The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1904-11-10

American people III answer 10 the
charges made against himself and Mr..
Cortelyou 10 public speeches by Mr.. Par
ker, the Democratic candidate FOR the
Presidency:
White House.
Washington, Nov. 4, 1904
"Certain slanderous accusations as to
Mr.. Cortelyou and myself have been re-
peated time and again by Judge Parker,
the candidate Of his party for the Office
OF President. He neither has produced
nor can produce any proof OF their
truth; yet he has not Withdrawn them |;
and as his position gives them wide cur
rency, | speak now lest the silence OF
self-respect be misunderstood.
"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.. McKin-
ley's and my secretary, then secretary
OF commerce and labor, and now chair
man OF the Republican national commit
tee, have been in conspiracy to black
mail corporations, Mr. Cortelyou using
his knowledge gained while he was Sec
rotary OF the department of commerce
and labor TO extOrt money from the cor
porations, and l, the President, having
appointed him for this especial purpose.
The gravamen Of these charges lice in
the assertion that corporations have
been blackmailed into contributing and
in the implication, which in one or two
OF Mr. Parker's speeches has taken the
form practically of an assertion, that
they have been promised certain immu-
mites or favofs have been assured that
they would receive some kind OF i'm
proper consideration In view of their
contributions.
THAT contributions have been made
10 the Republican committee as contri
buttons have been made to the Demo-
cratic 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 conse-
quence 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 bis campaign fund
which have come through his trusted
| friends and advisers who represent the
| great corporate interests that stand be-
hind him. But there is not one particle
Of truth in the statement as regards any
thing that has gone on in the manage
ment of the Republican campaign. Nj.
| Parker's accusations against Mr.. COrtel.
! you and me are monstrous. IL true,
they would brand both Of US forever
with infamy; and inasmuch as they are
false, heavy must be the condemnation
of the man making them. | chose Mr..
Cortelyou as chairman Of the national
committee after having failed success.
| fully to persuade Mr.. Elihu Root, Mr.
W. Murray Crane and Mr.. Cornelius n.
Bliss to accept the position. | chose hin
with extreme reluctance, because | could
| i'll spare him from the cabinet. But
felt that he possessed the high integrity
which demanded in the man who was
TO manage my campaign.
IL am content that Mr.. Parker and
should be judged by the public on the
characters of the two men whom WI
chose to manage our campaigns; he by
the character of his nominee, Mr.. Thoms
raggart, and by the character Of Mr..
Cortelyou. The assertion that Mr.. Cor
telyou had any knowledge gained while
in any oflieial positions whereby he was
enabled to secure and did secure any con-
trbutions from any corporation is u
falsehood. The assertion that there has
been made in behalf ana 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 I'M
munties or benefits, in recognition oil
any contribution from any source, is a
wicked talshood.
THAT Mr.. Parker should desire to
avoid the discussion Of principles | can
well understand. SO far 1t is but the
bare truth to say that he has not attack
ed US on any matter Of principle or upon
any action of the government save after
first misstating that principle or that ae-
ton. But | cannot understand how any
honorable man, a candidate for the hi h
est Office in the gift Of the people, Can
take refuge, not merely In personalities,
bns in such base and unworthy person
alities.
at deemed 1t necessary to support
my fat denial by any evidence | would
ask all men of common sense to ponder
we'll what has been done Ia this cam
paign by Mr.. Cortelyou, and to compare
it with what Mr.. Parker himself did
when he WAS managing Mr.. HIPS CAM
paign for governor, and to compare
what has been done as regards the great
corporations and monied interests under
this administration with what was done
under the last DemOcatic administration
while Mr.. O.ney was encouragement ;
| would ask al, honest men whether they
seriously deem it possible that the course
this administration has taken In every
matter from the Northern Securities
suit to the settlement Of the anthracite
coal strike Is compatible with any theory
of public behavior save the theory of
doing exact Justice to all men without
fear and without favoritism; | would
ask all honest and far-minded men TO
remember that the agents through whom
[ have worked are Mr.. Knox and Mr..
NJ body in the department Of justice, Mr..
Cortelyou 10 the depar ment of COM
MERGE and labor and Mr.. Garfield In the
bureau of corporations, and that no such
act Of infamy as Mr.. Parker charges
could have been done without all these
men being parties to it.
1.-THE statements made by Mr.. Parker
are unqualifiedly, and atrociously false.
As Mr.. Cortelyou has said to me more
than once, during this campaign, II elect
ed, shall go into the Presidency I'M
hampered by any pledge, promise or
understanding of any kind, sort or des-
criptior, save my promise, made openly
to the American people that so far as in
my power lies, shall see to that every
man has a square deal, no less and nc
more.
(Signed)
Theodore Roosevelt.