The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-10-26
THEY ALL DENY.
Three Pennsylvania Judges on
the Hearst Charges.
No Money Received Improperly
They Say.
ELKIN WAS CHAIRMAN
Drafts to Help Republican Cam
paign Fund.
dend -rsOn Says He Doesn't
Know Archibald
ELKIN WAS CHAIRMAN

Pittsburg, Pa, Oct. 26.-Justice
preme court, whose name was intro
duced by William r. Hearst in the
Standard Oil correspondence read by
the editor at a meeting in New York
last night, denied tonight that he ever
had received money for improper pur-
poses from John D. Archbold or ever
had attempted to influence legislation
in behalf of the Standard Oil COM
pany. Justice Elkin came here today
from his home in Indiana, Pa, to re-
sumo his work with the supreme
court
The letters read by Mr.. Hearst
purporting to be from Mr.. Archbold
refer to two remittances within six
weeks to Mr.. Elkin, then attorney
general of the state, in the early part
of 1900, one for $4,000 and the other
for $4,000. Justice Elkin said that
since that reading the correspondence
he had not had an opportunity of go
ing over his files and other data to
determine whether the facts stated in
the Archbold correspondence were
correct
You may say for me, however" he
added. that 1 never received from
Archbold directly or indirectly mon
ey for any improper purposes. Meth
er have I ever made any attempt to
influence legislation in the interests
of the Standard Oil company"
Ex-Governor Stones Reply.
Ex-Governor William A Stone,
whom Hearst charged with being in
t1uenced by Standard Oil officials in
the appointment of judges, made this
statement tonight:
'Mr. Hearst seems to think that be-
LAWYER understands oil
and gas laws of Pennsylvania he is
disqualified to be a judge. That rule
would make only those eligible who
did not understand laws relating to
Pennsylvania in practice does under
stand the laws relating to oil, and
gas, Hearst's rule would compel US to
go into some other state for judges.
THE drafts to Mr.. Elkin. if sent
to him, were sent while he was either
committee or member of the finance
committee. 1t was not improper for
him to receive contributions for cam
paign expenses. The judges of Penn
sylvania have the confidence of the
people. They have never been charged
nor can they be so charged justly.
81 have no recollection of receiving
the letters from Archbold. I did not
appoint Judge Henderson. I did ap-
point Judge because OF my
knowledge of his ability and fitness
for the bench"
What the Two Judges Say.
Philadelphia, Oct, 26.4Judge ]. J.
Henderson and Judge T. A. Morrison
of the superior court of Pennsylvania
denied today any knowledge of the
letters purporting to have been writ
ten by John D. Archbo1d of the Stan
dard Oil company to Governor Stone
bearing upon their appointments.
Judge Henderson said:
81 never spoke to John D. Archbold
in my life. 1 never had any business
relations with him and know of no
reason why he should request my APP
pointment to the superior court
bench. The first intimation 1 had of
any such letter an that read by Mr..
Hearst was when 1 saw it in a news
paper. I did not know Mr.. Archbold
had communicated with Governor
Stone on the subject. nor do know of
any influence having been brought to
bear upon Mr.. Arch bold to cause him
to make the communication"
Judge Morrison said: 81 do not be-
lieve 1 have seen Mr.. Archb0sd or
had any communication with him in
forty years and 1 did not know that
he had written any such letter to
early days of the oil business in Craw-
| ford and Venago counties, but 1 dc
not know what Influenced him to
write such a letter as that read by
Mr.. Hearst"