The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-09-23
CHALLENGES
ROOSEVELT
Bryan Defies Him to Prove
Charges
CALLS FOR AN INQUIRY
VIII Gust Haskell II Latter Is Convicted
Of Connection With the standard
oil company--A Direct Slap
at the Chief Executive.
CALLS FOR AN INQUIRY

fcbuktng the ehief executive OF the ma
ton for making statements deemed to
be njhstifed, was witnessed yesterday
when William ]. Bryan in a telegram
to President Roosevelt defended Cover
nor Haskell of Oklahoma. treasurer Of
the Democratic national committee,
against the charge that he had unlawful
connection with the STANDARD OH com.
pany.
Mr.. Bryan serves notice on the presi.
dent that, a. the candidate Of the Dem.
ocratic party, Il shall not permit any
responsible member Of the Republican
organization TO misrepresent the Demo.
ratio party In the present campaign
The letter concludes with the state.
ment that the Democratic party is max.
ing an honest and horable" fight in
defense OF It's principles and policies,
'and expects and will demand honorable
treatment from those who are in charge
Of the Republican campaign
Mr. Bryan's telegram was as followsi
1.-The Hon. Theodore Roosevelt, presi.
dent of the United States;
affkA "At III = NAAAtAAFNi kihNH OUT
by you yesterday, and published in this
mornings papers, you endorse charge
made against Governor Haskell Of Okla
homa. to the effect that he was once in
the employ Of the STANDARD oil company
and, as such employ. was connected with
an attempt 10 bride or influence Attor.
ney General Monctt OF Ohio to dismiss
suits pending against the STANDARD oil
company.
I'm indorsing this charge, YOU attack
the Democratic party and its candidate
saying that Gov. Haskell stands high
in the councils OF Mr.. Bryan and Is the
treasurer Of his national campaign com
mittee, and you add that the pubiea-
ton of this correspondence not merely
plstities in striking fashion the action
of the administration, but also casts a
curious side light on the attacks 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 so serious
that ! cannot allow IL to 20 unnoticed.
Gov. Haskell has denied that he was
ever employed by tho STANDARD Oil com
pany in any capacity or was ever con
nected in any way whatever with it or
with the transaction upon which your
charge is based.
II agree with you that IL Gov. Haskell
Is guilty as charged he is unfit to be |
connected with the Democratic national |
committee and ! am sure you will agree
with me that ii he Is innocent he de.
serves TO be exOnerated from 50 damning |
an accusation.
"As the selection OF Governor Haskell /
as chairman OF the committee on reso- !
buttons at Denver and also as treasurer
of the Democratic national committee. /
had my approval aud inderseemnt, feel |
it my duty to demand an immediate
investigation of charge against him
Endorsed by the president Of the United
States.
Your high position, as well as your
sense Of Justice would prevent your Civ.
ing sanction and circulation to such
charge without proof, and | respectfully
request therefore that you furnish any
proof which You have in your possession,
or il you have no proof, request that
you ip1icate a method BY which the
truth may be ascertained.
Without consulting Mr. Haskell, i 1
will agree that he will appear for in
vestigation before any tribunal. public
or private, which yon may indicate. and
| will further agree that his connection
with the national committee and with
the campaign committee 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 investi-
CATION OF the facts, say that you believe
him guilty Of the charges made.
AS the candidate Of the Democratic
party, ! shall not permit any response.
BILE member Of the Republican organi-
lation to misrepresent the attitude of
the Democratic party in the present
] have assisted YOU to the
extent Of my ability in remedial meas
lres which | deemed for the public good
which YOU have undertaken; | have
urged Democrats to support such meas J
Tres and have advocated more radical
against private monopoly than
'ither yon or your party associates have
,een willing to mdertle.
THE platform of the Democratic par )
" is clear and specific on this subject,
Is on others, while the platform of the
republican party is uncertain and eyas-
We.
"The Democratic candidate for vice.
PRESIDENT, Mr.. Kern, joined with me in
the Democratic national COM
nittee to fix d maximum OF Sl0000000
or individual contributions and to pub (
ish before the election all contributions !
hove 500 and the committee acted 9
avorably on this request The Repub- a
lean candidate and the Republican ma /
ional committee proposed, not publica. d
ion before the election, but publication Q
fter the election. / submit that our !
ommittee has given the better evidence d
# its freedom from connection with. a
i obligation to, the predatory inter
SITS. a
Our committee has not knowingly re- \
eived a dollar from an official Of any Il
known as a trust. and it win r.
OF receive any money from such. II I.
ny money is contributed BY such per- s
ons without the knowledge of the com !,
littee, il will be returned as soon as the 4
act is discovered.
The Democratic party IS making an :
onest and an honorable fight in defense
+ the principles aud policies enunciated
/ its platform, and it expects and will
emand fair, honorable treatment from
hose who are in charge of the Republic
an campaign.
With great respect. etc,
Very truly yours.
N 1