The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1911-12-23
Correspondence Of Mr.. Sheldon
Shows Hartman Fund
WENT TO STATE ELECTION
Coloneps Election Was Sure-Letter De-
clares Untrue the Story Of
S2so,ooo Raised for
Ex-President.

New York, Dec 23. George R. Shell
don, treasurer of the Republican national
committee, began yesterday on the pub
LEGATION of the correspondence betweeii
himself and Theodore Roosevelt in which
Sheldon states that contributions OF
S250,000 made by f.. II. Hartman in
1904 to the Republican national com
mttee were for use in the New York
state campaign, and not for Roosevelt's
election.
Abiding particularly to his own let
ter, Col Sheldon said his letter was
written at Roosevelt's request.
"Col Roosevelt and | were aboard n
train together some ten days ago" ne
said, sand this matter came up in eon-
versation. / said: "Why was the truth
never told about this whole business,
so II could be shut up"
Col Roosevelt said "Why can't you
tell it nowY That's all there is to it,
Sheldon tok exception to the inference
that the publication Of the correspond.
ence indicated that Roosevelt is a cam
didate for the presidential nomination
in 1912, saying: "on the contrary. he
has told me repeatedly he is not can
didate.'
Explanation Of the much discussed
Roosevelt Hartman relations the
campaign Of 1914 vas made public here
Thursday in correspondence between
Nj. Roosevelt and George II. Sheldon.
chairman of the Republican national
committee. Mr. Sheldon declared that
Mr.. Harriman's only contribution was
for the New York state campaign. where
fears We're entertained that Mr.. Higgins
would be defeated. Mr.. Roosevelt, in
reply, says Mr.. Hartman told him his
own election was assured, but asked that
national campaign funds be diverted to
the state conflict Mr. Sheldon's letter
follows:
Dear Mr.. Roosevelt: Ever since the
election of 1904, the story has been con
tinuously published and never denied,
except by you, that you asked +. n
Hartman TO contribute money TO aid
in your election, and that he thereupon
raised or contributed S250,000 to the ma
tional committee fund. Knowing this
to be untrue. / several times suggested
to my superior officer, c. n Bliss, then
treasurer OF the national committee,
that the facts in the case be plainly
stated Mr. Bliss always believed that
the books and accounts of the national
committee We're private, and although al
ways carried ON by him with the highest
sense of integrity and honor, he never,
like all of his contemporaries, would
consent to any publicity.
This feeling has been changed in the
past few years by the laws requiring
full publicity in elections. II seems
therefore to me that now, in justice to
you, the facts in the case ought to be
known.
Everyone knew and conceded that in
the election of 1904 you would carry the
state of New York by large plurality,
but it was generally believed that Mr..
Higgins would be defeated. The Demo
Gratis conferred their efforts on the cleo
ton of their candidate for governor.
About a week before the election, Mr..
0dell, then chairman of the New York
state committee. came to Mr.. Bliss and
told him that unless he had $250,000
from the national committee the sta tie
ticket would be defeated. Mr.. Bliss
told Chairman 0dell that he had no
money to give, but would see what could
be done He visited Mr.. Hartman at
his office and explained to him the ur-
gency of the situation as told by Mr..
0dell
"Mr. Hartman thereupon called up
several of his friends on the telephone,
and next day handed Mr.. Bliss 100000.
Mr.. Bliss himself raised $4,000, This
sum of $4,000 was handed directly to
Chairman 0dell and never in any way
went into the treasury of the national
committee, which had in charge the
presidential election ! have personal
knowledge of all the within mentioned
facts"
Mr., Roosevelt's reply reads;
Dear Mr., Sheldon; Thank you for