Evening star., 1940-04-08
Jones Denies Funds
He Gave Democrats
Came From Davis
Sees Political Motive
In Publication of
Oil Mans Letter

"dACCl "A. jules, 1cllllSylVdilld
politician and candidate for the
Democratic nomination for United
States Senator, last night branded
as malicious and unfounded"
story published yesterday in the st.
Louis Post-Dispatch and other
newspapers that he made contribu-
tions to the 1896 Democratic ma
tional campaign with funds ad-
vanced to him by William Rhodes
Davis, independent oil operator.
In a statement to the Post-Dis-
patch today Mr. Davis said he and
his associates did make it pos
sible for Mr.. Jones himself to make
contributions.
The original article, prepared by
Marquis w. Childs, correspondent
for the st. Louis Post-Dispatch,
was based on the contents of a let
ter written by Mr.. Davis in which
he told of his activity in the 1896
political campaign. The letter in
formed an associate of Mr.. Davis
that he had contributed to the
Democratic party through Mr.. Jones,
to whom he had made available
1921 ,286.06, part of which was to
be used as salary for Mr.. Jones.
"Too Fantastic" Says Jones.
Mr.. Jones said last night there
are so many misstatements in this
story that 1t is too fantastic to
answer in detail" He stated that
every cent" he contributed in the
Democratic party's campaign in
1886 was my own money"
1T Is to be expected that when
one is involved in a political CAM
paign," Mr.. Jones stated. "he sub
jects himself to almost every sort
of attack. This present attack upon
me, IN view of the fact that 1 am
a candidate for the Democratic
nomination for United States Sena-
tor, Is, however. too malicious and
unfounded to have the same 90 un-
challenged"
Mr.. Davis. commenting on the
story through an associate, Henry
w. Wilson, said in a statement:
Il have read the article published
in the st. Louis Post-Dispatch.
The letter quoted in that article
was written to man with whom 1
was carrying on certain business
negotiations. at his request and for
his information. 1t is surprising, to
say the least, to find this private
letter to Mr.. Ben Smith now pub
lished in a newspaper. (Mr. Smith
is a Wall Street broker whose iden-
tity was not revealed in the Post
Dispatch article)
"The impression which I intended
to convey in my letter, and which is
the fact, Is that I did not personally
make any contributions to the DEM
ocratic campaign in 1896, and those
made by Mr.. Jones were his own
contributions. All that I and my
associates did was to make it pos
sible for Mr.. Jones himself to make
contributions
Interested in Trade.
"Mr. Jones, who was in 1896 a
member Of the Finance Committee
of the Democratic party and an en-
thusiastic supporter of the Presi-
dent, is friend of mine of many
wears standing, and during that time
has been one of my associates in
various enterprises. I am not a
politician but, together with my as
sociates, am extremely interested in
international trade.
Prior to 1886, Mr.. Jones spent
a great deal of time in Washing
ton largely for the purpose of stim-
ulatlng the foreign trade Of this
country with particular emphasis
upon the movement abroad of our
country's surplus products. Mr..
Jones was familiar with the views
OF the administration with respect
to this subject which I then be-
lieved conceded with those of my
associates and myself. This was
confirmed by conversations which I
personally had with gentlemen
prominent In the administration.
For this reason, we were desirous
OF seeing the Roosevelt administra-
tion continue for another term with
the hope that we could be of some
assistance to our country in mov-
ing surplus products"
Mr.. Davis then went on to de-
scribe the hardships he had expe-
rienced as an independent oil man
at the hands of the international
oil monopoly" and his activities in
the petroleum market in Mexico.
He reiterated his interest in inter-
national trade and pointed out his
oil business is principally used as
his connecting link with that vast
field.
Text Of Statement.
Mr.. Jones statement, made In
Philadelphia, follows in full
my attention has been called to
a story published by the st. Louis
Post Dispatch and written by Mar
quis Childs.
There are so many mis-state-
ments IN this story that it is too
fantastic to answer in detail.
Every cent of money contri-
buted to the Democratic National
Committee and the PENNSYLVANIA
State Committee during the CAM
paign Of 1896 was my own money.
Any statement or act which would
indicate that any portion of this
belonged to any one else is in
correct.
MY interest in the 1896 campaign
was one Of devotion to Franklin D.
Roosevelt and his policies, which in
terest and devotion began long be-
fore the Chicago convention of 1892,
and is as strong today as it ever was.
This story, and one which was previ-
ously released some months ago by
Mr.. Childs, in my opinion, are un-
questionably part of a subtle plan
to diScredit President Roosevelt, and