Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-10-24

GCollier's Weekly publishes the story
given in part below concerning the
theft and purchase of the Standard
Ion letters used so effectively in this
campaign by Mr.. Hearst. whose news
paper is alleged to have purchased
them Mr. Hearsts denial has been
forthcoming Golfers makes the
statement that the Standard Oil let
tiers of John ID. Archbold to Senator
Foraker, Representative S!bley and
othe eminent politicians were sold TO
the New York American office by
Charles Stump, confidential messen-
ger of the Standard Oil company. The
letters were brought to him by VIII
liam W. Winfield. u negro in the Office
of John d. Archbold. Winfield is the
stepson of Mr.. Archbold's butler.l
LColler's Weekly For Oct. 24.l
This Is the life story of two obscure
citizens. a negro and his white friend,
who have kept the 1908 presidential
campaign lively, made Mr.. Hearst a
star performer, and received and spent
wad Of money.
1t was Willie W. Winfield and
Charles Stump. you see, who sold the
John d. Archbold Standard Oil letters
(about Sibley and Senator Foraker and
other political intmates of No. 20
Broadway to Mr.. Hearst for tritle
over $4,000.
ut looked like lot of money, them
says Charley Stump. What is $4,000
to $4,000? a few thousands don't
last long, with the gambling and the
rest"
When you get chance to make
$4,000 to $4,000 because you can lay
your hands on information" says Will
lie Winfield, Il say. to hell with your
job. Take the chance What do you
care If you lose your job? Stump was
fool or he'd have stayed rich he
used to show $1,000 at time. But
the women got it--diamonds for them,
and the rest of it."
William w. Winfield, the negro. was
the file clerk, messenger, and door ten
der of John d. Archbold until 1905.
He is the stepson of John d. Archbolds
trusted and now aged negro butler,
James N. wilkins, of blameless life.
devoted to Mr.. and Mrs. Archbold. and
by them much honored. For over
twenty years Wilkins has been as one
of the family He owns a charming
large white house at No. 80 North
Washington street, Tarrytown. Its in
terror is tasteful and attractive to a
degree. Many years ago he married
a widow woman, Mrs. Winfield. whose
two sons are John A. Winfield and
Willie w. Winfield. John is porter
in the National bank of TarrytoWn.
Turn we to Willie.
II will tell you an odd thing says
Willie. "Archbold is a big man, isn't
he? and he knows lot OF big men;
but he's more afraid of me I've had
different odd jobs With him since
left Standard Oil. / was with Standard
Oil ten years. Stump was there six
years-he came in 1899. l taught him
all he knew Why. he didn't know
how to handle telephone, used to put
the receiver to his ear and drop it
when it buzzed Poor Stump, he was
just plain foolish, careless, as you
might say
"Tve never been able to do much
business with Archbold says stump
since I sold the letters, a little money,
once III d Wnlle, , 10 one llllle, 4iV dli-
other time but nothing much. He
keeps my address, tho. and knows
where I am. I don't understand how
Willie keeps next. And yet we've
stirred up campaign for fair" says
Charley Stump. II wrote a letter to
Mr.. Hearst when he began reading the
Archbold letters, saying that, consid-
ering the sensation they were making,
he ought to send me a little money.
There's no use trying to see him.
You can't get thru the office force. But
no money has come from that letter.
Eldridge was the last man In the
Hearst office that / actually did bust
ness with. When you came in this
afternoon, so quiet and confidential
with some proposition or other, L
thought at first you were one more
Standard Oil man with his hands full
Of letters that wanted me to place
them in Park Row. I'm thru with that.
There's nothing in it. 1t gives you
lots of trouble and uneasiness and no
satisfaction. 1 wouldn't go thru 1T
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