Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-09-30
ArchboId Says That's How
Hearst Got Letters
Much Correspondence Said 10
Have Been Bought For Hearst
Says Copying Books Were Also
Removed From Office.

New York, Sept. ga new phase
of the discussion of the so called
Standard Oil correspondence made
public recently by William r. Hearst
was entered upon late today, when
John D. Archbold, vice president OF
the Standard Oil Co, made state
ment to The Associated Press, setting
forth details of the alleged theft OF
correspondence from his files. For
mer United States Senator John
Lowndes McLaurin of South Carolina
also entered the field with signed
statement declaring his attitude In the
matter of the correspondence between
himself and Mr. Archbold.
Mr. Archbold said
IN response to many inquiries as
to the theft of letters from my MES
the following may be made known:
lover three years ago report .reacn-
ed me that certain of my letters had
been offered for sale to newspapers
of this city. avowedly as stolen let
tiers. Examination showed that some
letters were missing and that they
could only have been taken by some
one not only familiar with the office
details, but highly trusted. The party
on whom suspicion fell stoutly denied
all guilt A little later, however
man who represented himself as act
ing between the thief and those TO
whom the letter had been sold, pro-
posd to return some of the letters for
a consideration. His story was that
| the idea of the theft had been con-
ceived by his brother, who had at one
time been in the conpanys employ,
and that this brother had induced the
cmploye already suspected to accom-
plish the theft. According to the go
between's story he had disposed of the
letters or some Of them to two men
who purchased them on behalf OF Mr..
Hearst's newspaper the Journal Not
only had stolen letters been traded
for but the thief was induced to carry
off one or more letter copying BOOKS,
MANY of whose pages he claims were
photographed, other pages being re-
| moved altogether The books in ques-
| ton were, the go-between said re-
| turned after 4S hours 1t is impossible
| to saw how many were stolen and sold
| in this way The thieves worked at
| their leisure 1t is not thought nee
| essary to say more at present or to
| mention names Confederation OF tne
eo-between's story of three years ago
| Law in his return of some OF the cor
respondence at the time. The pro-
duction Of stolen letters by Mr.. Hears.
| is further confederation. belleVe
usual among such a coterie. anthem
ticitv of their output is not to be light
" accepted. The opportunities Tor
| Justification. supressing of conteXts
distortion of passages, are many
| Ex-IInited States Senator John
I,owndes McLaurin of South Carolina
has arrived in New York and tonight
gave out the following signed state
| ment regarding the correspondence be-
| tween himself and John D. Arctbnld,
vice president of the Standard Oil Co,
as recently made public by w. r,
Hearst
| can effort has been made to create
a political sensation by the publication
| of certain correspondence between MT.
John D. Archbold, vice president Of the
Standard Oil Co. and myself. For that
correspondence 1 have no apologies 10
make At the time the letters were
written I had the honor to ENJOY and
am proud still to possess the TREND
ship of Mr.. Archbold for whom L nave
the highest regard. At the time the let
ters were written l was engaged in a
bitter struggle in which was involved
not only my own political future, but
the economic and political principles
for which l stood, and which stated
briefly, meant the emancipation Of the
South from the ignorant prejudice of
Bourbonism and the bloody shit into
the freedom of an enlightened s2lf-!n-
terest and the progress of an intelli-
gent industrialism.
I'm the support Of these principles,
and the hope of this progress | saw
then no improperly in enlstins. II
practicable, the assistance Of the most
progressively administered, and the
most intelligently differed corporation
that human intelligence has yet pro-
duced. Nor had the enormous body oil
statutory crime since created or the
, hypocritical affectation of morality
? assumed by some of our Legislatures
and Congress in any wise changed my
point of view or quickened my con-
science of eNpediency as seems to have
been the case with some of my former
colleagues and associates.
'"The constituency that they repre-.
sent does rot hesitate to take Mr.. Car
negic's trust-produced and tariff-pro.
tected money for their churches and
, libraries or to accept Mr.. Rockefeller {
largess for the education of the Negro
whom they have disfranchised.
IF political campaigns are to be rur
without money and political progress
is to be achieved without financial eX'
expenditure, it is high time that botf
, parties should be apprised of the ar
G rival of that Utopian era but until tina
: period has arrived | can see NO reason
why l, when battling for what I con
ceived to be the right, should refuse Of