The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1908-10-02
kCLAURIN PRAISES
THE STANDARD OIL
ARCHBOLD HIMSELF ISSUES A
SIGNED STATEMENT.
The Former Senator Declares that
South Cardinals Natural Pro-
gress is Throttled Today by
an Oligarchy.

New York, September 29.-A new
phase Of the discussion Of the SOCIAL
ed "Standard Oil correspondence"
made public recently by Wm. R.
Hearst, was entered upon late today,
when John D. Arohbold, vice presi-
dent Of the Standard Oil Company,
made statement to the Associated
Press setting forth details Of the al
legged theft of correspondence from
his files. Former United States Sena-
tor John Lowndes McLaurin, Of
South Carolina, also entered the field
with signed statement, declaring his
attitude in the matter Of the CORES
pondence between himself and Mr..
Areh5old.
Mr.. Arehbold said:
''In response to many inquiries as
to the theft Of letters from my files,
the following may be made known:
"Over three years ago a report
reached me that certain Of my letters
had been offered for sale to newspa-
pers of this city, ostensibly stolen
| letters. Examination showed that
some letters were missing and that
they could only have been taken by
some ORE not only familiar with the
Office details, but highly trusted. The
party on whom suspicion fell stoutly
denied all guilt. A little later, how
ever "a man who represented himself
as acting between the thief and those
to whom the letters had been sold pro-
posed to return some Of the letters for
a consideration. His story was that
the idea Of the theft had been con-
ceived by has brother, who had at one
time been in the company's employ,
and that this brother had induced the
employee already suspected to accom-
plish the theft. According to the 60
be-tween'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 thus
traded for, but the thief was induced
to carry one or more letter copying
books, many Of whose pages he claims
were photographed, other pages being
removed altogether. The books in
question were, the go-between said,
returned after forty eight hours. 1t
is impossible to say how many we're
stolen and sold in this way. The
thieves worked at their leisure. It IS
not thought necessary to say more at
present Or mention names. Corrobor-
alton Of the go-between story Of
three years ago lay in his return Of
some Of the correspondence at the
time. The production Of stolen let
tiers by Mr.. Hearst is further corro-
borated now. Obviously, among the
coterie, authenticity Of their output is
not to be lightly accepted. The op-
portunities for Justification, sup
'>ressing of context and distortions, OF
.,assages are many
MIR. McLaurin's Statement.
Mr.. McLaurin, who has just return
ed to New York, gave out signed
kstatement as follows:
"An effort has been made to create
. political sensation by the publica-
.tion of certain correspondence be-
tween Mr.. John D. Archbold, vice
president Of the Standard Oil Com
Epany, and myself. Fer that CORES
pondence I have no apologies to
make. At the time the letters were
written had the honor to enjoy, and
am proud still to possess the friend
ship of Mr.. Archbold, for whom I
have the highest regard. At the time
fthe letters were written | was engag-
led in a bitter struggle, in which was
5 iSinvoNed not only my own political
future, but the economic and politi-
yeal principles for which I stood and
which, stated briefly, meant the
emancipation Of the South from the
. ignorant prejudice Of Bourbonism
knd the 'bloody shirt into the free
sdom of an enlightened self-interest
s:and the progress Of an intelligent in
sdustrialism.
b sEIn the support of these principles,
Nand the hope Of this progress, l saw
khen no impropriety in enlisting, if
practicable, the assistance Of the most
progressively administered and the
most intelligently Differed corpora
l. ill., b,,,,oan Intelligence has vet