The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-12-22
Roosevelt's Denial Con
firmed by Chairman of
National Committee.
BLISS EXPLAINED
NEED OF MONEY
Entire Amount Raised Turned
Over to State Chairman and
Used to Defray Campaign
Expenses of Higgins, Can
didate for Governor of
New York.


lowing correspondence between Theo-
dore Roosevelt and George R. Sheldon,
treasurer Of the Republican National
Committee. was made public to-day:
Letter From Sheldon.
December 10. 1911.
Hon. Theodore Roosevelt. Oyster Bay.
n. Y:
the election of 1904 the story has peen
continuously published and never do
MED. except BY you. that you asked
Mr. E. IL. Hartman to contribute
money to aid in your election. and
that he thereupon raised or contributed
s25o.o0o to the National Committee
fund. Knowing this to be untrue, I
several times suggested to my SUI
perior officer, Sir. c. N. Bliss, then
treasurer of the National Committee,
that the facts in tho case DC plainly
stated. Mr. Bliss always believed that
the books and accounts OF the Ma
tonal Committee were private, and
although always carried on by him
with the highest sense of integrity and
honor, he never. like all OF his con-
temporaries, would consent to any
publicity. This feeling has boon
changed In the past few years by the
laws requiring full publicity in cleo
tons. 1t seems. therefore, to mo that
now, in Justice to you, the facts In
the case ought to be known.
Every one knew and conceded that
in the election of 1904 you would carry
the State Of New York by large
plurality. but 1t was generally be-
lieved that Mr.. Higgins would be de-
teated. The Democrats centred their
efforts on the election of their can
didate for Governor. About q week
before tho election Mr.. Odcl then
chairman of the New York State Com
mittee, came to Mr.. Bliss and told him
that unless he had S25o.O00 from the
National Committee that the State
ticket would be defeated. Mr.. Bliss
told Chairman Odcll that he had no
money to give. but would see what
could be done He visited AIr. f. H.
Hartman at his office and explained to
him the urgency of the situation as
told by Mr.. Odcll.
Mr.. Hartman thereupon called up
several Of his friends on the telephone
and next day handed Mr. Bliss $3.50 400
Mr.. Bliss himself raised $4,000 This
sum of S240,U00 was handed directly
to Chairman Odell. and never in any
way went into the treasury or the Ma
tional Committee. which had In charge
sonnl knowledge OF all the within men
toned facts.
Very truly you're,
GEORGE r. SHELDON.
SaSuAe i iNepupllcah National COM
RooseveIfs Reply.
The Outlook, 2S7 Fourth Avenue,
N ..Ho, York December 10. 1911;
Mr.. George r. sheldon % Cedar
Street, New York:
Dear Mr.. Sheldon
II thank You for your letter, and L
am glad that it was written. There is
little for me to add to what You have
said. never, directly or Indirectly. In
any shape or form. asked Mr.. Harri-
man or anybody else TO contribute II
dollar to aid In my election. More
over. on the only occasion on which
MIR. Hartman ever spoke to me on the
subject at all, he did so OF his own
Initiative: and so far from there being
any request from mo to him. he made
to me the request that I would aid
him In getting the National Commit
tee to contribute some of its funds for
the campaign expenses of Mr. Hig-
gins, the candidate for Governor III
New York State.
''IIc at the time stated to me that
my own election was assured; that
the election of Mr.. Higgins. in which
he was especially interested. was
doubtful. and that he earnestly hoped
that the National Committee would di
vert some of its funds from the ma
tional to the State campaign, where
the need was great. and where he
believed tho election of Mr.. Higgins
to be in jeopardy. AS shown in your
letter, this was precisely what the
national committee did.
Very truly yours.
sTyt