The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-11-05
President Roosevelt Issues De.
nial Over His Signature
OF the Charges Made by Judge
Alton b. Parker.
ATROCIOUSLY FALSE.
Are the Exact Words OF the
Chief Executive.
No Pledge or Promise OF ANY
Description Mads.

The assertion that Mr.. CorteIyou
had any knowledge gained while I'm
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 blaclzmaiI, direct or indirect, by
Mr.. CorteIyou or by me, Is q false
hood.
The assertion that there has been
made, I'm behalf OF and by my author
ity, by Mr.. Cortelyou or by anyone
else, any pledge or promise, or that
there has been any understanding as
to future immunities or benefits, I'm
recognition of any contribution from
any source, is wicked falsehoOd.
The statements made by Mr.. Parker
are unquaiifiedly and atrociOusly false.
AS Mr.. Cortelyou has said to me more
than once during this campaign, II
elected L shall go into the presidency
unhampered by any pledge, promise
or understanding of any kind, sort or
description, save my promise, made
openly to the American people. that,
SO far as in my power lies, 1 shall sec
TO 1t that every man has a square deal,
no less and no more.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
Washington, Nov. 5President Roose-
velt last night made the following sign
ed statement to the American people
in answer to the charges made against
himself and Mr.. Cortelyou in public
speeches by Mr.. Parker, Democratic
candidate for president:
white House, Washington, Nov. 4.
1904.
Certain slanderous accusations as to
Mr.. Cortelyou and myself have been
repeated time and again by Judge Par
ker, the candidate of his party, for the
Office of president. He neither has pro-
duced nor can he produce any PROOF
of the truth of the charges, yet he has
not withdra wn them, and. as his posi-
ton gives them wide currency, 1 speak
now, lest the silence of self-respect be
misunderstood.
ParIker's Charges.
'Mr. Parker's charges are, in effect,
that the president of the United States
and Mr.. Cortelyou, formerly Mr. Cleve-
lands executive clerk, then Mr.. Nc
Kinley'S and my secretary, then secre-
tary of commerce and labor and now
chairman of the Republican national
committee, have been in a conspiracy
to blackmail corporations, Mr.. Cortel-
you, using his knowledge gained while
he was secretary of the department OF
commerce and labor to extort money
from the corporations, and /, the preS1-
dent, having appointed him for this es
pecial purpose. The gravamen of these
charges lies in the assertion that the
corporations have been blackmailed in
to contributing, and in the implication.
which in one or two of Mr.. Parker'S
speeches, has taken the form practical
ly of an assertion, that they have
promised certain immunities or faVors.
or have been assured that they would
receive some kind of improper consid-
Grafton in view of their contributions.
THAT contributions have been made
tI,a Dan hi Iir1Vl
tributions have been made to the Dem
ocratic committee is not the question
at issue. Mr.. Parker's assertion is, in
effect, that such contributions have
been made for improper motives, either
in consequence of threats or in conse-
1uence of improper promises, direct or
on the part of the recipi-
ents.
No Truth in Them.
"Mr. Parker knows best whether
this is true of the contributions to his
fund, which have come
through his trusted friend and ad-
visers, who represent the great cor
oorate interests that stand behind
him. But there is not one particle of
ruth I'm the statement as regards any
hing that has gone on In the man
agement of the Republican campaign.
"Mr. Parker'S accusations against
Mr.. Cortelyou and me are monstrous.
-f true, they would brand both of
'orever with infamy; and inasmuch as
lemnation of the man making them"
81 chose Mr. Cortelyou as chairman
IF the national committee after hav-
ng failed successfully to persuade Mr..
llihu Root, Mr.. w. Murray Crane
ind Mr.. Cornelius n. Bliss to accept
he position. I chose him with ex-
RENE reluctance, because I could ill
pare him from the cabinet. But L
elt that he possessed the high integ-
'ity which I demanded in the man
Who was to manage my campaign.
81 am content that Mr.. Parker and
should be judged by the public on
he characters of the two men whom
We chose to manage our campaigns;
lie by the character of his nominee.
dr. Thomas Taggart, and I by the
haracter of Mr.. Cortelyou.
"The assertion that Mr.. Cortelyou
lad any knowledge gained while in
my official position whereby he was
nabled to secure and did secure any
from any corporation is
falsehood.
'"The assertion that there has been
ny blackmail. direct or indirect, by
Ir. Cortelyou or by me, is a falsehood.
''The assertion that there has been
made, in behalf of and by my author
ty, by Mr.. Cortelyou or by anyone
lse any pledge or promise, or that
here has been any understanding as
o future immunities or benefits, in
ecognition of any contribution from
ny source, is q wicked falsehood.
Parker Denounced
THAT Mr.. Parker should desire to
void the discussion of principles can
yelI understand; for it is but the bare
ruth to say that he has not attacked
s on any matter of principle or upon
ny action of the government save af-
er first misstating that principle or
nat action. But 1 can not understand
ow any honorable man, a candidate