Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1904-11-08
President Roosevelt Issues a
Statement to the Amer
lean People.
Refers to Judge Parker's Charges
Against Himself and Mr..
Cortelyou.
AL Are Declared to Be Infamous
and Absolutely Without
Foundation.
No Agreement with Corporations for
Favors in Return for Cam
paign Contributions.

HaAkn
Washington, Nov. president
Roosevelt on Friday made the follow
ing signed statement to the American
people in answer to the charges made
against himself and Mr.. Cortelyou in
public speeches by Mr.. Parker, the
democratic candidate for the presi-
dency:
White House, Washington, Nov A,
1904.-Certain slanderous accusations
as to Mr. Cortelyou and 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 produce,
any proof of their truth, yet he has
not withdrawn them, and as his posi-
ton gives them wide currency, speak
now lest the silence of self-respect be
misunderstood
Judge Parker's Charges.
"Mr. Parker's charges are in effect
that the president of the United
States and Mr.. Cortelyou, formerly
Mr.. Cleveland's executive clerk, then
Mr.. McKinley's and my secretary,
then secretary of commerce and labor,
and now chairman of the republican
national committee, have been in a
conspiracy to blackmail corporations.
MIR. Cortelyou using his knowledge
gained while he was secretary of the
department of commerce and labor. to
extort money from the corporations,
and |, the president, having appoint
ed him for this especial purpose. The
gravamen of these charges lies in the
assertion that the 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 as
sertion, that they have been promised
certain immunities or favors, or have
been assured that they would receive
some kind of improper consideration
IN view of their contributions That
contributions have been made to the
republican committee, as contributions
have been made to the democratic
committee, is not the question at ISSUE
MT Parker's assertion is, in effect,
that sucn contributions have been
made for improper motives, either. in
consequence Of threats or in conse.
Quence Of improper promises, direct
or indirect, on the part Of the recipi-
ents.
Are Untrue and Monstrous.
Mr.. Parker knows best whether this
is true of the contributions to his cam
paign fund, which have come through
his trusted friends and advisers. who
represent the great corporate interests
that stand behind him. But there is not
one particle of truth in the statement as
regards anything that has gone on in
the management of the republican cam
paign. Mr.. Parker's accusations against
Mr.. Cortelyou and me are monstrous Ii
true, they would brand both of us for
ever with infamy. And inasmuch as
they are false, heavy must be the con-
domination OF the man making them. |
chose Mr.. Cortelyou as chairman of the
national committee after having failed
successfully to persuade Mr.. Elihu Root,
Mr.. w. Murray Crane and Mr.. Cornelius
N. Bliss to accept the position. chose
him with extreme reluctance, because
could Ill spare him from the cabinet,
But felt that he possessed the high in
tegrity which demanded in the man
Who was to manage my campaign. am
content that Mr.. Parker and should be
judged by the public on the characters
OF the two men whom we chose to man
age our campaigns-he by the charac-
ter OF his nominee, Mr.. Thomas Tag
CART, and by the character of Mr.. Cor
telyou.
Says All Are Falsehoods.
1.-THE assertion that Mr.. Cortelyou had
any knowledge gained while in any off,
cial position whereby he was enabled to
secure and did secure any contributions
from any corporation is falsehood. The
assertion that there has been any black
mail, direct or indirect, by Mr. Cortelyou
or by me is falsehood. The assertion
that there has been made in my behalf
and by my authority by Mr.. Cortelyou, or
by anyone else, any pledge or promise, or
that there has been any understanding as
to future immunities or benefits, in rec
ignition of any contribution from any
source, is wicked falsehood
That Mr.. Parker should desire tn
avoid the discussion of principles I can
well understand, for it is but the bare
truth to say that he has not attacked us
on any matter of principle or upon any
action of the government, save, after first
misstating that principle or that action.
But cannot understand how any hon.
Orable man, a candidate for the highest
Office in the gift of the people, can take
refuge, not merely in personalities. but
IN such base and unworthy personali-
ties.
Comparisons Asked.
III deemed it necessary to supporr
my nat denial by any evidence, l woula
ask all men of common sense to ponder
we'll what has been done in this cam
paign by Mr.. Cortelyou, and to compare
II with what Mr.. Parker himself did !
when he was managing Mr.. Hills cam
paign for governor; and to compare what
has been done as regards the great cor
porations and monied interests under |
this administration with what was done |
under the last democratic administra-
ton, while Mr. Olney was attorney gen.
eral; would ask all honest men whether |
they seriously deem it possible that the