Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1912-08-24
Finn BID MILLION
FOR SENATORSn|p
PenrOse Tears Curtain From
Political Past.
OENOUNCES VAN VALKEMDURG

Barely Escaped jail sentence-says
$4,000 From Arehbold Was to HeIp
Elect Roosevelt.
Senator Penrose made his promised
explanation before the senate OF the
charges which have been made
against him In connection with the
check for $4,000. which he received
from John ID. Archbold. OF the Stand
ard Oil company. In 1904, and 1t prov
ed TO be highly sensational In its rev.
Citations OF inside political AFFAIRS OF
the time.
Mr.. Penrose declared that the
charges were made by the F1inn.Van
valkenburg combination In Pennsyl.
vania. to break me down and deceive
the people through the INSCRIPTIONS
methods OF yellow journalism"
He said the $4,000 had been ex.
pended solely TO aid the Roosevelt
campaign in 1904. and that the Stand.
ard Oil company had also contributed
100000 to the Republican national
committee through Cornelius N. Bliss.
the national treasurer, who gave re-
ceipt for II. He said that later Mr..
Bliss asked Mr.. Archbold for $150.000
more, but he had been compelled TO
refuse.
The senator characterized William
Finn as a man who had grown rich
through the corrupt control OF munich.
pal councils and the state legislature.
and said Mr.. Van valkenburg had
been indicted for bribery in his first
senatorial contest In 1896. and had
escaped only through the leniency of
Senator Quay and the payment Of
$4,000 for costs OF prosecution on the
day before be was to be called for
trial.
Following the death of Senator
Quay In 1904, Senator Penrose said
Finn had offered him and Israel w.
Durham, then the city leader. $1,000
600, or even 100000. to favor his
election.
Senator Penrose. facing his col
leagues and crowded galleries, said:
MIR. President. Certain letters from
John ID. Archbold. addressed to me.
have recently been published. and an
effort has been made TO establish a
connection between the work of the
industrial commission. of which am
a member. and an alleged letter pur.
porting to inclose $4,000 from John
d. Archbold.
These stories have been circulated
In Hearst's Magazine, sensational
periodical: In the Munsey daily
papers. which are Roosevelt organs,
and more particularly In the North
American. in Philadelphia. and the
Leader. in Pittsburgh, yellow journals,
the chief organs OF the Flinn-Van Val
kenburg- Roosevelt combine In Penn.
sylvania.
II was one OF the senatorial mem.
bers of the industrial commission. but
the work of the commission. as is we'll
known. was performed largely by the
non-congressional members OF the
commission.
''As the session OF the commission
was continuous over a considerable
period. II turned out to he impossible
for me, at least. to attend very many
OF the prolonged sessions. | do not
believe that | was able to attend more
than one or two meetings during the
whole life OF the commission. GER
tainly never participated in their de.
alterations or conclusions.
Upon the death of Senator Kyle.
the president OF the commission. my
name was mentioned by large num-
Der OF persons TO succeed him as presi.
dent. being ranking senatorial mem.
Der and representing great indus
trial state.
"Realizing, however. that | had not
been able to attend the sessions OF the
commission regularly or keep up with
the work, declined TO be considered
for the place. and the commission
elected Mr.. Clark. The hearings OF
the commission were open. and there
was no secrecy about their proceed
ings There was no occasion to fur.
nish any one with any particular infor
nation. as II was open and accessible
TO the general public.
IL now come TO the letter alleged
TO have been written to me by John
d. Archbold. including a certificate
OF deposit in my favor for $4,000
written under date of Oct. 10. 1894.
have reason to believe that this letter
Is a forgery. and challenge its pro
duction. but II Is true. and at the time
II was well known. that during the
presidential campaign Of 1904 ! did
receive such contribution from Mr.
Archbold for the campaign in Penn
sylvania.
'Mr. John d. Archbold had seyera
interviews with Cornelius n. Bliss
treasurer OF the Republican nationa
committee. and with. relative to finan
cial assistance in the campaign. Fin