The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1904-11-08
"White House,
washington, Nov. 4, 1904.

Washington, Nov. 4, 1904.
Certain slanderous accusations as
to Mr.. Cortelyou ard myself have
been repeated time and again by
Judge Parker, the candidate Of his
party for the office of president. He
neither has produced nor can pro-
duce any proof of their truth; yet
he has not withdrawn them; and as
his position gives them wide currency
7 speak now lest the silence OF self
respect be misunderstood. Mr.. Par
ker's charges are in effect that the
president of the United States and
Mr. Cortelyou, formerly Mr.. Cleve-
lands clerk, then Mr.. McKinley's and
my secretary, then secretary of COM
merce and labor and now chairman
of the republican national committee,
have been in a conspiracy to black
mail corporations, Mr.. Cortelyou u.s.
ing his knowledge while he was secre-
tary OF the department of commerce
and labor to extort money from the
corporations, and I, the president,
having appointed him for this espec-
ial purpose. The graveness of these
charges lies in the assertion that the
corporations have been blackmailed
into contributing and in the implica-
ton, which in one or two of Mr.. Par
ker's speeches has taken the form
practically of an assertion. that they
have been promised certain immuni-
ties or favors or have been assured
that they would receive some kind Of
improper consideration in view Of
their contributions. That contribu-
tions have been made to the repub-
1ican committee, as contributions
have been made to the
democratic committee, is not the
question at issue. Mr.. Parker's as
sertion is in effect that such contri-
buttons have been made for improp-
er motives, either in consequence Of
threats or in consequence of improper
promises direct or indirect, on the
part of the recipients. Mr.. Parker
knows best whether this is true Of
the contributions to his campaign
fund which have come through his
trusted friends and advisers who re-
present the great corporate interests
that stand behind him. But there is
not one particle of truth in the state
ment as regards anything that has
gone on in the management of the re-
publican campaign. Mr.. Parker's
accusations against Mr.. Cortelyou
and me are monstrous. If true they
would brand both Of us forever with
infany; and inasrauch as they are
false heavy must be the condemna-
ton of man making them, I chose
Mr.. Cortelyou as chairman of the
national committee after having fail
ed successfully to persuade Mr.. Elihu
Root, Mr. w. Murray Crane and Mr..
Cornelius, N. Bliss to accept the posi-
ton. Ichose him with extreme re-
1uctance, because I could il! spare him
from the cabinet But I felt that he
possessed the high integrity which
/ demanded in the man who was to
manage my campaign, am content
that Mr.. Parker and I should be
judged by the public on the charac-
tiers of the two men whom we chose
to manage our campaign, he by the
character of his nominee, Mr.. Thom-
as Taggart, and I by the character
Of Mr.. Cortelyou The assertion that
Mr.. Cortelyou had any knowledge
gained while in any official position
whereby he was enabled to secure
and did secure any contribution from
any corporation is falsehood. The
assertion that there has been any
blackmail direct, OF indirect, by Mr..
Cortelyou or by me is a falsehood.
The assertion that there has been
made in my behalf and by my author
ity by Mr.. Cortelyou or by any one
else, any pledge or promise Or that
there has been any understanding as