The Oskaloosa herald., 1904-11-10
ROOSEVELT MAKES
COMPLETE DENIAL
ANSWERS THE Contemplate
CHARGES MADE BY PARKER.
NOT ONE PARTICLE OF TRUTH
Democratic Invectives Are Branded az
FaIsehoods and Honesty of Ma
tional Republican Chairman
cortelyou Amply INDICATED.

Washington, d. c., Nov. 5.-Presi-
dent Roosevelt today made the fol-
lowing signed statement to the Amer
lean people in answer to the charges
made against himself and Mr.. Cortel-
you in public speeches by Mr.. Parker.
the democratic candidate for the pres
idency:
White House, Washington, Nov. 5.
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
produced, nor can produce, any proof
of their truth; yet he has not with
drawn them; and as his position
gives them wide currency, I speak
now, lest the silence of self-respect
be misunderstood. Mr.. Parkers
charges are in effect that the presi.
dent of the United States and Mr.Cor-
telyou, formerly Mr.. Cleveland's ex-
ecutive clerk, then Mr.. McKinley's
and my secretary, then secretary OF
commerce and labor, and now chair
man Of the republican national COM
mittee, have been in a conspiracy to
blackmail corporations. Mr.. Cortel.
you using his knoledge gained while
he was secretary of the department or
commerce and labor to extort money
from the corporations, and /, the pres
ident, having appointed him for this
especial purpose. The gravity of this
charge lies in the assertion that the
corporations have been blackmailed
into contributing, and in the implica-
ton, which in one or two of Mr.. Par
ker's speeches has taken the form
practically of an assertion, that they
have been promised certain immuni-
ties or favors, or have been assured
that they would receive some kind of
improper consideration in view of
their contributions.
That contributions hav been made
to the republican committee, as con
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
consequence Of improper PROMISES i-
rect OF indirect, on the part of the re-
cipients.' Mr.. Parker knows best
whether this is true of the contribu-
tons to his campaign fund, which
have come through his trusted friends
and advisers who represent the great
corporations, OF corporate interests
that stand behind him.
Not One Particle of Truth.
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. MI.
Parker's accusations against Mr.. Cor
telyou and me are monstrus. If true
they would both of us forever
with infamy; and inasmuch as they
are false, heavy must be the condem-
nation 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. l chose him with extreme
reluctance, because 1 could i'll spare
him from the cabinet. But l felt that
he possessed the high integrity which
| demanded in the man who was to-
manage my campaign. I am content
that Mr.Parker and l should be Judged
by the public on the characters or
the two men whom we chose to man.
age u campaigns; he by the charac.
ter Of his nominee, Mr.. Thomas Tag
CART, and / by the character of Mr..
Cortelyou.
The assertion that Mr.. Cortelyou
had any knowledge gained while In
any official position whereby he was
enabled to secure and did secure n
contributions from any corporation IS
a ~falsehood. The assertion that there
has been any blackmail, direct or In.
direct, by Mr.. Cortelyou or by me, is
a ~falsehood. The assertion that there
has been made in my behalf and by
my authority by Mr.. Cortelyou or by
anone else any pledge or promise. or
that there has been any understand
ing as to future immunities or bene-
fits, in recognition of any contribution
from any source is a wicked false
hood.
A Master Of Mlsstatement.
That Mr.. Parker should desire To
avoid the discussion of principles I