bad" Language"
He wanted me TO put up $25 900 and
Scii tIie uLiOuit Ai uoHOo, EuttSH SaAo
Il was indignant and mad at the size
OF the deficit" he said. I'm afraid
used bad language"
THAT will be overlooked here" said
Senator Walsh. Democrat. Montana.
Can l repeat the language?" Patten
asked. as the crowd laughed.
Il saw the necessity for paying of
the deficit" he continued Il went u
my secretary and had him send check
was mad. ! hate to give up money
to pay for dead horse. wondered
why Upham gave the bonds to me in
stead of selling them in New York. the
best market In the world"
Patten said he pondered over what
to do with the bonds, and finally de-
cided to give them to the Jefferson
Hospital, to which he had promised a
contribution of $4,000.
Il had no idea of the origin OF the
bonds at the time. he said, After
ell OF this came out l had an id6 =
where they came from"
Names Contributors.
Asked by Senator Walsh as TO the
Chicago people who were the heaviest
contributors TO the Republican CAM
paign funds. the grain dealer named
William Wrigley. Jr.: E. b. Eckhart.
A. Miller. Arthur Cutting and the Nc
Cormicks
Walsh suggested that Cyrus e. Nc
Cormick was Democrat. but Patten
said he would contribute 10 the Repub-
lican war chest.
Did you ever contribute to the
Democratic fund.-" asked Chairman
Nye.
Il would in the local campaign" was
the reply Il had friends running for
ONCE and they would come around and
tap me-
Patten said he did not own a share
OF stock In any oil company In the
world" He presented TO the committee
a statement and Cancelled checks. show
ing that from 1920 to 1924 he contrib
uted total OF SOL. 900 to Republican
campaigns. local. State and national.
included In the total were contribu-
tions Of 5000 to the 1928 primary cam
paign Of Frank o. Lowden. and $4,000
10 the primary campaign OF the late
MAJ. Gen. Leonard Wood and $500 TO
the Hoover campaign In the same year
The Hoover donation was paid to r. H.
Rawson.
Hodges said that when he
took ONCE In 1924, Upshan turned
over TO him a check for $8.780 96, rep
resenttng the balance to the account
OF the national committee.
This was on June 20. after President
Coolidge had been nominated at Cleve-
land,
The witness testified that Upham did
give rim some memoranda as to con-
tributions prior to 1924. Among the
Chlcago contributions during 1921. 1921
and 1923 read from this memoranda
nv SpnRfnr W1tgh lssS
Armour. $4,000: Samuel Insult. $4,000:
Albert ID. i.asker. $1,000 Edward r.
Carey, $1,000: Il. A. Eckhart. $4,000:
James A. Patten. $4,000: George Getz,
$ll 900; George NJ Reynolds. $1,000:
4. M. Rosenthal, $4,000: Julius Rosen-
Wald. $1,000: Siias H. 3trawn. $1,000:
Fred w. Upham. $8.750. William Wrig-
ley, $4,000, and w. A. Warner. $4,000,
Hodges examination was interrupted
while Pntten was recalled for question:
in3 AZ to contribution Of $37,85 APP
pearing on the Upham memo.
Fred came 10 me and said, Jim.
there Is balance due OF $37.B5 and |
want your check for It, Pattcn said. I
thought that cleared II all up and 50 !
gave him my check"
Il see that after that you gave 5000. "
observed Chairman Nye
We'll. that was for the succeeding
campaign: " Pattcn replied, You know
they need money every year"
Yes. ! know that" Nye replied.
You asked about Democratic contri-
buttons" Patten volunteered: "tnat last
81 500 on the list 10 Frank s. Peabody
was for the Democratic party"
1T was tor the States attorney cam
paign?" asked Senator Walsh,
Yes" patten replied
New York Dona tionx.
Recalled 10 the stand. Hodges handed
the committee book showing the New
York contributions to the Republican,
party This record was for the years