The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1908-09-23
William Jennings Bryan Asks
Investigation of the Charge
That Oklahoma Man Is a
Standard Oil Man.
DISMISSAL TO FOLLOW
IF CHARGE is TRUE.
Unusual Sight of Presidential
Candidate Disputing Word
Of Chief Executive of the
Nation.

Detroit, sept. Zo.-lne spectacle OF
presidential candidate rebuking the
chief executive of the nation for max
ing assertions deemed to be unjusti-
fled was witnessed when William J.
Bryan in a telegram to President
Roosevelt, late yesterday afternoon,
defended Governor Haskell of Okla
homa, treasurer of the democratic ma
tional committee, against the charge
that he had unlawful connections with
the Standard Oil company.
Mr.. Bryan serves notice on the pres
ident that as the candidate of the DEM
ocratic party, Il shall not permit any
responsible member of the republican
organization to misrepresent the dem
ocratic party in the present cam
paign."
The telegram, sent from this city,
concludes with the declaration that the
democratic party is making IAN hon
est and honorable fight in defense of
it's principles and policies and expects
and will demand honorable treatment
from those who are in charge of the
republican campaign
Bryan Defends Haskell.
Mr.. Bryant telegram is as follows:
Hon. Theodore Roosevelt, president
| of the United States. Dear Sir:-In a
statement given out by you and pub
| lished in this mornings papers you in
| dorse 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 at
tempt to bribe or influence Attorney
General Monnett Of Ohio to dismiss
suits pending against the Standard Oil
| company. In indorsing this charge
you attack the democratic party and
it's candidate, saying that Governor
Haskell stands high in 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 ad-
ministration but also casts a curious
sidelight on the attacks made upon the
administration both in the Denver
convention which nominated Mr.. Bry-
and and in the course of Mr.. Bryan's
campaign"
| Your charge is so serious that can
not allow it to go unnoticed. Cover
nor 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 Investigation.
| Governor Haskell demanded an in
| first made, offering to appear and tes-
tify, and he demands an investigation
now. / agree with you that if Gov
ernor Haskell Is guilty as charged he
is unfit to be connected with the dem
ocratic national committee, and l am
sure you will agree with me that if he
| is innocent he deserves to be exoner-
ated from so damnable an accusation
AS the selection of Governor Haskell
as chairman of the committee on res
olutions at Denver, and also as treas
urer of the democratic national COM
mittee, had my approval and indorse-
ment, 1 feel it my duty to demand an
immediate investigation of charge
against him indorsed by the president
of the United States.
Your high position as we'll as your
sense of justice would prevent your
giving sanction and circulation to such
a charge without proof. and 1 respect
fully request therefore that you furnish
any proof which you have in your pos.
session, or if you have no proof 1 re-
quest that you indicate a method by
which the truth may be ascertained
Without consulting Mr.. Haskell / will
agree that he will appear for investi
cation before any tribunal. public or
private, which you may indicate, and i
will 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 investigation OF
the facts, say that you believe him
guilty of the charges made.
Says He Aided President.
AS the candidate of the democratic
party. shall not permit any response
BILE member of the republican organiza-
ton to misrepresent the attitude OF
the democratic party in the present
campaign. / have assisted you to the
extent of my ability in remedial meas
ures which I deemed for the public
good which you have undertaken: |
have urged democrats to support such
measures and l have advocated more
radical measures against private mo-
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