The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1911-12-22
CLEAR ROOSEVELT
EARlnxAH DID Hor lAuE ouAn-
HArrofAL ooonurrrE.
Correspondents Develops Such |. Pund
was Haiss1- Dus wss for u.
=. STATE nisodon-

NEW YORh. Dec. 2i-The following
corr eSDoudfncs Oetx een Theodore Reose-
welt and George Il. Sheldon. treasurer of
the ~HePubiicea National Committee ~ss
made public today:
rDecembsr Is. 1911.
Dear Mr.. Roosevelt.
Ever since the election OF 1900. the
story has been continuously published
ard never denied. except b. you. that
you asked Mr.. 4 n. Hartman to con
tribute money TO ana In your election.
ana ne thereupon raised or contributes
t.So.eeo W the national ~eoInIaiitee fund
knowing this ~ be untrue. l several
times suggested to my superior officer.
ar. G. y. Bliss. then treasurer OF the
national committee. that the facts In the
case be pLainIy stated. Nj Bliss always
believed that the books and accounts OF
the madonna committee were private and
although always carried on by him in
tue highest sense OF integrity and honor.
he never. Ike all OF his contemporaries.
would consent TO any publicity. This
~fretirfs has been changed In the past few
years H. the laws requiring full public
ny IN elections II Gems therefore ~
me mat now IN justice TO you. the facts
I'D the case ogEth 20 be known.
Dtdnt Aid Roosevelt
Every one knew and Contendej that
In the Election OF 1895. you would carry
the state OF New YORK BY a large plural
HH ~ w ANHN
Mr.. higgins would be defeated. The
Democrats eentered their efforts on tire
election OF ti.tir candidate FOR governor
About a week before the election. MI.
Dell. then chairman OF the New York
state committee. came 10 Mr.. Bliss and
told him mat unless he had .25O.OOb
from the Rstfouar commIitee that the
state Ticket would be derested Mr..
Bliss told Chairman ODeli that he had
no money 90 give. but WonId see what
could br done lie visited Mr.. r ~
Hartman at his office and explained to
him the urgency OF the situation a. told
by Mr.. OlDeli
Mr.. Hartman t~hereupon called up
several OF hts friends on the telephone
ana next day handed Mr. Bliss $50. 900.
Mr. Bliss himself raised $50. OOU. This
sum Of $4,000 was handed directly to
chairman O'beil and never In any way
went Into the treasury OF the National
committee. which had in charge the
presidential election. I have p~erfonai
Of all TIE within mentiynsd
facts.
Very truly yours.
GEORGE r. SHELDON.
Treasurer. Republican National Com
CIttee."
Dear Mr.. Sheldon.
Il thank you Tor your letter and 1
III ga AhsN ~ WAS hflktths lneFe -
little Tor me TO add TO what you have
said. ! never directly Or Indirectly In
any shape. way Or form. asked Mr.. Hsr-
T!man Or anybody else to contribute a
dollar TO I'D in my election. Moreover.
on the only occasion on which Mr Har-
rimsn ever spoke to mr on the subject
at all. he did ~ OF his own initiative and
80 Tar from there being any request
from me to him. he made 10 me the re
quest that ! would aid him in getting
the national Committee to contribute
some Of It's funds for the campaign eN-
pens"s 81 Mr. higgins. the candidate for
governor In Ney York state.
He ~ the time stated t. me that my
own election was assured. that the eiec-
lion OF Mr. Higgins. In which he was e.
p~e1iaily interested. was doubtful. and
that De earnestly hoped thar the ma
tional committee would divert rome OF
its funds from the national TO the state
campaign. where the need was great aud
where he believed the election of Mr..
H4ESins 90 be IN 5solardy As shoVn in
your letter. this vas precisely what the
national COMMITTEES ola
Very truly yours.
tSlgued
THEODORE ROOSEVELT"