New-York tribune., 1906-12-06
/ NATTER OF HISTORY.

Ex-Judge Parker is quoted in THE New York
World" asking the following question,
apropoS of a report published in that news
paper to the effect that President Roosevelt de-
sireS the return by the Republican National
Committee to the insurance companies of their
contributions to the campaign fund of 1904
Or does the story given out as am advised
by authority mean that the President wishes
now 10 revive and reinforce the impression, once
quite general, that he thought he right
when in 1904 he captured the sympathy and
support of some portion of the public by de-
nouncing as false the charge made by and
based upon reliable and confidential infOrma-
ton that the great corporations of the country
were contributing to the Republican National
Committee for the purpose of assuring the cleo
ton of the Republican candidate?
This question implies two assertions
that Judge Parker's famous charge was sim
ply that the corporations were contributing TO
the Republican National Committee: and sec
ond. that Mr.. Roosevelt denied that the corpo-
rations were making such contributions. II
Judge Parkers charge" had been simply that
the corporations making such campaign
contributions it would have produced no more
impression than if it had been that the world
was round No one could have thought TO affect
votes by it. Judge Parker's present statement
does not do justice to himself as a campag gner
What he really charged was that President
Roosevelt and Mr.. Corteyou, the chairman of
the Republican National Committee had con-
trived a system of organized importantly
The system this, according to the Judge:
Mr.. CortelyOu, as Secretary of the Department
Of Commerce and Labor, obtained official IN
formation regarding the organization and actIv-
tiles of corporations Armed with this informa-
tion he went. as chairman of the Republican
National Committee TO those very corporations
impOrtuning them for contributions And this
official information which was used in the cor
ganized importantly" was. said the Judge, 'for
public or private use, as he 1.-THE President
may direct" the plain implication being that
II the contributions obtained were large enough
evidence Of lawbreaking collected by the De
partment Of Commerce and Labor, would never
see the light of day. Mr. Parker drove home
this innuendO, saying OF his auditors, who were
presumably his supporters: You are not COM
PEELED, on the one hand, to purchase immunity
for some wrOngdoing, or, on the other, TO COM
pound some offence in the past or contemplated
lin the future"
President Roosevelt did not deny that the
corporations were making campaign contribu-
tionS. On the contrary. he admitted It. for he
said: That contributions have been made TO
'the Republican committee, as contributions
have been made to the Democratic committed
lis not the question at issue" What he did DENY
was the serious implication In Judge Parker's
charge He said: THE assertion that there
has been any blackmailIng, direct or indirect
by Mr.. COrtelyOu or me is a falsehood. The
assertion that there has been made in my be-
half and by my authority by Mr.. Cortelyou,
"or by any one else, any pledge or promise, or
that there has been any understanding as TO
future immunties or benefits in recognition Of
ANY contributions from any source IS a wicked
falsehOod." Judge Parker in his recent inter
view suppresses the real significance Of his
charge" and totally misrepresents the nature
of Mr.. Roosevelt's denial