New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-06
4 COWARDLY EVASION.

Mr. Roosevelt must think the people OF this
country are wanting in common sense. He al
firms that many things Judge Parker never saIo
or thought of saying are false. what Judge
Parker did say, what The Times has said and
many other newspapers have said he does not
venture TO deny.-(The NeW-Iork Times.
That is false and you know perfectly well it
is false. 1t is only one more of the contemplate
and cowardly evasions by which you have been
for DAYS trying TO get away from your own def
mite and specific charges which you refused TO
support with any evidence. Now that the Presi-
dent has denied them with manly and indig-
nant declaration which rings true TO every hon
est and decent ear, you try 10 sneak off, whining
that your charge was something else which he
did Tot deny President Roosevelts denials are
exact and TO the point He meets sqIarely the
charges of The Times" and Judge Parker that
Mr. CortelyOu was Matchmaking corporations;
that with official knowledge of their secrets he
had been put in charge of the campaign for that
purpose and that trusts were contributing nnder
promise, express or implied, of corrupt favor.
The pretence that the charge something
else, q mere general discussion of campaign
fund ethics and the comparative weight of trust
influence on the Republican and Democratic
sides, is simply a dishonest subterfuge.
On October ], 1904 The New-York Times
made the distinct accusation that Mr. Cortelyou
had levied forced contribution" on a cor
stances" OF Mr.. Cortelyou going 10 Democrats
and extorting money from them through fear
Of his official power. When challenged TO pro-
duce evidence OF these atrOciOuS charges it re-
fused, while still pretending 10 have II, on the
ground fllat its information was confidential.
and called on the President and Mr.. Corteyou
10 disprove the accusation Of cxtortion.
On October "a at Esopus, Judge Parker took
up this charge, timidly at first saying that the
corporations were contributing dishonesty 10
the Republicans, with the expectation if not the
agreement that governmental action would
thereby be influenced. On October 81 in New
York, be declared that they were trying to ''pur-
chase immunity for wrongdoing." On Novem-
Der J. In this city. he went still further saying:
The New-York Tribune this morning pub
fishes a dispatch from Washington under the
head of "Cortelyou Falsely Accused with a
sub-head saying that he has not extorted cam
psign contributions from corporations" II
gives what purports TO be the statement of a
man who withholds his name He is described
in the Tribune article as "a man who knows all
1.-THE President" Whether it was the one or the
other Is left in doubt.
But. in any event, It IS Of consequence
which one it was. for these grave charges can
persons who can interest the people on this 81 b.
sect II they have anything TO say the people
would like TO have IL said promptly.
He then referred 10 THE New-York Times"
and also TO THE Brooklyn Eagle" which had
made concrete charges OF extortion and In re-
fusing 10 accept any denial from third parties
gave his definite support 10 the accusation that
Ir Cortelyou had not been falsely accused"
and that he had "extorted campaign contribu-
tons from corporations" On November / in
Carnegie Hal. speaking Of the legislation Great