Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1908-10-03
HASKELL FLAYS
THE PRESIDENT
Challenges Mi. Roosevelt TO
Prove Charges Against Him.
SAYS STATEMENTS ARE FALSE

Governor Of Oklahoma Charges the
President With Responsibility Of
Granting Oil Franchise In His State
TO Raise 100000 For Campaign
Fund In teo4-Declares Land Suits
Were Brought to Influence 10000
Indian Voters.
Guthrie. Okla. Oct !. Governor
Charles ~ Haskell formerly treasurer
OF the Democratic national committee,
gave out long letter to President
Roosevelt. repeating his published de.
Tense to the charges made against
him. The letter begins:
Yesterday was engaged in writing
communication TO YOU as the chief
magistrate OF the United States. as
suming that few days Of reflection
might have brought you to realiZa-
ton OF the fact that the people OF our
country had placed You In the highest
position of authority and respect and
that with the authority you had as
sumcd the obligation Of melting out
equal and exact justice to every citi.
zen Of our country.
Your attack upon me finally rest
ed upon my conduct toward the Prairie
Oil x Gas company in this state. |
have said that you were responsible
for granting franchise before state
hood. thereby creating vested rights.
You seek to evade the issue and create
wrong Impressions You said the in
terror department had no power ex-
cept where crossing an Indian reser
vation You would have your readers
believe that Indian Territory was then
conducting its own government and
that only parts OF the same We're In
dian reservations
Mr. Roosevelt. you know that isn't
true; you know all the Land was In.
dian land without county. township
or territorial government. ENhat halo
Of integrity surrounded you last week
like the mist has faded away and the
interior department holds the record
which cOnvicts you
In the Office OF the interior depart
ment the records will speak as be
tween MS say that you granted that
franchise. | say that YOU did 1t at
the solicitation OF Senator Dcpew and
others. and that within few days
thereafter chiefly by subscriptions Of
Standard Oil men. according To Mr..
Hartman. the sum Of $500 600 in cash
was added To your campaign fund.
II challenge you to publish the rec
Ords of the interior department on the
subject OF this franchise; and mark
you now. Mr. Roosevelt you must not
garhe the records nor suppress any
OF them. The public shall know the
truth. II may have been sufficient four
years ago for you to wipe out the
truthful statement made by Judge
Parker by simply calling him a liar
but that was four years ago. and your
controversy now is with man who
will not accept a BLUM In exchange for
receipt in full settlement Any char
actcr OF statement you make that |
have at any time during my entire
lie had any connection whatever with
the Standard oil company or any of
its subsidiary companies, am ready
to refute and to show that such state
ment is falsehood
You charged me with having at
tempted to bride the attorney general
OF Ohio That was presumably nine
years ago. You have abandoned that
position Charles + Taft says through
his paper that no evidence was ever
produced that would convict me OF the
charge
You said in your first statement
that | had suits brought against me
to recover title to Creek Indian land.
overwhelmed you on that statement
Yes. | believe | am defendant as 20
certain government townsite lots in
one OF nearly 1000 suits that you
have had brought against as many dit
ferent honorable and high-minded citi
zens Of this state during this presi
dental campaign year. and you will
not undertake TO deny that petty poll
tics for the purpose OF RepublicaniZ
ing about 10000 Indian voters was
your sole motive for having those suits
brought.
You say that on that land question
you will see that | get a hearing in
court. Yes. sir | will come 10 your
hearing Call 10 your assistance all
the power that your high Office com
mands. present your ease in any form
you like. am ready to meet il, and
before its conclusion the people OF
America will he Disguised that they
ever elected you president Of the
United States"
c.. 1Io,., kui.A E..h..