Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-11-05
Roosevelt Driven by Par
ker's Charges Breaks
a Precedent
ON EVE OF ELECTION
With Show of Temper De-
nOunces Accusations
Against CorteIyou.

Washington. Nov. 5.-The presiden:
Of the United States has broken prec-
edent
Last night Mr.. Roosevelt. driven at
last by the charges of Judge Parker.
gave out a signed and official state
ment denying the charges that Cor
telyou had required corporations TO
furnish money TO elect the republican
ticket. Here it is:
white House, Washington, ID. c..
Nov. 4. 19G4.-Certain slanderous ac-
cusations as to Mr.. Cortelyou and my
self 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withdrawn them: and as his position
gives them wide currency | speak now
lest the silence of self-respect be mis-
understood
MIR. Parkers charges are in effect
that the president of the United States
and Mr. COrtelyou, formerly Mr.. Cleve-
lands executive clerk, then Mr.. McKin-
ley's and my secretary. then secretary
man Of the republican national COM
mittee. have been in a conspiracy to
blackmail corporations. Cortelyou u.s.
ing his knowledge gained while he was
secretary of the department of com
merce and labor To eXtOrt money from
the corporations. and /, the president,
having appointed him for this espec-
iaI purpose.
where Gravity of Charges Lies.
The gravity of these charges lies
in the assertion that the corporations
have been blackmailed into contribut-
ing, and in the implication, which in
one or two of Mr.. Parkers speeches
has taken the form practically of an
assertion. that they would receive
some kind of improper consideration
in view of their contributions.
THAT contributions have been made
TO the republican committee, as contri-
buttons have been made To the demo
cratic committee. is not the question
at issue Mr. Par%er's assertion is in
effect that such contributions have
been made for improper motives. eth
er in consequence of threats or in con
sequence of improper promises. direct
or indirect. on the part of the Tecip-
tents.
Mr. Parker knows best whether this
is true of the contributions to his cam
paign fund which come through his
trusted friends and advisers who rep
resent the great corporate interests
who stand behind him.
But there is not one particle of
truFt, in the statement as regards any
thing that has gone on in the manage
1nent Of the republican campaign Mr..
ParIer's accusations against Mr.. Cor
telyou 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 condemna-
tion of the man making them.
Il chose Mr.. Cortelyou as chairman
OF the national committee after having
failed successfully to persuade Elihu
Root w. Murray Crane and Cornelius
n. Bliss TO accept the position.
chose him with extreme reluctance,
because | could i'll spare him from the
cabinet. But I felt that he possessed
the high integrity l demanded in the
man who was to manage my campaign.
81 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 ~ the character of his nominee, Mr..
Thomas Taggart. and by the charac-
ter of Mr. CortelyOu.
Declares Them All FnlsehoOds-
THE assertion that Mr. COrtelyou
had any knowledge gained while in
any official position whereby he was
enabled To secure and did secure any
contributions from any corporation IS
a falSehood.
The assertion that there has been
made in my behalf and by my author
ity. by Mr.. Cortelyou or by any one
else. any pledge or promise. or that
there has been any understanding as
10 future immunities or benefits. in rec
OgnitiOn OF any contribution from any
source. is a wicked falsehood.
THAT Mr.. Parker should desire tC
avoid the discussion of principles
can well understand: for il is but the
bare truth to say that he has not at
tackled us on any matter of prinCiplc
or upon any action of the government
save after first misstating that princi
pie or that action. But l cannot under