The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-09-27
From the New York World.

From the New York World.
Early in the 1904 campaign the
Standard oil company, as well as other
trusts. railroads, banks and large cor
porations, received a request to con-
tribute to the republican national CAM
paign fund This request was ignored,
Henry H. Rogers being responsible for
its refusal.
Later, when the second call for cam
paign funds was made, Mr.. Cortelyou,
chairman of the national committee
sent word to Mr.. Rogers asking for
an appointment, at which the existing
conditions could be explained and the
financial support of Standard Oil Sc
cured. This appointment was made by
Mr.. Rogers to be kept at 26 Broadway,
the Standard Oil office, and Mr.. Cor
telyou was informed that both Mr..
Rogers and John D. Archbold would
be pleased to see him. Mr. Cortelyou,
finding that Mr.. Rogers was not to
meet him alone, but that Mr.. Archbold
was also to be present, concluded 1t
would be safer and more discreet not
to go himself. The appointment was
the national committee.
Il At this interview Mr.. Rogers accused
Mr.. Roosevelt of ingratitude and re-
caned many past favors from the
standard Oil company to republican
candidates and campaign funds. Mr..
Bliss admitted that President Roose-
welt might have acted harshly toward
the Standard Oil, but said that while
Mr.. Roosevelt's first term was CON
structive" his second term would, be
conservative"
Relying on these assurances Mr..
Rogers and Mr. Archbold made con-
tribution of 100000.
This contribution coming to the knowl
edge of President Roosevelt, he wrote to
Chairman Cortelyou a violent letter, de-
nouncing the Standard Oil company and
directing the return of the contribution.
This letter is on Mr. Cortelyous file, and
a copy of it is kept by President Roose-
welt for the purpose of making it public
If ever the facts of this Standard Oil
contribution became known.
The contribution was not returned. Not
one cent was paid back. The same was
used, so far as Mr.. Rogers and Mr.. Arch
bold know, in like manner with other
contributions.
Later in the campaign, when President
Roosevelt became scared about the re-
suit, and about the time that he sum-
moned Edward H. Hartman to Washing
ton and induced Mr.. Hartman to raise
s26OOO0 for the campaign fund, further
request was made of the Standard Oil
people.
At the time of the 100000 contribution
Mr.. Bliss expressed his dissatisfaction
with its size and said that the amount
should be several times as great. At
ha fifsaa ~ I'D fha daft ffaa
sum of s25000O additional was asked for.
In the meantime Mr.. Rogers had learned
OF Mr.. Roosevelts letter to Mr.. Cortel-
you and of the direction to return the first
100000. He declined to give any more
money and recalled the fact that the
Presidents instructions to return the first
contribution had not been complied with
and that Mr.. Roosevelt must have known
all along that the 100000 which he repud-
lated had not only been accepted but
used.
In view of this fact he declined to ac-
cede to the request for a further S25O, 600
or for any further sum, and denounced
Mr.. Roosevelt for seemingly trying on the
one hand to secure contributions from the
Standard Oil company and on the other
hand to make political capital by de-
nouncing the company.
Washington Correspondence to New York
Sun.
II any of the republican leaders find
courage to offer certain advice to Pres
ident Roosevelt in regard to the conduct
of the campaign, and If the President
take the advice he will refrain from fur
ther public statements and letters or
burning political topics until later in tn;
canvass. How many or how few of the
leaders believe that the President should
abstain from frequent controversy at this
stage of the campaign is uncertain, but
one distinguished member of the party
whose advice has been sought by Mr.
Roosevelt not infrequently, expressed th'
opinion today that such is the proper pol
icy.
This opinion, moreover, is based on tn,