Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-05
DENIED By ROOSEVELT
Parker's Charge Of Blackmail-
ing Trusts Denounced.
CORTELYOU DEFENDED
CHOSEN CAMPAIGN MANAGER
BECAUSE OF HIS INTEGRITY.
Declared That Contributions Have Not
Been Improperly Obtained From
the Big Corporations.
CORTELYOU DEFENDED

President Roosevelt last night made the
following signed statement to the American
people in answer to the charges maoe
against himself and Mr.. Cortelyou in pupiic
speech by Mr. Parker, the democratic can
didate for the presidency, that campaign
contributions had been improperly obtained
from large corporations:
white House,
washington, November 4, 1904.
Certain slanderous accusations as to Mr.
Cortelyou and myself have been repeated
time and again by Judge Parker, the can
didate of his party for the office OF Presi-
dent. He neither has produced nor can
produce any proof of their truth: yet ne
has not withdrawn them: and as his posi-
ton gives them wide currency l speak now
lest the silence Of self-respect be misunder-
stood. Mr.. Parker's charges are In erect
that the President of the United States and
Mr.. Cortelyou, formerly Mr.. Cleveland s
executive clerk, then Mr. Mckfnley's and
my secretary, then Secretary of Commerce
and Labor and now chairman of the repub-
lican national committee, have been In a
conspiracy to blackmail corporations. Mr..
Cortelyou using his knowledge gained while
he was Secretary of the Department OF
Commerce and Labor to extort money from
the corporations, and I, the President. hav-
Ing appointed him for this especial purpose.
Charge Of Blackmail.
1.-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 assertion, that they have
been promised certain immunities or favors
or have been assured that they would re-
ceive some kind of improper consideration
in view of their contributions. That con-
tributions have been made to the republic
can committee, as contributions have been
made to the democratic committee, Is not
the question at issue. Mr.. Parker's asser-
ton is in effect that such contributions
have been made for improper motives,
either in consequence of threats or In con-
sequence 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 represent the
great corporate interests that stand be-
hind 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 campaign.
Denounced as Monstrous.
''Mr. Parkers accusations against Mr..
Cortelyou and me are monstrous. If 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.. Certelyou
as chairman of the national committee af-
ter having failed successfully to persuade
Mr. Elihu Root, Mr.. w. Murray Crane and
Mr.. Cornelius N. Bliss to accept the posi-
ton. chose him with extreme reluctance,
because could Ill spare him from the cabi-
net. But felt that he possessed the high
integrity which I demanded in the man
who was to manage my campaign. I am
content that Mr.. Parker and I should be
judged by the public on the characters of
the two men whom we chose to manage
our campaigns; he by the character of
his nominee, Mr.. Thomas Taggart, and l
by the character of Mr.. Cortelyou.
1.-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 a falsehood. The assertion
that there has been any blackmail, direct,
or indirect, by Mr.. Cortelyou or by me is
falsehood. The assertion that there has
been made in my behalf and by my au-
thority by Mr.. Cortelyou or by anyone else,
any pledge or promise or that there has
been any understanding as to future i'm
munities or benefits. in recognition Of any
contribution from any source, Is a wicked
falsehood.
Unworthy Personalities.
'"That Mr.. Parker should desire to avoid
the discussion of principles, can we'll un-
derstand for 1t Is but the bare truth to say
that he has not attacked US on any matter
of principle or upon any action Of the gov
eminent save after first misstating that
principle or that action. But I cannot I'M
derstand how any honorable man, candi-
date for the highest Office in the gift of the
people, can take refuge not merely in per-
sonalities, but in such base and unworthy
personalities. If deemed 1t necessary to
support my fiat denial by any evidence I
would ask all men of common sense to non.
der well what has been done in this cam
paign by Mr.. Cortelyou and to compare 1t
with what Mr.. Parker himself did when he
was managing Mr.. Hills campaign for gov
ernor, and to compare what has been done
as REGARDS the great corporations and
moneyed interests under this administration
with what was done under the last demo-
cratic administration while Mr.. Olney was
Attorney General. I would ask all honest
men whether they seriously deem 1t pos
sible that the course this administration
has taken In every patter from the North
ern Securities suit to the settlement of the
anthracite coal strike is compatible with
any theory of pdbiic behavior save the
theory of doing iexact justice to all mon
without fear andf without favoritism. /
would ask all honest and fair-minded men
to remember that thesagents through whom
I have worked Zane Mr.. Knox and Mr..
Moody, in the Department of Justice: Mr..
Cortelyou, in the Department of Commerce
and Labor, and Mr. Garfield, in the bureau
of corporations, and that no such act of
fnfamy as Mr.. Parker charges could have
been done without all these men being par
ties to it. a"4d
Charges Atrociously False.
"The statements made by Mr.. Parker arc
unqualifiedly and atneciously false. AS Mr..
Cortelyou has said to me more than once