Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1911-12-06
SAYS ROOSEVELT i
MADE A BARGAIN
Wharton Barker Springs Sensa-
ton Before Senate Committee.
ELECTED BY WALL STREET
Philadelphia Banker Relates Story
Told Him Of Agreement Made BY
Former President on Rail-
road Question.

Washington sensational dec
laration that Theodore Roosevelt
secured the support OF financial
interests in Wall street, New York,
in his candidacy for president
In 1904 through making bargain on
the railroad question" was made be-
fore the senate interstate commerce
committee.
The charge was made by Wharton
Barker. the widely known retired bank
er OF Philadelphia. who, as the chief
witness OF the day. alleged that a New
York financier told him in 1904 that
the financial interests agreed TO sup
port Roosevelt as against Alton b. Par
ker, the Democratic nominee, who at
that time was believed 10 be close TO
the Interests" Although he men
toned no names. he let it be under
stood TO the committee that the late
E. II. Hartman was his informant.
Mr.. Bankers statement came in the
midst OF vigorous attack on the
money trust" in which he alleged
also that President Roosevelt had been
given the details of the impending
panic of 1907 several months before IL
happened. but took no action to pre-
vent It. He declared that the Aldrich
currency plan was the handlwork not
"f former Senator Aldrich. but of q
Sr. Warburton of the banking firm Of
Kuhn, Loeb & Co. OF New York, and
that fund of 81 100000 had been
started TO insure its adoption.
Three or four weeks before the
election In 1904" said Mr.. Barker. Il
was walking down Broadway when |
met one OF the most disting uished
money kings In New York. a man now
dead" probably referring to Hartman
ale said to me: We are going to
eject Roosevelt | expressed surprise
and asked II he had given up the sup.
port of Parker He said yes: that they
had frightened Roosevelt so he had
made a bargain with them"
Mr.. Barker said the financial giant
whom he declined to name, told him
that Roosevelt had made bargain
on the railroad question" Mr.. Barker
continued:
He Is to boiler all he wants TO-. he
told me, but by and by a railroad bill
will be brought in by recommendation
OF the president. cutting off rebates
and free passes, which suits rs. who
own the railroads. permitting the rail
roads TO make pooling arrangements.
A. nj s,rnNgsHtnrr for eag.e
Il told him didat believe Roose
welt had made any such agreement"
said Mr.. Barker; hut when the an
nual message O. 1905 went to congress
he recommended most of those things
wrote to President Roosevelt and
told him what heard and that had
thought the man lied, but now ! must
believe he lad not, II was the only let
ter of miIe Mr.. Roosevelt ever failed
TO answer"
Memt ers Of the committee asked
Mr. Parker to give the name OF the
financial man who had told him that
Roosevelt was to be elected.
u cannot do IT," said Mr. Barker,
"but subsequently somebody was al.
legged TO have stolen some correspond.
ence between Hr. Hartman and the
president. telling Of $3.50 900 put up for
election expenses in the city OF New
York"
Referring TO the panic of 1907, Mr..
Barker said that when the financial up.
heaval reached its crisis, he urged
President Roosevelt to distribute the
$l45,000,000 Of cash on hand In the
treasury among the banks OF Chicago.
Philadelphia, Boston and other large
cities.
He wanted to do IT," he said. but
he called in Mr. Knox and Mr.. Cortel-
you and Mr.. Root. and. instead of de
posting In the outside cities. he
plunged the whole amount into Wall
street 1t broke the country. but 1t
saved tho gamblers
New York.-Theodore Roosevelt,
when shown the synopsis of Whar-
ton Bankers testimony in Wash
ington. read the statement carefully
and then said;
Il would as soon discuss a pipe
dream with n patient of Bedlam as dis
cuss such nonsense"