Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-09-23
MONNETT SAYS HE WAS CIV
EN- GOV. HASKELL'S NAME

the attacks made upon the admins
tration 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 |
ever employed by the Standard Oil
company in any capacity or was ever
connected in any way whatever with it
or with the transaction upon which /
your charge is based
Demands an Investigation.
Governor Haskell demanded an in
vestigation at the time the charge
was first made, offering to appear ami
testify, and he demands an investiga
tion now. | agree with you that if
Governor 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
if he is innocent he deserves to be
eXonerated from so damning an accu
sation.
"As the selection of Governor Has
kell as chairman of the committee on
resolutions at Denver, and also as
treasurer of the democratic national
committee, had my approval and en-
dorsement. | feel it my duty to de-
mand 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
giving sanction and circulation to
such a charge without proof. and |
respectfully request therefore that
you furnish any proof which you have
in your possession, or if you have no
proof request that you indicate
method by which the truth may be
ascertained. Without consulting Mr..
Haskell. | will agree that he will ap-
pear for investigation before any tri-
bunal. public or private, which you
may indicate, and | will further agree
that his connection with the national
committee and with this campaign
shall cease in the event that the de-
cision of such tribunal connects him
| in any way with this charge, or il
case you, after investigation of the
facts, say that you believe him guilty
of the charges made
Says He Aided President.
CAS- the candidate of the democratic
party, | shall not permit any RESPONSE
Bile member of the republican organi-
Zation to misrepresent the attitude of
the democratic party in the present
campaign. | have assisted you to the
extent of my ability in remedial
measures which | deemed for the pub
lie good which you have undertaken;
| have urged democrats to support
such measures and | have advocated
more radical measures against private
monopolieS than either you or your
party associates have been willing to
undertake. The platform of the demo-
cratic party is clear and specific on
this subject, as on other subjects,
while the platform of the republican
party is uncertain and evasive.
"The democratic candidate for vice
president, Mr.. Kern, Joined with me
in requesting the democratic national
committee to fix a maximum of $10,-
600 for individual contributions and
to publish before the election all con-
tributions above 500, and the com
! mittee acted favorably upon this re
quest. The republican candidate and
the republican national committee pro
posed not publication before the elec
ton but publication after the election
submit that our committee has given
!, the better evidence of its freedom
from connection with, or obligation to
Ethe predatory interests.
Our committee has not knowingly
received dollar from an official OF
any corporation known as trust ant
it will not receive any money from
such. If any money is contributed by
such persons without the knowledge
of the committee it will be returned
as soon as the fact is discovered.
"The democratic party is making al
3 honest and an honorable fight in de
9 fense of the principles and policie!
4 enunciated in it's platform. and it ex
poets and will demand fair and hon
v orable treatment from those who ar,
g in charge of the republican campaign
with great respect. etc. very trul,
= yours, WILLIAM J. BRYAN"