The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-10-07
The SECRET OUT.
WHY ROOSEVELT FIGHTS STAN,
DARD OIL COMPANY.
1t Refused to Give Him as Much
Money as He Demanded for His
Campaign Four Years Ago.

Money as He Demanded for Hi!
Campaign Four Years Ago.
The New York World Of Frida,
published the following:
Early in the 1904 campaign the
Standard OIL Company. as we'll as
other trusts, railroads, banks and
large corporations, received a re-
quest to contribute to the Republican
campaign fund. This request was
ignored, Henry H. Rogers being re-
sponsible for its refusal.
Later, when the second call for
campaign funds was made, Mr..
Cortelyou, chairman Of the Republ!-
can national committee, sent word
to Mr.. Rogers asking for an appoint
ment at which the existing con-
ditions could be explained and the
financial support Of Standard OIL
secured. This appointment was
made by Mr.. Rogers to be kept at
No. &c Broadway. the Standard Oil
building, and Mr.. Cortelyou was in
formed that both Mr.. Rogers and
John D. Archbold would be pleased
to see him. Mr.. Cortelyou, finding
that Mr.. Rogers was not to meet
him alone but that Mr.. Archbold
was alone to be present, concluded
1t would be safer and more discreet
not to 90 himself. The appointment
was kept by Cornelius N. Bliss,
treasurer Of the national commit
tee.
At this interview Mr.. Rogers &C.
cused AIR. Roosevelt of ingratitude
and recalled many past favors from
the Standard Oil Company to Re-
publican candidates and campaign
funds. Mr.. Bliss admitted that Pres
ident Roosevelt might have acted
harshly toward the Standard Oil, bur
said that while Mr.. Roosevelt's first
term was constructive" his second
term would be conservative"
Replying on these Mr..
Rogers and Mr.. Archbold made a
contribution Of 100000.
This contribution coming to the
knowledge of President Roosevelt, he
wrote to Chairman Cortelyou a vio-
lent letter denouncing the Standard
Oh Company and directing the re-
turn Of the contribution. This let
ter Is on Mr.. Cortelyou's file, and 4
fcopy of it is kept by President Roose-
welt for the purpose Of making II
public If ever the facts Of this Stan
dard 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 man.
ner with other contributions.
Later in the campaign, when Pres
ident Roosevelt bacame scared about
the result and about the time thar
be summoned Edward H. Hartman
to Washington and induced Mr.. Har.
riman to raise $3.50. 900 for the cam
paign fund, a further request was
made of the Standard Oil people.
At the time of the 100000 con-
tribution Mr.. Bliss expressed his dis
satisfaction 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
s250,o00 additional was asked for.
In the meantime Mr.. Rogers had
learned of MIR. Roosevelt's letter to
Mr.. Cortelyou and of the direction
to return the first 100000. He de-
clined to give any more money and
recalled the fact that the Presidents
instructions to return the first con-
tribution had not been complied
with and that Mr.. Roosevelt must
have known all along that the 500 =
900 which he r%epudiated had not
only been accepted but used.
In view Of this fact he declined
to accede to the request for a fur
Their $4,000. or for any further
sum, and denounced Mr.. Roosevelt
for seemingly trying on the N hant
to secure contributions from thu
Standard Oil Company and on ths
other hand to make political capita
by denouncing the company.