The Glenwood post., 1908-09-26
BRYAN WRITES
TO ROOSEVELT
HE WANTS PROOF OF CHARGES
AGAINST GOV. HASKELL OF
DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE.
OR AN INVESTIGATION
DEMANDS FAIR AND HONORABLE
TREATMENT FROM REPUB-
LlcAN MANAGERS.

Detroit, Mich.-The most sensation
| al development in the present cam
paign was the sending Tuesday by
William ]. Bryan. Democratic capdi
date for President, of a telegram to
President Roosevelt demanding that
he produce proof that Gov. Charles n.
Haskell of Oklahoma, treasurer of the
Democratic national committee, ever
was connected with the Standard Oil
Company.
Selling upon the opportunity thus
afforded, Mr.. Bryan took occasion 10
serve notice on the President that he
would not permit any responsible
member of the Republican organiza-
tion to misrepresent the attitude OF
the Democratic party in the present
campaign, and further, that the Demo-
cratic party was making ''an honor
able and honest fight" in defense of
its principles and policies and that 1t
expected and demanded fair and hon
orable treatment from those in charge
of the Republican campaign. His let
ter says:
Hon. Theodore Roosevelt, President
of the United States.
Dear Sir:--1n statement given
out by you yesterday and published in
this mornings papers, you endorse
charge made against Governor Haskell
of Oklahoma to the effect that he was
once in the employ of the Standard
/ Oil Company and as such employe,
was connected with an attempt to
bribe or influence Attorney General
Monnett of Ohio to dismiss suits pend,
ing against the Standard Oil Com
pany.
IN endorsing this charge you at
tack the Democratic party and its
candidate, saying that Governor Has
kell stands high in the councils OF Mr..
Bryan and is the treasurer of his ma
tiOnal campaign committee.
And you add that the publication
of this correspondence not merely JUS
titled in striking fashion the action of
the administration, but also casts
curious sidelight 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 it to go unnoticed. Gov
ernor Haskell has denied that he was
Company in any capacity, or was ever
connected in any way with it or the
transaction upon which your charge
is based.
Governor Haskell demanded an in
vestigation at the time the charge was
first made, offering to appear and .tes'
tify and he demands an investigation
now l agree with you that if Gov
/ ernor Haskell is guilty as charged. he
is unfit to be connected with the Demo
cratic national committee, and / am
sure you will agree with me that if he
| is innocent he deserves to be exoner-
ated from SO damaging an accusation
"As the selection of Governor Has
kel as chairman of the committee on
resolutions at Denver, and as treasurer
of the Democratic national committee
has my approval and endorsement, l
feel it my duty to demand. an imme-
diate 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
giving sanction and circulation to such
charge without proof and respect
fully request therefore that you fur
nish any proof which you have in your
possession II you have not proof, l
request that you indicate a method by
which the truth may be ascertained.
Without consulting Mr.. Haskell l will
agree that he will appear for invest.
cation before any tribunal public OF
private, which you will indicate, and
l further agree that his connection
with the national committee and with
this campaign shall cease in the event
that the decision of such tribunal con
meets 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.
"The Democratic party is making an
honest AMI an honorable fight in de-
fense of the principles and policies
enunciated in its platform, and 1t ex-
poets and will demand fair, honorable
treatment from those who are in
charge Of the Republican campaign"