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Show "ML' OF DEMOCRACY August Belmont Gave $250,000 to Parker Campaign Fund. Washington, July 16. A quarter of a million dollars was the estimate whioh August Belmont, testifying today to-day before the senate committee investigating in-vestigating campaign contributions, placed upon his contributions to tho Democratic national fund in 1904. He was not sure that was the sum. but Was "satisfied to let It go at that" "My habit has been that if I feel responsible re-sponsible for anything, my obligation is not measured by dollars and cents," said Mr. Belmont, when Senator Payn.-ter Payn.-ter asked if his large contributions embarrassed him. Mr. Belmont was a member of the campaign executive committee that year Mr Belmont told of first advancing ?50,000 to the Democratic national committee. He said no had been reimbursed re-imbursed $12,000. "Those committees start out that way." ho explained. "They ask for-advances for-advances and then begin to raise funds. Later they reimbursed me. so that the balance of .?8,000 only was a contribution. ' The capitalist remembered that ho paid two small Items of $1,000 each to Maurice Cucor, a Hungarian leader in New York. Senator Jones asked Mr. Belmont for the total of his contribution The witness tthought he could not remem-member remem-member "Was It more than ?50,000?" "Oh. yes " -SIOO.OOO?" "It must have been more than that." "Was It $250,000?" asked Senator Jones. "I doubt It. I tried to remember, but I find I cannot." said Mr. Belmont. Senator Jones tried a new tack. "Did you contribute bv cash or check?" "Very often by cash." "And check?"' queried Senator Paynter. "Seldom by check T can't lemem-bcr lemem-bcr the exact amount, but I am satis-fled satis-fled with an estimate of $250,000." "Do you care to give any reasons woy you gave so-large an amounr'nn-$250,000''" amounr'nn-$250,000''" asked Senator Jones. "I was' very active in the nomination," nomina-tion," began "Mr Belmont "and had 1 r-ee;i selected to serve on the committee, com-mittee, so when funds did not come in I Just contributed. I never intended intend-ed to make anv such contribution, but when deficits arose I contributed contrib-uted " Mr. Belmont was asked if he had anv understanding of reward from Judge Parker, the presidential candidate. candi-date. "From the very outset Judge Parker was a free and independent man and icmained so." "Nor did von expect to have any special legislation?" Senator Paynter askcl. "None whatoer. There was no Interest In-terest with which T was connected that could be helped by special legislation. legis-lation. ' Mr. Belmont was unable to ghe an estimate of the total funds at the disposition of the Democratic national na-tional committee in 1001 When Senator Sen-ator Clapp asked If it were a million dollars he "guessed" It wns not more than $600,000 or 700,000. Mr. Belmont produced a memorandum memoran-dum showing that on March 26. 1906. $4"17.30 was turned over to him as the remnant of bho Democratic war gunds. Mr. Belmont had been selected select-ed as treasurer of the national committee. com-mittee. Ho disbursed $28. leaving $419.30, which he turned over January Janu-ary 18. 1908, to W. H. O'Brien; treasurer treas-urer for the presidential fight. When asked if he could remember contributions from individuals or corporations cor-porations Mr. Belmont replied there were none from corporations. "Any from Individuals for corporations?" corpora-tions?" asked Senator Clapp. "Xo yes," replied the witness. "From whom?" Insisted Senator Clapp. "From Henry Havomeyer. but it was returned. 4 It was secured I won't say who secured it anyway it came. It "was later returned I remember a discussion in Mr. Taggarfs room to the effect that the contribution was regarded as undesirable Mr Belmont estimated the Hnve-movpr Hnve-movpr contribution as 10.000. He recalled re-called that he had asked Mortimer F. Plant for a contribution and got ' nrrhablv $2,500 " "Did yo solicit money from your friends and acquaintances?" asked Senator Clapp "Some, es " Mr. Bamont mentioned Mr. Frcod-man. Frcod-man. "one of the many directors on the Interhorough." Delanccv NScoll and Mr. Aurbach as men whom he had asUd to Contribute. He said Wall street gave little. "Who was the most act've in raising rais-ing funds?" the chairman asked. "Oh, that is a 'bins no one de-otes de-otes all his time to." was the response. re-sponse. "Assigning sneal'rs and distributing dis-tributing literature is the great worV. Every Democrat was supposed to contribute con-tribute " After telling thp committee he was nable to'clvp any information a.s t whereabouts of Charles Hall, asai an nea'mr of the committee 1904 Mr. Be'niont was excused. |