New-York tribune., 1908-09-24
WOULD DROP HASKELL
COL. GUFFEY DELIGHTED.
Chairman Mack Sees Nothing
Wrong about Treasurer.

The charges regarding the Standard Oil con-
nections of Governor Charles N Haskell, Demo-
cratic national treasurer, and the disclosures
of his Wall Street career are beginning to
result in strong demand for his retirement
from any participation in the national campaign
Several Democrats of prominence declared pri-
vately yesterday, while unwilling to speak for
quotation for obvious reasons, their belief that
Governor Haskell was dead weight for Mr.
Bryan to carry now, and would render best ser
vice by resigning all part in the campaign.
Members of the national committee pre-
pairing to use every influence at their command
to force Haskell out of the treasurers office be-
cause they believe he will hurt the national
ticket and the state ticket here. Their attitude
is that when he was put into that place nothing
was known of his alleged corporation connec-
tions or his Wall Street promotion record, and
that Mr. Bryan certainly would never have per-
mitted Governor Haskell to be SO intimately as
ISOLATED with him If he had known of those in
cidents.
COLONEL GUFFEY DELIGHTED.
Colonel James NJ Guffey, of Pennsylvania who
was thrown out of the national committee large
ly on Governor Haskeil's account, and John t.
McGraw, of West Virginia, a member of the
executive committee, came to town yesterday.
Colonel Guffey at no pains to conceal his
delight at the present situation.
Haskell on the night the committee
dentials made its report yelled Back to your oil
tanks! at me-" said Guffey to some Of his
friends. 1T looks like back to the oil tanks
for his now, and if the managers of this cam
paign have any good political judgment they'll
send him there quickly that the oil Will
smoke with the heat of his coming"
Such was not the opinion of National Chair
man Mack though said that if evil
dence of the kind produced against Senator
Foraker had been brought against Governor
Haskell it might be advisable for him to step
out of his place with the committee, but that
no such evidence had been adduced. and moth
ing was in evidence up 10 date which could de-
mand his retirement Until proof came from
President Roosevelt, some one else substan-
tiating the charges Governor Haskell said Mr..
Mack the national committee would take no
action in the case
rs Governor Haskell to remain treasurer of
the national committee?" was asked point blank
of Chairman Mack. His reply was:
81 know nothing to the contrary
will the national committee take any action
against Governor Haskell If his defence to the
various charges against him is not considered
satisfactory
MACK SEES NOTHING WRONG.
MY attitude is this" said Mr. Mack. IF
they will show me the same evidence against
Governor Haskell that produced against
Senator Foraker shall expect Governor Has
kel to do the thing Senator Foraker did.
but it is only fair to him to say that no such
evidence has been produced UP TO date"
Mr.. Mack said he had had communication
with Governor Haskell He denied that the
Oklahoma man had been chosen directly by Mr..
Bryan TO run the committee resolutions at
Mr. Bryan's relations with Governor Has
kell are the same as his relations with any other
member Of the national committee" said he
He said specifically that he did not consider it
his duty to demand any explanation from Gov
ernor Haskell on any of the charges
Chairman Mack yesterday added another
chapter to the. incident of the 100000 cam
paign fund. He indicated that any use of such
figures was a bluff, intended to induce contribu-
tions by an appearance of prosperity the
part of the committee
NEW LIGHT ON S3OO,OOO
when l started in the newspaper business
twenty y-seven years ago. said he, II didn't have
a cent and soon found the way to get business
and obtain money was 70 have money, at
least simulate prosperity. At the first meeting
of the national committee 1 did my best to make
the committee see it that way-that we'd never
all the time.
II made up my mind that if there was any
thing the committee wanted to help along the
campaign we'd have 1t, and if the worst came
to the worst 1 knew several friends of mine in
the party who would help settle up in the end
rather than go into a big hole, because
the old party is going to live long after were
gone So we've put up prosperous appear
ance right along; but the campaign fund is far
less than 100000"
Mr. Mack said that the rule laid down by Mr..
BRYAN that no contribution of more than S10-
900 would be accepted from any person was
still in effect
Guthrie Okla. Sept. Ex-Governor Charles n.
Haskell would discuss the story from New York
that an effort being made by several national
committeeman effect his removal from the treas
urershp of the Democratic National Committee.
Il cannot see anything in this that seems to re-
ouire any reply from me-" he said THAT the
publication OF the Oklahoma Prairie Oil and Gas
Company charges has occasioned this movement
on the part Of the Democratic committeeman do
not believe to be true
SUIT AGAINST HASKELL.