Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-10-07
ITO THE PUBLIC"
Ex- Cong. Sibley Answers Charges
Made by VIM. r. Hearst.

New York, oct 6.-Former Con-
gresham Joseph c. Sibley OF Penn
sylvania. tonight made public the fol-
lowing letter in connection with ref
erences made to him in recent speeches
of William r. Hearst:
ITO the public:
For 80 years last past, | have been,
more or less closely associated in
business with John d. Archbold of the
Standard Oil Co, and during the major
portion of this period | have talked
with him and written to him with me
freedom and frankness due to bust
ness associate and a personal friend.
MY connection with the Standard Oh
Co. was known before / entered pubic
life and the three Presidents of our
nation during my term Of service were
familiar with the fact of my business
connection with the Standard Oil Co.
as were my friends in the Senate and
nv colleagues in the House of Repre-
sentatives. Approximately 100000
people who in two different congress
Sional districts of Pennsylvania select
ed me as their representative in Con-
gress know precisely the relations eX-
listing between the Standard Oil Co. and
myself. My views on corporate prop
lens have been no secret to any con-
stituent. colleague or official in gov
eminent service. Lack of frankness in
expression or courage to voice ana
vote my conviction on any public is
sue has never been charged against
me by anyone. Where | have differed
with the President I have attempted
to do so in a manly, outspoken man
ner and I believe that ! shared his
confidence and respect and that at no
time did ever attempt to mislead him
on any topic.
mo colleague with whom | have had
the honor to serve as a member OF the
greatest legislative body in the world.
will charge me with having ever per
formed or with attempting to perform
an unworthy public action. While l
am conscious of mistakes. they are ms
takes which reflect on ones Judgment
and not upon his honor. Mr. Hearst
has copies, believe of every letter
written by me to Mr.. Archbold from
1900 to very nearly the close of my term
Of public service | therefore request
that he will do me the Justice to pub
lish them one and all in their entirety
and in their orderly and natural Sc
uuence. giving dates of letters and not
separating text from context
During the period covered by my
letters, great problems in comm, rec
and transportation reaching t" the
very centers of our industrial life as
a nation and some of these problems
affecting vitality the material interests
of my constituents have been before
Congress- for solution. | spoke and
voted against granting Legislative, ex-
ecutive and judicial powers tn the In
terstate Commerce Commission. l la
tored earnestly against the commodity
clause of the rate bill and especially
that portion of the commodity clause
which forbade pipe lines to transport
their own oil. This in the judgment of
my constituents meant ruin to pro-
ducers of petroleum. ! was fearful that
the zeal of some unframed to CONNER
cial life was leading toward expert
rnents in government which threatened
disaster to American industries and
did not hesitate to publicly express my
opinion and voice my opposition. While
MY letters written to a personal friend
and business associate were not care
fully edited for publication and may he
tray my ignorance. my ineNperlehce
and lack of judgment, no letter OF mine
in Mr. Hcnrst's possession or in any
other mans possession will reveal an
unworthy motive or action OF mine.
Following determination formed
long years ago. l retired at the age of
SO from all active business. In 1905.
I announced my determination to re-
tire from public life. though urged by
the people of my district not to do so.
/ voluntarily joined the ranks of pri-
vate citizenship. During my political
career it was my lot to pass through
some political campaigns that were
waeed with exceeding bitterness.
but no man has charged me
at any time or place with
having a dishonorabe dollar i'll my pos
session, or a dollar to which he held
better title. or with ever having sought
to wrong him in any financial Trans
action. Nor has any man so far, ever
charged me with untruthfGineSS.
When the exegencies of political CAM
raien shall have been cared for 10y Mr..
Hearst and he accepts my invitation
To publish all my letters in full. l will
make such answer as may then seem
necessary
..At so years of age a man is apt
eonl an pht10SOHher Snd