The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-09-02

This is the burden Of Theodore Roosevelts
letter to Chairman Clapp of the Senate com
mittee investigating contributions TO the Re
ysfs,ficau- cam paign fund of loot That por=
ton of it which is not padded with letters. |
Apsrs and statements many times made pub
lie is devoted largely to a denunciation of
senator Penrose. of Pennsylvania and other
enemies OF Mr. Roosevelt, with q sharp eriti-
cism OF the committee thrown in for good
siaeasure.
In the forty-two typewriter pages there
~ to be found no proof. unless MIR. Roose
aels's unsupported word be accepted as proof
& that he was, not aware of the contribution Of
the Standard Oil Company at the very time
tnat he was denouncing Judge Parker's charges
20 thai effect "breposterously false.
There is not a scintilla OF proof that he
knew nothing of the contributions from the
railroads
49, HE does not mention the contributions
from the insurance companies except TO say
sasat he never discussed the matter with Mr..
ID Perkins.
He does NOS explain why he wrote Mr.
telyou letter directing the return of the
Standard Oil contribution, which he now says
was not received with his approval or knowl-
edge. after the money had been spent.
There is not statement In the letter TO
Chairman Clapp as to his for retain
Ing George w Perkins as hnaneier OF the
RaIi Moose campaign now that he knows that
the same George W Perkins helped mulct the
widows and orphans OF the insurance COM
panes for his 1904 campaign. He puts in
evidence no letter to show that he ordered the
return of this money and gives expiaaa-
4 tfen OF his reasons for still using the man who
E collected II in 1903.
He controverts Archbods statement that
Bliss left him under the impression that
Roosevelt knew of his contribution merely by
the statement that he oes-not believe Il
He does rot explain why October 2stk
in his letter to Cortelyou he had only haen
Uniformed that Standard Oil had contrib-
tuted 500 geo while in his letter OF the fol-
lowing day it had become the contribution -
fact and not hearsay,
II is maxim of law and OF equity that
accused man shall be adjudged innocent in
the ewes of the law until he be proven guilty
--4,i.e stsTx- Of the old Scotch jurors. who torn
between their conscientious belief in the guilt
of the prisoner and fealty TO their oaths to ae-
aalt unless that guilt be proven beyond
reasonable doubt. brought In verdict Of not
proven is illustrative of the state OF mind
Of the public as regards Roosevelfs innocence
U 81 ahe charges against him. The charges have
5 y been proven and Roosevelt has not dis
proven them Were he on trial for viola
ton of the law as be would be had the Jaw
In 1904 been what 1t is today. he would be
: aruuitrct on ground PFeefr-Bat-
j Me- Roosevelt is not on Tial4in court OF
law: he is on trial before the American peo-
pie He is not asking for freedom but for
donors; not for his nalenable rights but for
favors A must be proven guilty beyond
All reasonable doubt before his freedom can be
taken from him. but when he seeks Office and
his integrity is brought into question, he must
clear himself If there be sufficient evidence
against him TO make it necessary for him to
defend himself he must disproye the charge
have feeling of resentment If those of
whom he asks honors refuse TO grant them to
him
to those who have always believed in him and
wcrshlpped him. To the Johnsons and Bev
erdges it will prove strong paper. 1t will
y lie unsatisfactory those who have become
suspicious of him recently, but who hoped that
he would be able to clear himself absolutely
Il viii prove satisfactory 10 those who believed
him guilty and hoped he was. for it does not
dsprove their belief
TO those who believed him guilty but who
u would be glad to have it disproYed TO those
Mho Aaga. neser believed in his ;stneerit* at
q parpose. hut who have had some sympathy with
!: biz movement; to those who have always
4 doubted him, but who think him strong man
xhe II hone4t and unselfish and fighter for
3 clean gosern4e nt could perform great ser
siss.s the ietyr u neither satisfactory nor III
y satisfactory Il has proven and disproven
& xothsas sask lhaa Boies Penrose should be
Ns9