The Washington herald., 1907-04-04

Harriman's alleged boast that he could
buy legislatures, Congress, and the judici-
ary was made known last fan TO the JUS
tees of the United States supreme Court
By Presid mt Roosevelt
This fact was made public at the White
House yesterday in the course OF con
versations between the President and his
friends on the Hartman controversy
At the time of the convening Of the Su-
preme Court, when the members of that
body paid their customary call at the
White House the President showed them
the letter he had written 10 Sherman, IN
which We're incorporated the railway mag
Mates alleged statements regarding his
ability TO buy the legislative and judicial
branches Of this government
The Hartman affair was the main topic
Of discussion at the Executive Mansion
yesterday, and the President did not
mince words in conversing with those
who saw him. He paid his respects in
scathing language TO Alton B. Parker
for "butting in" on the controversy with
tAe railroad magnate, and in more sCath-
ing language reviewed the political ae-
tivity of Hartman since the period Of
the organized Hanna opposition.
The tactics of those Olden days are
brought vividly to the Presidents mind
because he is firmly convinced that the
same old crowd is again after him. He
sees the clans forming North. South
West, and East. AS he reads the signs,
the campaign for the control Of Congress
and of the party for the next TWO years
is on. Probably il must be fought out
this summer. Certainly the President IS
not Sinking the conflict.
Corporations Aided Both Parties.
Incidentally some very interesting reve-
lations Of the 1891 campaign came to light
The corporations, it appears, We're mot
altogether backward about contributing
10 the Republican cause. There was great
strife in New York lest Senator Depew.
then facing "a struggle for reelection,
should be left outside the breastworks.
Odell and Hartman were plotting 10 undo
the eloquent Chauncey. Mighty forces in
the world of Republican contributions
were resisting.
1t is not denied that the corporations
contributed TO the Republican campaign.
The Presidents reply TO Parker early in
November, 1904, was cited yesterday at the
White House as showing that the Presi-
dent never claimed there were no corpora
tion contributions
THAT contributions have been made to
the Republican committee as cOntribu-
tions have been made TO the Democratic
committed" the President wrote in that
reply to Parker. rs not the question AT
issue Mr.. ParkeT's assertion is in ef-
feet that such contributions have been
made with improper motives, either in
consequence of threats or in consequence
of improper promises. direct or indirect
on the part Of the recipients. Mr.. Parker
knows best whether this is true of the
contributions to his campaign fund which
have come through his trusted friends
and advisers, who represent the great
corporate interests that stand behind
him But there is not a particle of truth
g. the statement as regards anything
that has gone on in the management Of
the Republican campaign"
Contributions Buy No Favors.
The President looks upon the legislation
he has secured from Congress and upon
the trusts he has prosecuted or investi-
gated-the Stanard Oil Company, the
-
Others-as evidence that he permitted no
contributions TO the Republican fund TO
persuade him 20 action or non-action.' or
10 the bestowal of favors. 1t was men
TONED yesterday that when Mr.. Roosevelt
was governor Of New York and brought
forward his franchise tax bill, he was told
it would hurt some of the very men who
had contributed most to his gubernatorial
fund He expressed his regret adding
that II they had expected official fav0rs
from him on that account they were
doomed 10 disappointment. And if these
same interests. on top of that experience.
contributed to the national fund of 1904
the President is unable to think Of them
as otherwise than foolish
de knows there was tremendous and
concerted effort. following his election
that year. To stay his activity against the
great corporations, and he thinks that
activity is now being renewed by the
same interests. He is just as resolute as
ever against them, ali of Which he thinks
a sufficient reply TO the insinuations of
Judge Parker 1t is taken for granted
here that "Augey' Belmont. for instance
who chatted with the President a few
days ago about the railroad programme
and made representations to the Presi-
dent about what should be done. con-
tributed to the Parker fund as surely as
the Nanderbilts and J. Pierpont Morgan
subscribed something to Treasurer Bliss
And against Judge Parker's assertion
that a Republican Congress has done
nothing TO prevent corporate contribu-
tions in the future. it is pointed out that
bill has been enacted intO law pro-
hibiting contributions from national
banks
Hops Like Fly on a Hot shovel" !"
The President said yesterday. as he dis
cussed the subject with various callers.
that he saw Hartman at least twice dur
ing the 1905 campaign. He does not recoI-
leet whether he saw him about a week
before election, as Mr. Hartman says
was the case. One of the visits was when
Mr. Hartman called at the White House
en- route from a Virginia hunting trip.
They talked Of New York srate politics at
Boards, wide, bright. s2.O0 per 100 #.