Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-22
BRYAN SERVES NOTICE
Sends Remarkable Telegram
to the President.
RESENTS LATTER'S WORDS
Wants Investigation of Charges
Against Haskell.
ASKS HONORABLE TREATMENT
Says Democratic Party Is Making an
Honest Fight for Its
Principles.
RESENTS LATTER'S WORDS
ASKS HONORABLE TREATMENT

DETROIT September 22.-The remark
able spectacle of a presidential candidate
rebuking the chief executive of the nation
for making statements deemed to be un-
justified was witnessed today when Will
liam ]. Bryan. In telegram to President
Roosevelt defended Gov. 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 President that as the can
didate of the democratic party Il shall
TO; permit any responsible member of the
republican organization to misrepresent
the democratic party in the present cam
paign.'
The letter concludes with the statement
that the democratic party is making IAN
honest and honorable fight in defense of
its principles and policies, "and expects.
and Will demand honorable treatment
from those who are in charge of the re-
publican campaign
Late this afternoon W. j. Bryan ad-
dressed the following telegram to Presi-
dent Roosevelt in reply to the Presidents S
statement issued yesterday:
Hon Theodore Roosevelt, President of
the United States.
Dear Sir-In statement given out by
you yesterday and published in this morn
ing's papers you indorse charge made
against Gov 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 attempt
to bribe or influence Attorney General
Monett of Ohio to dismiss suits pending
against the Standard Oil Company.
In indorsing this charge you attack the
democratic party and its candidate, say
ing that Gov. Haskell stands high in
the councils of Mr.. Bryan and is the
treasurer OF his national campaign COM
mittee.' And you add that the publica
tion of this correspondence not merely
Justities in striking fashion the action of
the administration. but also casts a curl
GUS sidelight on the attacks made upon
the administration, both in the Denver
convention whicn nominated Mr.. Bryan
and in the course of Mr.. Bryan's cam
paign.'
Your charge is so serious that l cam
not allow it to go unnotced. Gov. Has
kell has denied that he was ever employ
ed by the Standard Oil Company In any
capacity or was ever connected in any
way whatever with it or with the trans
action upon which your charge is based.
Asks for Proof.
Gov Haskell demanded an investiga-
tion at the time the charge was first
made. offering to appear and testify, and
he demands an investigation now. l agree
with YOU that if Gov. 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 accusa-
tion. AS the selection of Gov. Haskell
chairman of the committee on resolu-
tions at Denver and also as treasurer of
the democratic national committee had
my approval and Endorsement, l feel it
my duty to demand an immediate investi-
cation of a charge against him indorsed
by the President of the United States.
our high position, as we'll as your
sense of justice. would prevent your W
ing sanction and circulation to such
charge without proof. and l respectfully
request. therefore, that you furnish any
proof which you have in your possession.
or, If you have no proof, | request that
you indicate a method by which che
truth may be ascertained. Without con-
sulting Mr.. Haskell. l will agree tnat he
will appear for investigation before any
tribunal. public 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 decision of
such tribunal connects him in any way
with this charge, or in case you. after
an investigation of the facts, say that
you believe him guilty of the charges
made.
las the candidate of the democratic
party | shall not permit any responsible
member of the republican organization
TO mlsrepresent the attitude of the demo-
crate party in the present campaign. l
have assisted you to the extent of my
ability in remedial measures, which |
deemed for the public good, which you
have undertaken: | have urged demo-
Gratis 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.
Making an Honest Fight.
The platform of the democratic 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 pres
ident, Mr.. Kern, joined with me in re-
questng the democratic national commit
tee TO fix maximum of $4,000 for indi-
vidual contributions and to publish before
the election all contributions above 500
and the committee acted favorably upon
this request The republican candidate
and the republican national committee
proposed not publication before the cleo
tion, but publication after the election.
Il submit that our committee has
given the better evidence of its free
dom from connection with or oblgatio
To the predatory interests. Our commit
tee 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 making an
honest and an honorable fight in de-
fense OF the principles and policies enun-
ciated in its platform, and it expects
and Will demand fair and honorab BILE
treatment from those who are in charge
OF the republican campaign
With great respect, etc.
Very truly yours.
''WILLIAM j. BRYAN"
"DetrOit. Mich Sent enher %"