Evening star., 1940-04-07
Oil Man Held
Secret Donor
To Democrats
$291.286 Reported
Made Available
By W. R. Davis
BY MARQUIS w. CHILDs,

BY MARQUIS w. CHILDS,
st. Louis Post-Dispatch Correspondent.
William Rhodes Davis, daring in
dependent oil operator who put over
series of barter deals between
Mexico and Germany, made secret
contribution to the Democratic party
IN the national campaign of 1886
that may have been larger than the
recorded gift of any single individual
to either of the two major parties.
Mr.. Davis has informed associates
that he contributed through Walter
A. Jones, Pennsylvania politician, to
whom he made available a total
Of 1921 ,28606. All of this, however,
did not go to the Democratic party,
part of it being salary and expenses
for Mr.. Jones.
This has been learned from let
ter written by Mr.. Davis, in which he
told of his behind-the scenes partici-
patton IN Democratic politics during
the last election. Mr.. Davis was
interested at the time in furthering
a plan for world trade involving
Germany, Mexico and the United
States.
Claims Roesevelt's Approval,
In his letter he says he had OBJ
tanned President Roosevelt's ap-
proval for his trade plan at a con-
versation in the White House In
May of 1886. After Mr.. Roosevelt
was reelected Mr.. Davis efforts to
carry out his ambitious plans for
world trade were unsuccessful and
he became involved in a bitter war
fare with the major oil companies
over enormously rich oil reserves in
Mexico. Nothing came of the
promises" which Mr.. Roosevelt
made to him, Mr.. Davis wrote.
British investors had put many
millions of dollars into a company
organized by Mr.. Davis, granting
him wide powers to develop a world
oil industry. In part at least the
money he contributed to the 1896
campaign came from this source, it
has been learned. Mr. Davis never
sought any personal gain from his
connection with the British CAPT.
talists. In fact. money put into the
British company he spent almost as
fast as it was made available to him
in the course Of his efforts to put
together an independent system with
worldwide ramifications.
Startling as these facts may SEEM
they are really only incidental to
the struggle for oil. The govern
ments Of a half a dozen nations on
two continents were involved in the
course of private warfare over q
commodity that must flow in a
ceaseless stream through the arteries
of industry If mans machines-and
particularly his war machines-are
to function.
Oil Issue Is Vital to War.
The contest over Mexico's oil is
not unrelated to the present war In
Europe, with the question OF Ger
many's oil reserves one of the vital
issues. Both before and after the
Mexican government appropriated
froeign oil properties, on March 18
1898. the struggle for this source OF
production went on, the warfare
being none the less bitter because
1t took place for the most part be-
hind the scenes.
While Mr.. Davis had a dramatic
role in the Mexican conflict. this
was for him only one more sklrmish
in an endless warefare with the
big oil companies-Standard Oil T.
this country and Roya. Dutch Shell
In Great Britain. In the courts
IN the press, in the foreign Offices OF
major and minor powers, Mr. Davis
sees the long arm of the oil com
blne' thrust out to checkmate MIN
1t was apparently because he feared
open participation in Democratic
politics would mean reprisals from
his enemies that Mr.. Davis hade
his large contributions a secret.
A copy of the Davis letter. sen,
to a former business associate
on January IA, 1898, was obtainee
from an authentic source which
would not permit publication of the
recipients name. At work in thu
new Texas oil field he has under
development, Mr.. Davis could no,
be reached for a statement. Hi.
associates in the New York Office
OF Davis g. Co., showed familiarity
with the details recited in the let.
ter but declined any comment ir
tne absence of the head of the
firm.
Jones at Conference,
Present at the conference with
President Roosevelt, according te
the letter, was Mr.. Jones, who i.
now in the Democratic primar,
race In Pennsylvania for the United
states Senate, opposing Senate,
Joseph F. Guffey. Immediately after
the White House conference. Mr.
Davis wrote: Il agreed with Mr.
Walter A. Jones to make contri.
buttons to the Democratic national
party and such other advences as
ne deemed advisable to certain
State Democratic organizations
providing that my name was moi
(see DAVIS, Page A-4J