The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-09-21
SECRET COUNCIL
AT OYSTER BAY
President and Chief Advisers
Take Up Insurance Scandal
in Night Meeting.
PoLICYHoLDERS WILL
GET THE MONEY BACK
Fat Frying for Campaigns Funds
to Stop if President Has
His Way.
New York Sun Special Service.

Ills way,
New York Sun Special Service.
Oyster Bay, N. Y, Sept. 21.-As the
result Of conference being held last
night at Sycamore Hill between Presi-
dent Roosevelt, Secretary of State Root,
Postmaster General Cortelyou, Senator
Lodge and Joseph H. Choate, former
ambassador to Great Britain, plans were
laid for the elimination Of contribu-
tons to future national campaign funds
legislation.
There is further authoritative ru-
NOR that President Roosevelt insisted
last night upon the return Of all cam
paign contributions made by life in
surance companies to the last repub.
lican national campaign committee and
that his wishes will be carried out.
These radical and far-reaching meas
ures-the most momentous in the his
tory Of the Roosevelt administration
have been determined upon by the pres
ident, following the disclosures Of enor;
money toward the Roosevelt campaign,
as disclosed by various newspapers and
brought out at the sessions of the life
| insurance investigating committee at
New York.
Nightly Conferences.
Ever since the investigation began,
Postmaster General Corte1you, who was
chairman of the republican national
committee, has been stopping at Hunt
ington, almost within a stones throw Of
Sycamore Hill, and almost nightly
conferences have taken place In the
presidents library.
ual unravelling by the investigating
committee of the mysteries Of the
/ enormous political interests Of the life
| companies have been followed step by
| step until radical measures were de-
termined upon to forestall further dis
closures that might involve the admin
istration in scandal of dangerous pro-
portions.
Roosevelfss Closest Friends.
i Last nights conference is one of
4 the most important ever held at the
presidents summer home. The confer
! ence incladed the four men considered
the closest and most influential friends
of the president. Senator Lodge has
long been known as the president g pc.
litical adviser.
Postmaster General Cortelyou's pres.
ence at the conference as chairman OF
the republican national campaign com,
mittee can be easily understood.
Secretary Root has most extern
sive knowledge of the inner workings
Of the great insurance companies, prob.
ably greater than any other member OF
the administration, while Mr.. Choate q
knowledge of the legal means of carry.
ing reform measures of such sweeping
and radical nature as conceived by the
president. is well known.
Game Almost Secretly.
These men came here quietly-almost
secretly-late in the afternoon.
Secretary Root, Mr.. Choate and Mr..
Sagamore Hill at dusk Their names
had not been made public at the ex.
-ecutive office, where callers are usu.
ally announced beforehand. They re.
fused to be interviewed, stating that
they themselves did not know the pur.
port st their visit to the president
They were driven at once to Sagamore
Hill, where they were met later by
Postmaster General Cortelyou, who
presence was not even suspected by
{ residents Of Oyster Bay.
Sensation Forthcoming.
: The details are kept absolutely So
cret, but it is known positively that
| that part Of the president IS forthcom.
, ing message to congress dealing with
| campaign COutIlUuGlUuS WILL AuI uAcH q
sensational chapter Of the president q
: views on corporation contributions to
national campaigns.
He will recommend that legislation
be enacted prohibiting the acceptance
} by national campaign committees OF
any political party Of contributions
from any corporation affected in any
way by congressional action.
This will apply only to life Insurance.
companies, but it is known that the de.
7 termination Of the president to bring
, about this revolutionary precedent waa
l dictated by revelations in the life In
: surance scandals which have already
< directly connected the New York Life
e Insurance company with the republican
. campaign committees strong box te
! TO Return Contribution.
9 IF the president IS wishes are carried
/ out the entire amount Of this contribu
9 ton will be handed back to the treas
g urer Of the New York Life, together
|, with whatever contributions, il any
a were made to the republican committee
t by other life insurance companies dur
r ing the last campaign.
d The revelations made by George w
l. Perkins last week, taken in connection
9 with the charges made last year by AL
l. ton 6. Parker concerning Chairman
Cortelyou g levying Of campaign assess
ments upon corporations, have stirred
! the president to immediate action and
!. tonight Is conference is the result.
The result of the conference, it is be
: lieved, will cause political sensation
. that will be felt from one end Of tht
: country to the other.
l