Collected $1,655,578 To Help Elect Taft.

New York Times 100 years ago today, July 18, 1912:
Hitchcock, Before Senate Committee, Denies That Tobacco Trust Contributed in 1908.
RETURNED DU PONT'S $20,000
Suits Against Powder Trust Made Contribution Undesirable, Said Mr. Hitchcock — Some Contributors.
Special to The New York Times.
    WASHINGTON, July 17.— The story of the Republican campaign fund in 1904 was told to the Senate Committee on Campaign Expenditures to-day by Postmaster General Hitchcock, who was Mr. Cortelyou's right-hand man in the Roosevelt campaign and who was National Chairman in the campaign that elected President Taft.
    In the way of contributions, he said, he had nothing to change in his statement filed at Albany, showing a total of contributions of $1,655,518.27. The law against receiving contributions from corporations, said Mr. Hitchcock, had already gone into effect, and his committee strictly obeyed it. None of the stockholders of the Tobacco Trust contributed, as far as Mr. Hitchcock could remember, in 1908, and the one questionable contribution, he said, was returned. That was $20,000 offered by Gen. T. Coleman du Pont of Delaware, now a supporter of Col. Roosevelt. His offer was rejected because of suits pending against his company.
    "He turned it over to the Treasurer, George R. Sheldon," began Mr. Hitchcock. "When I learned of it I sent for Mr. du Pont and told him that I did not think we could accept it because the Government had a civil suit against a corporation in which he was interested. I instructed the Treasurer to return it, and he did so."
    Senator Paynter asked if this contribution was not then given to some other fund.
    Mr. Hitchcock replied that Gen. du Pont declared he felt he was not doing his part, and asked if he could not give the money in some way. Mr. Hitchcock said he had replied in the negative.
    "I am positive he did not contribute It to any other fund," he added, "because I have talked to Gen. du Pont about it since the campaign. He said that when the fund was returned he considered he had given it to a cause, and placed it on special deposit."
    "It may come in handy," remarked Senator Oliver, aside.
    "Is he a Roosevelt man?" inquired Senator Paynter.
    The question was unanswered. Mr. Hitchcock insisted that, with the exception of about twenty-five, all the contributions were below $5,000.
    "We figured that the more persons we could get to invest the more interest they would take in the success of the venture," explained the former Chairman.
    Mr. Hitchock said friends of the party came forward with large contributions. The first friends he mentioned in that connection were Charles P. Taft, brother of President Taft, who contributed $50,000; William Nelson Cromwell, $25,000; Mr. and Mrs. Larz Anderson, $25,000; Andrew Carnegie, $20,000; William Smith Cochran, $15,000; Frank Munsey, $10,000; Whitelaw Reid, $10,000; M. C. Borden, $10,000, and Gen. Corbin, for a number of persons, $10,000.
    During the examination Mr. Hitchcock remembered that a number of banks contributed $3,000 each, and that they might have been interested in corporations, but he thought, at any rate, that was a small contribution for them.
    Several Senators inquired if the books of the National Committee showed the amount collected in the States under its direction.
    "Yes," responded Mr. Hitchcock. "My object in appointing the Chairmen of these State Finance Committees was to superintend the collection of funds, and to require the State Committees to report to the National Committee."
    "Did the Tobacco Trust contribute?" inquired Senator Paynter.
    "No, Sir."
    "Any from stockholders of the Steel Corporation?"
    "I believe some of the men I have mentioned as contributing at the opening of the campaign are interested in it. I think Frank Munsey is."
    "And Mr. Cochran?" suggested Senator Oliver.
    "Yes, Sir."
    Senator Paynter asked Mr. Hitchcock if he were acquainted with any of the stockholders of the International Harvester Company. He said he knew the McCormicks. Frank Munsey, George Perkins, and Clarence S. Funk.
    "Did Mr. Perkins contribute?" asked the Senator.
    "I do not think so."
    "Did the McCormicks?"
    "Not that I remember. They would be more likely to contribute to your party. Sir."
    When asked if Mr. Funk contributed or if he had requested him to do so, Mr. Hitchcock replied he never talked to any officer of any corporation about contributions during the campaign.
    To-morrow William F. Sheehan of the Democratic National Executive Committee in 1904 will testify.