The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-05-04
WHAT SEC. ROOT MEANT
When He Said the United States Might
Have to Sustain the Doctrine.
THE DANISH WEST INDIES
Likely to BE the Bone Of Contention as the
United States Failed to Buy the
Islands and Germany IL Now
Negotiating For Their
Purchaae.

Negotiating For Their
Purchase.
(News-Democrat Leased Wire Service.1
New York, May 1.-The Times prints
a sensational story regarding H. n.
Rogers, of the Standard OIL company.
being mixed up in the recent attempt
of Danish representatives to complete
xhe sale of the Danish West Indies to
the United States for $4,000 900. Nego-
tiations are now reported on between
Germany and Denmark. To this Sec
retary Root referred in q recent speech
when he said the United States might
have to fight for the preservation Of
the Monroe doctrine.
The Times says that Captain Won
Christmas has just reported on the mat
ter to his government and a copy is in
the hands of the United States govern
ment at Washington. 1t is said that
Secretary Whites sudden visit home
from London is regarding this business.
The Times says that Rogers three
years ago offered the Danish govern
ment to effect the sale for 10 per cent.
commission on the price. The negotia-
tions proceeded favorably. Captain
Christmas. the Times says, was inform
ed by Rogers that he could, through
the Standard OIL Company, control 26
senators. Christmas was unwilling to
believe that any private citizen had
such power as Rogers claimed, but re-
mained in this country sparring for
time. Meantime, the Danish West In
dies bill died in the house. Christmas
then sailed for home April II and ne
gotations were begun with Germany.
:, REFUSED TO TALK.
the Standard Oil company. refused to
be interviewed regarding the stories Of
his attempt to act in the Official nego-
tiations for the sale of the Danish West
Indies to the United States by Denmark.
or the alleged holding up Of the scheme.
He was only at his Office for a few min
utes and then hurried away. His pri-
vate secretary. in response to query.
If Rogers would make any statement
regarding the story, said:
II saw Mr.. Rogers this morning, and
asked him what he thought Of it. He
replied that he took so little interest in
it that he did not think it worth talk
ing about. I can say, however, that
nine-tenths Of the story is untrue"
Wall street Is rather amused over the
idea of Rogers asserting that he con-
troled the vote of 26 u. s. senators who
obeyed any order given them by the
Standard Oil Co. 1t has been somewhat
surprising that Rogers should take UP
a matter involving the control of the
U. S. senate in addition to a great deal
Of miscellaneous responsibility in order
to obtain a commission of ten per cent.
upon the price of the island. 1t Is news
to be told that the Standard Oil Co. is
hunting for 100000 commission.
OFFICIALS EXPLAIN.
Washington. May 1.-The story pub
iished in New York paper, this morn
ing, to the effect that Secretary Roots
war-like utterances at the Grant ban
quet in New York were inspired by any
official report made by Captain Christ
mas Dlrckinck Holmfeld to the Danish
government, which was purported to
state that negotiations for the sale of
the Danish West Indies islands to the
United States fell through because of
influences exerted by the Standard OIL
Co. is ridiculed by both the war and
state department. An official Of the
state department who is empowered to
speak authoratively, said: There
could be no sheerer nonsense. I do not
know Mr.. Rogers. of the Standard OIL
Co., who is alleged to have demanded
10 per cent. Of the purchase price in
case the sale was consummated. He
was never heard Of in the transaction.
In the second place Captain Christmas
came here simply on q pasear and with
out any authority from his government
to act in the matter. called at the
state department and the subject of the
sale of the islands was informally dis
cussed just as any subject would be
that would be of mutual interest.
There is no information here Of his
having made report to his govern
ment on the subject"
Root scouts the idea that he had the
Danish matter in mind at all when he
urged in his speech that the United
States army should be increased to such
a state Of efficiency that 1t would be able
20 meet any emergency that might arise
trhe idea that he intended to convey
Root said. was that on account Of the
present tendency Of European nations
to reach out their tentacles for more