New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-04-05
PENR0SE9S REVELATION
TOLD OF s5.OOO.OOO PLOT.
Diners at the ShOreham Carried
Strange Tale to the President.
IFrom The Trlbune Bureau.l

I IFrOm The Tribune Bureaul
Washington, April 4.-The Presidents declz.
ration that there is a conspiracy. Of which r.
H. Hartman and the Standard Oil interests are
the principals and financial hackers. and which
has for its purpose the defeat OF his policies in
the next Congress and the control OF the next
Republican National Convention. which infor-
nation he impaired TO a number OF his friends
among the Washington correspondents yester-
day. has led to the unearthing OF highly sensa-
tionaI and interesting details. and il is now
possible to give story which pUrpOrts to reveal
not only the alleged plans of the conspirators.
but the identity Of the trusted agent who.
through an error Of Judgment. betrayed the
plans Of his principals. as well as the sum il
is asserted they have already subscribed and
placed at the disposal OF this agent.
Mr. Hartman and his associates in the stand
ard Oil Company have. according to the story
as their agent BOies Penrose. senior Senator
from Pennsylvania. They have subscribed s5.-
100000 to the silent campaign with which they
purpose to defeat the Roosevelt policies and con-
troll the next Republican convention. and IT Is
this combination which the President has de-
/ termined TO expose
At dinner given few nights ago at the
ShOreham Hotel in Washington. Senator Pen
rose related all the details Of the plan to down
Rooseveltism in which he is engaged Mr..
Penrose assured his fellow diners that backed
=
ard OIL" he had undertaken quiet campaign
which had for its object the crushing Of RoOse-
veltism." He said that in the light Of the re-
Mobilization Of the organization in Pennsylvania
he was prepared to deliver the solid delegation
i of his state, numbering sxty-eight delegates.
to the candidate who was yet TO be selected as
the representative Of the conservative" forces
in the Republican party.
/ PLANS IN OTHER STATES.
Senator Foraker said Mr. Penrose. was pre-.
/ pared to deliver the solid delegation Of Ohio.
/ Mr.. Hartman could probably deliver the solid
delegation Of New York. but other states would
probably have to be handled with greater sub
/ tIety. Ample funds were at his disposal said
Mr. Penrose. a fund OF S5,OOOOOO having been
already subscribed by the Hartman and stand
ard OIL forces. The policy to be pursued in
states where the Roosevelt sentiment was strong
/ was 70 select delegates who could be trusted
and secure their election by having them de-
clare their determination to support either the
"favortte son" Of their state or President ROose-
vet
The state conventions were to be induced to
instruct their delegations 20 cast the vote OF
/ the state for such favOrite for Presi-
dent Roosevelt President Roosevelt. said 1Ir
Penrose, could be depended upon TO refuse the
I nomination. OF that he and his principals were
absolutely confident OF course. the votes for
favorite sons would be merely complimentary
while trustworthy delegates could be depended
on to vote on. the second ballot. for the nominee
selected by the Conservatives"
The Dakotas we're already in favor OF instruct
ing their delegations for Mr. Roosevelt he went
on. and the Michigan delegation would probably
come to the convention with Instructions for the
President A movement to that end was now on
foot Pennsylvania would. Of course. instruct
its delegation for Senator Knox Mr.. Peurose
would himself attend TO that. Ohio would in
/ struct its delegation for Senator Foraker Indi-
4 ana for Vice-President Fairbanks. Illinois for
Speaker Cannon, New York for a candidate 10
be selected by the Hartman OdeH combination.
( Massachusetts for Senator Crane Wisconsin
for Senator La Toilette and an effort would be
made to have Iowa instruct for ex- Secretary
Shaw.
HAD UNLIMITED FUNDS
This division of strength would make it GER
tain that the first ballot in the convention
would be of a purely complimentary character.
OF course. the instructions OF the various stats
ceEventiOns would not hold after the first ball
lot, and then the trustworthy delegates could
be counted on to combine on Senator Foraker
or some other candidate, who had received the
approval Of Mr.. Penrose's principals. To In
sure the successful accomplishment OF these
plans not only would the S5OOOOOO already at
Mr.. Penrose's disposal be avaiIabIs. but as
much more might be needed. In fact. Mr..
Penrose assured his auditors he was backed
by absolutely unlimited capital
/ The extraordinary tale of Senator Penrose was
told to the President by one Of the men at the
dinner before the night over. but was re-
ceived with decided incredulity. On the day
following the dinner. however. Senator Penrose
went to one Of the men who had dlned with him
the night before. who is Of the most
/ try and asked 10 have his memory refreshed re-
garding his remarks OF the evening before. This
being done. Senator Penrose said that he had
not really iRtsudeG to discuss these matters with
such absolute frankness. but that he assumed no
one who was present would give him away
He then. in the clear light Of the day after. re-
asserted all that he had said the night before
and urged his friend to join in the movement
saying: If you can see your way clear to joining
/ us and can use such to promote the cause.
/ / will Immediately draw my check to your order
/ for S25.OOO and you call on me for as much
more as may be needed"
THE PRESIDENT CONVINCED
/ Mr. Penrose's conhdant in this instance was
/ unviseIy chosen. for he went Immediately to
/ the White House and related all OF the facts
/ 10 the President. this being the third report Of
/ the dinner which the President had received
from trustworthy sources within fOrty-eisht a
hours AS the first two reports dealt only with
statements made by Mr.. PenrOse after dinner.
+ the President was disposed to receive them with
large grain Of allowance. but when finally
they came to him from Thoroughly trusts
worthy source from prominent politician who
ba6 received fun confirmation Of the facts from