The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1907-04-10
EXPOSURE
Of Some Methods Used to
Elect Roosevelt PreSi-
dent in 1904.

a political bombshell was exploded
in the Republican camp last week
by the disclosure of some cores
pondence which took place between
President Roosevelt and Mr.. f. II.
Hartman, the great railroad magnate,
just preceding the last Presidential
election. 1t will be remembered that
during his campaign, Mr.. Alton b.
Parker, the Democratic candidate for
President, made the open charge that
the big corporations of the country
contributed literally to the Doodle
fund of the Republican party. This
was vigorously denied by Mr.. Roose-
welt, who denounced the charge as
"maliciously false" 1t later devel
oped and was proven in the courts
of New York that d number of the
big insurance companies contributed
the Republican corruption fund. The
correspondence which came to light
last week added much emphasis to
both Mr.. Parker's charge and the eX-
posture of the insurance graft. Mr.
Roosevelt says he never asked Mr..
Hartman for financial aid during
the last memorable Presidential cam
paign. Mr.. Hartman says he did.
And so there you have II. They are
both of the same political feather and
we suppose the veracity of one is as
good as that of the other. We print
below two very significant letters,
which throw considerable light on the
situation. The first letter is from
Mr. Roosevelt to Mr.. Hartman, and
any reader can very we'll read be-
tween the lines and discern the plain
import of it. The second quotation
Is from Mr.. Hartman and explains
itself.
ROOSEVELT'S LETTER.
Personal. Oct. IA, 1904.
MY Dear Mr.. Hartmann sug-
gestion has come to me in rounda-
bout way that you do not think it wise
to come on to see me in these closing
weeks of the campaign, but that you
are reluctant to refuse, inasmuch as
| have asked you.
Now, my dear sir, you and | are
practical men, and you are on the
ground and know the conditions bet
ter than l do.
"If you think there is any dan
ger of your visit to me causing you
trouble, or if you think there is moth
ing special l should be informed
about, or no matter in which ! could
give aid, why of course give up the
visit for the time being, and then
few weeks hence, before l write my
message, l shall get you to come
down to discuss certain government
matters not connected with the cam
paign. With great regard, sincerely
yours"
HARRIMAN'S REPLY.
"Abou a tweek before the election
in the autumn of 1904, when it looked
certain that the State ticket would go
Democratic, and was doubtful as to
Roosevelt himself, he (the PresidenD
sent me a request to go to Washing
ton to confer on the political condi-
tons in New York State. l COM
piled, and he told me he understood
the campaign could not be success
fully carried on without sufficient
money, and asked if l would help
them in raising the necessary funds,
as the National Committee, under con-
troll of Chairman Cortelyou, had ut
terly failed of obtaining them, and
there was a large amount due from
them to the New York State Commit
tee
II explained to him that | under
stood the difficulty here was mainly
caused by the upstate leaders being
to support Depew for re-
election as United States Senator;
that if he (Depew) could be taken
care of in some other way. | thought
matters could be adjusted and the diff
ferent contending elements in the
party brought into alliance again. We
talked over what could be done for
Depew, and finally he agreed, if found
he would appoint him as
to Paris.
with full belief that he (the Pres
ident) would keep his agreement, /
came back to New York, sent for
Treasurer Bliss, who told me that /
was their last hope and that they
had exhausted every other resource.
In his presence l called up an init
mate friend of Senator Depew, told
him that it was necessary, in order
to carry New York State, that 100000
should be raised at once, and If he
would help l would subscribe $4,000
After a few words over the telephone