Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1908-09-25
Mr.. BRYAN REDUkFS
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT
Demands Honorable Treatment Fol
Democrats in the Campaign.

Mr.. Bryan has sent President Roose-
welt the following telegram in which
he demands that the charges made by
him of Gov. Haskell be given fair
hearing. The telegram is as follows:
"Hon. Theodore Roosevelt, president
of the United States,-Dear Sir.-ln a
statement given out by you yesterday
and published in this mornings paper
you endorse charge made against Gov
ernor Haskell, of Oklahoma, to the eff
! feet that he was once in the employ of
| the Standard Oil Company, and as such
employe was connected with an at
tempt to bride or influence Attorney
General Monett, of Ohio, to dismiss
suits pending against the Standard Oil
Company. In endorsing this charge
you attack the democratic party and
its candidates, saying that Governor
Haskell stands high i'll the councils of
Mr.. Bryan and is the treasurer of his
national campaign committee And
you add that the publication of this
correspondence not merely justifies in
striking fashion the action of the adj
ministratiOn, but also casts a curious
side light on the attacks made upon the
administration, both in the Denver con-
ventiOn which nominated Mr.. Bryan
and in the course of Mr.. Bryan's cam
paign.'
"YOur charge is so serious that can
not allow it TO go unnOticed. Governor
Haskell has denied that he was ever
employed by the 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. Governor Haskell de-
manded an investigation at the time
the charge was first made, offering to
appear and testify, and he demands an
investigation now.
81 agree with you that if Governor
Haskell is guilty as charged he is unfit
to he connected with the democratic
national committee, and | am sure you
will agree with me that if he is inno-
cent he deserves to be eXonerated from
so damning an accusation.
GAS the selection of Governor Haskell
as chairman of committee on resolu-
lions at Denver and also as the treas
urer of the democratic national COM
mittee had my approval and endorse
ment, | feel it my duty to demand an
immediate investigation of charge
dSdluSG It'll ClotOloSo ny tllC BiSoASASlit
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 Or if you have no proof, L
request that you indicate method by
which the truth may be ascertained.
"Without consulting Mr.. Haskell, l
will agree that he will appear for in
vestigation before any tribunal, public
or private, which you may indicate,
and L will further agree that his con-
nection with the national committee
and with this campaign 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 in
vestigation of the facts, say that you
believe him guilty of the charges made.
GAS the candidate of the democratic
party, 1 shall not permit any response
BILE member OF the republican organi-
cation to misrepresent the attitude OF
the democratic party in the present
CO npaign. l have assisted you TO the
extent of my ability in remedial meas
ures which | deemed for the public
good which you have undertaken, l
have urged democrats to support such
measures and | have advocated more
radical measures against private mono
poles than either you or your associ-
ates have been willing to undertake.
s'The platform of the democratic par
ty is clear and specific on this subject
as on other subjects, while the platform
of the republican party is uncertain and
evasive."
The telegram continues: 81 submit
that our committee has given the bet
ter evidence of its freedom from con-
nection with, or obligation to the pre-
datory interests. Our committee has
not knowingly received a dollar from
an official of any corporation known as
a trust, and it will not receive any
money from such. If any money is
contributed by such persons without
the knowledge of the committee ii will
be returned as soon as the fact is dis
covered. The democratic party IS max
ing an honest and an honorable fight
in defense of the principles and policies
enunciated in its platform, and it eX-
poets and will demand fair and honor
able treatment from those who are in
charge of the republican campaign.
With great respect, ETC.,
Every truly yours,
'tWILLIAM J. BRYAN
Detroit, Mich, Sept. y.