New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-10-01
Railroad Man Repeatedly and
Urgently Asked to Go to WASH
ington When Ex. President
Was Worried Over Stu
alton in This State.
RECEIPT FoR$5o,o0o SHOWN
Given by the Late Cornelius N. Bliss
for MIR. Hartman Contribution
to National Campaign Fund,
Made Soon After His
Visit to the Capital.
From The Tribune Bureau. J

FROM i ne IElDuUe buI'au
Washington, Sept. 30.-The intimacy
Of the relations that existed between
President Roosevelt and the late K. Fl.
Hartman before and during the cam
pagn Of 1904, when the former was
candidate fos the Presidency and the
latter raised s250.00O on the eve OF the
November elections to carry on the
fight In New York, was portrayed be-
fore the Senate committee, which re-
sumed to-day It's investigation Of con-
tributions to Presidential campaigns.
The story told in the series Of let
ters and kilograms that passed be-
tween the White House and the offices
of the railroad man Is strikingly at
variance with the statement OF Colonel
Roosevelt in MS letter to Senator
Clapp, chairman of the committee.
early in September. In this he said
"Mr. Hartman never even discussed
with mo giving anything to tho national
committee, and mover spoke to him
about il or requested dollar from him.
He asked mo to intercede with Mr.. eiiss
and Mr.. CorteIyou to get money tor
him and Mr.. OdeI in their state cam.
paian." III
/ The letters disclose the fact that
\ President Roosevelt repeatedly and ur-
\ gently invited Mr. Hartman to take
i luncheon or dinner with him at the
\ White House, ir order that they might
\ discuss campaign problems. The Pres
\ ident appeared to be wor6ed par
| ticulariy about the situation in New
York. where disccrd existed because OF
the opposition of the upstate leaders
| to Senator Depew. Mr.. Hartman was
\ summoned to Washington in October.
| 1904. to discuss this situation, and
shortly after this visit the s250,000
fund which has been the subject OF
controversy was raised.
The evidence given the committee to-
day consisted OF the series If letters
and kilograms taken from the files of
Mr. Harriman's personal correspond
ence now in the possession Of his
| widow. receipt from the late c. N.
Bliss acknowledging Mr.. Harriman's
contribution of $4,000 TO the 1904
campaign fund and the testimony OF
vate secretary, and Charles A. Pea
| body. president of the Mutual Life In
! surance Company. Mr.. Harriman's
friend and adviser.
Letters In Friendly Tone.
The correspondence submitted. cre-
| ates the impression that the railroad
man was received at the White House
, on a much mere friendly footing than
ANY other citizen" as was recently
asserted by Colonel Roosevelt. The
letters show, on the contrary. in
number of phrases characteristic OF
Colonel Roosevelt that his relations
with the railroad president were espe-
cially intimate. He not only expressed
the desire to discuss with Mr.. Harri-
man certain points in his letter Of ac-
ceptance" and other topics, but in par
ticularly friendly tone observed: MY
men" On June %, 1904, he wrote: 1T
has been real pleasure to see you this
year" and he gave further evidence OF
q friendi SIS for Mr.. Hartman far
beyond that entertained for the 'ordi-
nary citizen" by repeatedly asking him
to come to Washington TO talk over the
problems that arose from time to time.
The fact that Harriman's services
were sought by the Roosevelt campaign,
managers and not thrust on them was
further corroborated by a letter from
George B. Cortelyou, in which the lat
Ter said: After conference with the
Hon. Cornelius y. Bliss, treasurer Of
the Republican National Committee, l
write 10 say that II would give US great
Measure II you could see your way
c,aar TO serve on the auxiliary commit
toe Of the Republican National Com
n,,tee. Please consider this communi-
cation entirely personal, as the COM
m,ttee is not to be publicly announced"
The documentary evidence dates back
20 November. 1901 shortly after Presi-
dApt Roosevelt entered the White
uouse. The correspondence until late
in 1903, however, appeared to be des-
ultory. Most of the letters submitted
10 the committee were written in 1904,
and these, according TO the testimony
OF Mr.. Harrimans secretary. were sup-
plemented by telephone conversations.
Change in Tone Of Letters.
\ After the election In 1904 the letters
Of President Roosevelt strike a dif-
ferent note. The invitations to dinner
and luncheon at the White House
ceased: the demand for conferences no
longer existed. On November so. 1904