The Cairo bulletin., 1911-12-22
HARTMAN AIDS
n. Y. TICKET IN
1904 CAMP PA|CN
Republican Treasurer Bliss Writes
Letter To Roosevelt To
Exonerate Latter
GIVEN CREDIT FOR VICTORIES
Letter States Fund Of $4,000
Did Not Come From National
Committee
GIVEN CREDIT FOR VICTORIES

New York, Dec. 21.~-The follow
ing correspondence between Thco-
dore Roosevelt. and George r.. SHIELD
on, treasurer Of the National Reput-
lican Committee, today was made
public: S
Dear Mr. Roosevelt: Ever since
the election OF 1904 the story ha
been continuously published ana
never denied, except by you, that
you asked E. II. Hartman to COR
Tribute money to aid in your elec-
tion, and that he tbcreupon raised
or contributed $25o,o00 to the Ma
tional Committee fund.
Knowing this to be true severa.
times have suggested to my superior
officer, r. N. Bliss, the treasurer oi
the National Committee, that The
facts in the case be plainly stated
Mr.. Bliss always believed that thu
books and accounts Of the National
Committee were private, and a,
though always carried ON by him in
the higher sense of integrity, he
never, like all of his contemporaries
would consent to any publicity.
Feeling Changes.
This feeling Las changed in The
last few years by laws requiring
publicity IN tho eigctious II Seer
therefore TO me, now. in justice !,
you. the facts in the case ought tt
be known.
Everyone knew and conceded
that in the election of 1904 yot
would carry the state of New YoI'l
by large majority, but IL was sev,
eral times believed that Mr.. Higgins
would be defeated.
THE Democrats centercd theiI
efforts on the election of their candi.
date for governor. About a wect
before the election Mr.. Odc'l, ther
chairman of the New YORK STATE
Committee. came to Mr. Bliss an,
told linn that unless he had $3.50.
600 from the National Committee
the state ticket would be defeated
Bliss Sees Hartman
''Mr. bliss told Chairman Odel
that lie had no money to give hin
but would sec what could be done
He visited Mr., Hartman at his offic,
and told him of the urgency of TIN
situation as told by Mr.. Odell.
"Mr. Hartman thereupon esllet
up several of his friends on the tele
phone and the next day handed M +
Bliss $160,O00. ME-. Bliss, himsel
raised $4,000. This sum of $240,
600 was handed directly to Chair
man 0dcll and never in any way
went into the treasury of the Ma
tional Committee, which had il
charge the presidential election.
have personal knowledge of all tn,
within mentioned facts.
Very truly yours,
(Signed) George n. Sheldon.
Roosevelt Replies.
Dear Mr.. Shcldon.---I thank yol
for your letter and am glad that |
was written There Is little for nj
to add to what you have said,
never directly or indirectly In an.
shape. way or form, asked Mi. liar
riman or anybody else to cOnfrtbut,
dollar to my election. M6xYayer
on the only occasion when MEsIIar
riman spoke to me on the subject a
all. b did so on his own initiStiv
and so far as there being anyssre
quest OF me to him, he made TON
the request that l would aid in get
ting the National Committee to cos,
tribute some of it's funds for TIL
campaign expenses Of Mr. Hiaeenf
the candidate for governor fn New
York state. N
He at that time stated that m;
own election was assured. That tn
election OF Mr.. Higgens, IN. whicl
he especially was interested. IVA
doubtful and that he earnestly hop
ed that the National Committe
would divert some of its funds fror
the National to the State campaigl
where the need was great and wher
he believed the election OF Mr.. Hig
gems to be in jeopardy. aAs> wa
shown In your letter, this Was pre-
cisely what the National Commits
did. Very truly yours,
J l(Signed) Theodore Roosevelt