Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1908-10-02


ss.na.ra ora Roosevelt Mot Returned
Early tin the 1904 campaign the
Standard Oil Company, a well as
other trusts, railroads, banks and large
corporations, received request 20
contribute to the Republican nationai
campaign fuad. This request was ig-
nercd Henry H. Rogers being respon :
sible for Its refusal.
Later, when the second call for cam
paign funds was made. Mr.. cor
telyou, Chairman OF. the Republican
National Committee, sent word to Mr.
Rogers asking for an appointmort AZ
which the existing conditions couih
be explained and the financial SIP
port Of Standard Oil secured This APP
pointment was made by Mr.. Rogers
to be kept 1t No. 20 Broadway, tne
Standard Oil Building, and Mr.. Ger
telyou was informed that both Mr..
Rogers and John ID. Archbold would
be please to see him. Mr.. Ccrtelycu,
finding that Mr.. Rogers was not to
meet him alone but that Mr.. Arch
bold was alss to be present, concl aided
1t would be safer and more discreet not
t. go himself. The appointment was
kept by Cornelius N. Bliss, Treasurer
of the National COMMITTEES.
| At this interview Mr.. Rogers aceus-
cd Mr.. Roosevelt Of ingratitude and re.
called many past favors from the
Standard Oil Company to Republican
candidates and campaign funds. Mr..
Bliss admitted that President Rso.s-
welt might have acted harshly toward
the Standard Oil, but said that while
Mr.. Reosevelt's first term was soon
structive" his second term would be
ssconservative.n
Relying on these assurances Mr..
Rogers and Mr.. Archbold made con-
tribution Of 500, 900.
This contribution coming to the
knowledge of President Roosevelt, he
wrote to Chair an Cortelyou violent
letter denouncing the Standard Oil
Company and directing the return OF
the contribution. This letter Is On Mr..
Cortelyou's file,a and copy Of it's kept
1 by President Roosevelt for pur-
pose Of making it public II ev the
facts of this Standard Oil contribution
became known.
The contribution was not returned.
Not one cent was paid back. The same
was used, so far as Mr.. Rogers and
Mr.. Archbold know, in like manner
with other contributions.
Later ia the campaign, when Prssi
dent Roosevelt became scared absnt
the result and about the time that be
summoned Edward n. Harriman to
Washington and induced Mr.. Harri-
man to raise 1920, 600 for the campaign
fund, further request was made Of
the Standard Oil people.
At the time of the 100000 contribr-
tion Mr.. Bliss expressed bis dissatis-
faction with its size and said that the
amount should be several times as
great. AT the time Of the third request
the definite sum of $250,'00 additional
was asked for.
In the mean time Mr.. Rogers had
learned Of MIR. Roosevelt's letter to
Mr.. Cortelyou and of the direction to
! return the first 800, 900. He declined
to give any more money and recalled
the fact that the Presidents instruc-
tions to return the first contribution
had not been complied with and that
Mr. Roosevelt must have known all
along that the 100000 which he re-
pudiated had not only been accepted
but used.
In view of this fact he declined to
accede of the request for further$250,-
900 or for any further sum, and de-
nounced Mr.. Roosevelt for seemingly
trying on the one hand to secure con-
tributions from the Standard OIL Com
pshy and on the other hand to make
political capital by denouncing the
mpany.-New York World.