The Muskogee cimeter. [volume] (Muskogee, Indian Territory, Okla.) 1901-19??, 1904-11-10
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT DENIES CHARGES
Signed Statement Declaring Judge Parkess As
sertons to Trusts Being Backmaied Into
Giving Campaign Funds to the
Republicans False

WASHINGTON: Friday OF last
week President Roosevelt gave out
signed statement in answer to the
charges made against him and Mr..
Cortelyou in public speeches by
Judge Parker. The letter Is some
thing remarkable, coming from the
chief executive. It Is as follows:
white House. Washington. No.
vember 4, 1904.
Certain slanderous accusations as
to Mr.. Cortelyou aud myself have
been repeated timo and again by
Judge Parker, the candidate OF his
party for the office Of president. He
neither has produced nor can he pro-
duce any proof of the truth OF the
charges, yet he has not withdrawn
them. and as his position gives him
wide publicly. l speak now lest the
silence of self.respect be misunder-
stood. 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 COM
merce and labor, and now chairman
of the republican national committee.
have been in a conspiracy to black
mail 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 /, the
president. having appointed him for
this especial purpose. The grave
ness of these charges lie in the as
sertion 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 prom
ised certain immunities or favors, or
have been assured that they would
receive some kind Of improper consid.
Grafton In view Of these contribu-
tions. That contributions have been
made to the republican committee as
contributions have been made to the
democratic committee Is not the ques.
tion at issue. Mr.. Farker's asser-
ton Is in effect that such contribu-
tions have been made for improper
motives, either In consequence OF
improper promises, direct or indirect.
on the part Of the recipients. MIR.
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 corporation inter-
ests 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 campaign. Mr.. Park
er's accusations against Mr.. Cortel-
you and me are monstrous. II true
they would brand both OF us forever
with infamy And tnasmuch as they
are false, heavy must be the condem-
nation of the man making them.
chose Mr.. Cortelyou az chairman OF
the national committee after having
failed successfully to persuade Elihu
Root, with Murray Crane and Cor
nelius N. Bliss to accept the position.
I chose him with extreme reluctance,
because I could III spare him from
the cabinet. But I felt that he pos
sessed the high integrity which de
manded In the man who was to man
age my campaign. am content that
Mr.. Parker and I should be judged by