Jasper County Democrat, Volume 15, Number 53, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 October 1912 — MORGAN DONATED $150,000 IN 1904 [ARTICLE]

MORGAN DONATED $150,000 IN 1904

Testifies No Favor Was Expected by Him for Campaign Aid. GIFTS ALWAYS UNSELFISH Financier Denies That Roosevelt Tele- ■ flraphed for Contribution, as alleged by Writer—ls Willing Witness Before Senators.

Washington, Oct. 4.—J. Pierpont Morgan proved a willing witness before the Clapp committee investigating campaign expenditures. He testified he had given $150,000 to the Republican campaign of 1904 and $30,000 to the Republican campaign of 1908. In an hour’s examination Mr. Morgan denied emphatically the charge by Charles Edward Russell of New that President Roosevelt once had telephoned for a campaign contribution; declared he never had any communication with Mr. Roosevelt and asserted that he knew of no conferences among financial mem in 1904 or in 1908 to agree on supporting Republican or Democratic presidential candidates. Willing to Answer All Queries. Mr. Morgan s first appearance on the witness stand In manv years was marked by a willingness ( to answer fully all questions. He the testimony of George R. Sheldon that he had given SIOO,OOO. to the Republican national fund of 1904 and added that later he gave $50,000 to the socalled “Harriman fund" of $240,000

raised for the New York state committee. Mr. Morgan asserted no contribution ever had been made by his firm or himself with the object of winning any favors thereby. He was especially interested in the 1904 campaign, he said, solely for the welfare of the country and the people at large. That was the only interest, he said, that had guided him in making contributions to political parties. The testimony of Mr. Morgan supported that of Mr. Sheldon, that the so-called “Harriman fund” of 1904 had been raised as an emergency fund to help the New York state committee. Mr. Morgan said he understood that to be the fact when he gave $50,000 to the fund November 1, 1904. Mr. Harriman had said it was raised at the request of President Roosevelt. Mr. Morgan reached the committee room before the hour set for the hearing, accompanied by his son-in-law, ' Herbert L. Satterlee. Gives Name, Business, Etc. • “Give the stenographer your name, please,” said Chairman Clapp. “John Pierpont Morgan.” “Your address?” “Two hundred and nineteen Madison avenue, New York." . “Your business?” “Banker.” Chairman Clapp called Mr. Morgan's attention to a published article by Charles Edward Russell, charging that President Roosevelt ( had demanded that Mr. Morgan raise SIOO,OOO for his campaign and that Wayne MacVeagh had been present when Mr. Morgan talked with the White House over the telephone. "Do you remember any such incident?” asked Senator Clapp. “Nothing whatever," replied Mr. Morgan emphatically. “I never corresponded over the telephone, telegraph or by mail with President Roosevelt that I know of,” he added, “nor with any one at the White House.”