The morning journal-courier., 1908-09-23
BRYAN REBUKES
PRES. ROOSEVELT
Sends Him Long Telegram
Challenging Him to Prove
Assertions About
Haskell.
DEFENDS THE GOVERNOR
Says VIII Allow No Responsible Mem
Der OF Republican Organization
TO NIisrepresent His
Party.
DEFENDS THE GOVERNOR


William ]. Bryan, who. In telegram
TO Mr.. Roosevelt. defended Gov. Hask-
ell, OF oklahoma, treasurer OF the DEM
ocratic national committee. against the
charge that he had unlawful conneo-
lions with the Standard OIL company.
Mr.. Bryan served notice on the Presl-
dent that as the candidate OF the DEM
ocratic party. II shall not permit any
responsible member Of the republican
organization to misrepresent the DEM
ocratic party In the present cam
.psign."
The telegram concludes with the
statement that the democratic party In
making IAN honest and honorable
4. fight In defense NJ its principles and
policies. .apd expects and will demand
honorable treatment from those who
are in charge Of the republican CAM
palgn."
The following Is the full text 81 Mr
Bryan's dispatch;
Hon. Theodore Roosevelt, President Of
the United States:
Dear Sir-In a statement given out
by YOU yesterday, and published in
this mornings papers. you endorse a
charge made against Gov. Haskell ~
Oklahoma. TO the effect that he was
once IN the employ Of tho Standard oil
company, and ms such employee. was
connected with an attempt 10 hrihe or
influence Attorney General Monnett NJ
Ohio TO dismiss suits pending against
the STANDARD OIL company
On endorsing this charge YOU attack
the democratic party and Its candidate.
saving that Gov Haskell stands high
in the councils Of Mr.. Bryan. and IL
committee And you add that the pub
| llcation Of this correspondence not
merely iustifes In striking fashion the
action Of the administration, but also
casts a curious side light on the at
tacks made upon the administration.
both IN the Denver convention, which
nominated Mr.. BRYAN and In the course
Of Mr. Bryan's campaign
"Your charge Is 80 serious that I
cannot allow II to go unnoticed.
Governor Haskell has denied that
he was ever employed by the Stand
ard OIL company In any capacity or
was ever connected In any way what
ever with II. or with the transaction
upon which your charge II baaed
Governor Haskell demanded an In
vestigation at the time the charge was
first made. offering TO appear and tes
tlfv. and he demands an investigation
now. 7 agree with YOU that, n Cover
nor Haskell Is guilty as charged, he
is unfit TO be connected with the deu
ocratic national committee. and am
sure you will agree with me that n he
IL innocent, he deserves to he exoner-
ated from so damning an accusation.
"As the selection OF Governor Has
kel as chairman OF the committee on
resolutions at Denver. and also as
treasurer OF the democratic national
committee. had my approval and en-
dorseuent, I feel It my duty 10 de-
mand an immediate investigation Of
a charge against him endorsed By the
president Of the United States. Your
high position, as we'll as your sense OF
Justice, would prevent your giving
sanction and circulation to such a
charge without proof and I respect
fully request, therefore, that YOU furn-
sh any proof which you have in your
possession, or II you have no proof,
request that you indicate the method
by which the truth may be ascer-
tanned
Without consulting Mr. Haskell. !
will agree that he will appear for
investigation before any tribunal pub
lie or private, which you may indicate,
and will further agree that his con-
necton with the national committee
and with the campaign shall cease In
the event that the decision Of such tri-
bunal connects him In any way with
this charge. or In case you, after an
investigation of the facts, say that you
believe him guilty OF the charges
made
las the candidate of the democrat
/ ic party | shall not permit any re-
sponsible member of the republican
organization to m'srepresent the at
titude of the democratic party In the
present campaign
Il have assisted YOU 10 the extent
OF my ability In remediable measures,
which I deemed for the public good
which you have undertaken; ] have
urged democrats to support such
measures, and / have advocated more
radical measures against private mo-
nopoly than either you or your party
associates have been willing to under
take The platform of the democratic
party is clear and specific on this sub
ject. as on others, while the platform
OF the republican party Is uncertain
and evasive.
THE democratic candidate for vice
president, Mr. Kern. Joined with me
in requesting the democratic national
committee to fix a maximum Of So
600 for individual contributions. and
to publish before election all contri-
buttons above 500 and the committee
acted favorsbly on this request. The
republican candidate and the repub-
lican national COMMITTEES proposed,
not publication before the election.
but publication after the election I
submit that our committee has given
the better evidence OF It's freedom
from connection with, or obligation TO
the predatory interests
"Our committee has not knowingly
received dollar from an official Of
any corporation known as a trust, and
It will not receive any money from
such. If any money is contributed by
such persons without the knowledge
of the committee, It will be returned
as soon as the fact is discovered
The democratic party is making
an honest and honorable fight in de-
fence Of the principles and policies
enunciated IN It's platform, and II ex-
poets and will demand fair, honorable