Omaha daily bee., 1911-11-29
BANKER ATTACKS ROOSEVELT
Wharton Barker Asserts Colonel
Made Bargain with Railroads.
HE AssAns MONEY TRUST"
Philadelphia Man SAYS. story OF Deal
with, Financial Giant IL verified
by Message of Former
President.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 2s. - wharton
Barker, retired banker of Philadelphia,
sprung a sensation on the senate COM
mittee on interstate commerce today
when he alleged that New York finan-
oier told him, in 1904, that the financial
interests would support Theodore Roose-
welt for president because the latter had
made a bargain with them ION the rail-
road question"
Mr.. Barker's 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 II happened. but
took no action TO prevent 1t. He de-
clared that the Aldrich currency plan
was the handiwork, not OF former Seha-
tor .Aldrich. but OF Mr.. Warburton Of
the banking firm of Kuhn, Loeb & Co.
Of New York and that a fund of 81 100000
had been started to insure It's adoption.
Three or four weeks before the cleo
tion in 1904" Mr. Barker said, II was
walking down Broadway when l met one
of the most distinguished money kings
In New York, man now dead. He said
to me. We are going to elect Roose-
velt' expressed surprise and asked II
he had given up the support Of Parker.
He said yes; that they had frightened
Roosevelt so that he had made a bargain
with them"
Members of the committee looked some
what incredulous and Mr.. Barker added !:
II wish Mr.. Roosevelt were here"
Il wish he WERE" Senator Townsend
said; 1T would be interesting"
Tells of Alleged Bargain.
Mr.. Barker said the financial giant,
whom he declined to name, told him
that Roosevelt had made a bargain on
the railroad question" MIR. Barker con
tinued
He is to holler all he wants to-, he
told me, but by and by a railroad bill
will be brought in by accommodation Of
the president cutting off rebates and free
passes. which suits us who own the rail-
roads, permitting the railroads TO make
pooling arrangements and providing for
maximum rates"
The railroad man added, Mr.. Barker
said, that under the latter authority Il
would be impossible 20 add from $780,
10000 to $i0O.OOO,OOO 10 the total freight
charges paid by the American public.
II told him I didn't believe Roosevelt
had made any such agreement" Mr..
Barker said, but when the annual mes
sage OF 1905 went 10 congress he recon-
mended most OF those things. l wrote 10
President Roosevelt and told him what
/ heard and that / had thought the man
lied. but now / must believe he had not.
II was the only letter OF mine Mr.. Roose-
Welt ever failed TO answer"
Members OF the committee asked Mr.
Barker TO give the name OF the financial
man who had told him that Roosevelt
was to be elected.
Hartman Named.
II cannot do IT," Mr.. Barker said. but
subsequently somebody was alleged Ia
have stolen some correspondence between
Mr. Hartman and the president telling
OF $4,000 put up for election expenses in
the city Of New York"
Referring 20 the panic OF 1871. Mr.. Bar
ker said a man who was present at con-
! fei ence at j. p. Morgan's houEe In May