Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1907-04-04
HARTMAN PLOT!

-niiicant order regarding the inner polit'
zeal workings of the republican party in
the lssi few years we're made in Wash.
iDg;on yesterday IS a result of the con-
troversy between President Roosevelt
and E. H. Hsrrimsn-over the sources
and methods of the raising Of the repub'
lican campaign fund in 1904.
The revelations constitute. in way
tho administrations answer 10 the prac-
teal reiterstion yesterday morning Of
the original charges made by Hartman
In his now famous letter TO his friend,
Webster, to which the President SO
blnntly and liercely gave the lie,
The President believes there ia now
on foot a conspiracy among the money
chiefs OF the country'to prevent the car
rying out Of bis policy to secure from the
next Congress legislation supplement tary
to that secured from the last for federal
CONTROL of tbs great corporations. Ia the
belief Of the Presidsnt--snd his belief is
based on what be regards as reliable Ia
COMMUNICATIVE work is now being
done in several States, and especially
Pennsylvania and Ohio, 10 forward the
plans of the conspirators. chief among
whom are mentioned L. Fl. Harri-
man and John D. Rockefeller, or the
authorized representatives Of the latter.
Curiously enough, the President Is said
also to believe that William Randolph
Hearst is 10 this rich mans conspiracy
to defeat his policies. Notwithstanding
the fact that in the Hearst newspapers
Hartman and Rockefeller are the OBJ
ects dnily-almost hourly--of the most
savage and relentless attacks.
TIE President yesterday afternoon be-
gan his conversation with the newspaper
correspondents by quoting from the slgn.
ed statement Ito the American People, Y
which he is.ued on the night Of NoVem
Der 4, 1904, inI answer to the charges
made against himself and Mr.. Ooytelyou
in public speeches by Dir. Parker. The
President read this extract from the re-
ply which he made to Judge Parker that
night.
Among the things stated by the Pres
ident are the following; J.
That in 1904 the trusts and million
aires used every effort to defeat him for
tho nomination.
That he ordered the nationsl Tepnbll-
can committee torefuse any tobacco co.,
tributlOn ia GOA, and that contribution
of independent tobacco deslers WAS re-
'turntd.
That 500, 900 vas returned TO the man
who expected to lie made minister TO
Belgium.
That Hartman begged for contribn-
lions from the national committee TO
"save" New York State.
The President declares this coUbina-
ton il now at work In Ohio in so effort
10 defeat Taft for The presidency, and in
Pennsy lvauia, where it is boosting Knox
for the same Office.
Another conspiracy 10 1904 to defeat
him for the presidential nomination was
disclosed at that time Ex-senator Prltch-
ard, who declared that James b. Duke,
president Of American Tobacco Com
pany, bad asked him to keep his hands
of 10 the6ght.
The gravamen OF these charges lies
in the assertion that the corporations
have been blsckmailod into contributing,
and in the implication. which in one
or two OF Mr.. Parker's speeches has
practically taken the form OF an asser-
lior, thst they have been promised
certain immunities or iayors or have been
assured that they would receive some
kind of proper consideration In view OF
their contributions.
Then, continuing the reading OF this
extract, the President yesterday after
noon laid emphasis upon the following
extract from his reply to Judge Parker:
That contributions have been made to
the republican committee, rs con,ribu.
tioos have been made to the democratic
committee, ia not the ques!ion at issue.
Dir. Psrket's assertion ia in effect that
such contributions have been made for
improper motives, either in consequence
OF threats or In consequence CT improper
promises, direct or indirect, 90 the part
of the recipients. MT. Parker knows
best whether this ia true of tbs oon!rIbu-
lions to his campaign fund which have
come thronght his trusted friends and
advisers who represent the great corpo'
rate interests 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.
After calling attention to these ex-
tracts from his reply TO Judge Parker,
the President went OH TO say that some
Of the contributions which had been
made to the republican campaign fund
Of 1904 were rejected and others we're
returned.