Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1912-08-31
OH Trust Magnate and Pen
rose Testify.
THEY TELL OF CONTRIBUTIONS
Arehbcld Admits He Furnished s25,.
900 for Pennsylvania Campaign in
1so4--Baeks Up Senator Penrose.

Standard oil company testifying un.
der oath. told the senate committee
probing campaign contributions that
the oil trust contributed si25,000 to
the Roosevelt campaign funds In 1901;
that the money was not returned. and
that they had been informed that
Roosevelt knew Of and Appreciated
the contribution.
Penrose in asking that his state
ment be incorporated in the record
made oath to the statements contain
90 In H.
He expressed willingness to answer
any questions. and referring to Roose.
velt's attitude toward oil trust money
said:
Il certainly felt AT the time this
contribution was made by Mr.. Arch
hold that Mr.. Roosevelt was In har-
iaony with the suggestion OF hnan-
cial aid from that company
Il also knew of the urgency of the
request OF Mr.. Bliss to Mr.. Archbold
for the additional $4,000" said Pen.
rose. and his saying that the refusal
TO give II would probably result In re-
taliatory measures, the theory being
that II threw the powers that be- as
Mr. Archobld calls them, into other
financial hands. and that the Standard
OIL company would be the goat. as
the popular saying is
Senator pomerene took up the ex.
animation OF Senator Penrose. and in
CURED as to various interviews with
Archbold and other men connected
With the Standard Oil company.
MIR. Archbold told me. said Sena
tor Penrose. that his board of direc.
tors would decline 10 aid In the ma.
tional campaign IL there was any Sc
crecy about the matter-lt their &C.
tivity was not known to President
Roosevelt and MIR Cortelyou.
AT these interviews was anything
said about Mr.. Rcosevelt's views on
The tariff" = II was generally under.
stood that he stood for protective
tariff "a outlined in the Republican
platforms since 1896" answered Pen
rose.
Was anything said about his attl'
tude toward so.called big business? !"
asked Pomerene There was gen.
eral assurance on the part OF Mr.
Bliss that the powers OF the presiden
tial office would not be used in
harsh way for demagogic effect
penrose declared he told Archhold
that he was making a mistake in not
making tho second contribution Of
si50.000. and that Archbold agreed
with him.
He was positive that Mr.. Roosevelt
never had suggested TO him that the
Standard Oil company money be re-
turned.
Penrose denied that he had ever re.
ceiyed any contribution from Arch
bold. save the one $4,000. and reaf-
Armed his belief that the published
fac smile OF letter TO him from
Archbold was forgery. lie said that
on many occasions. beginning with
conference shortly after the Republic
can convention OF 1904. he. Bliss and
Rogers talked finances with Archbold
Was that $4,000 solely for politi
cal purposes? asked Senator Oliver.
"Yes. 1t was used TO poll the largest
possible Republican vote in Pennsyl
vanla."
When Mr.. Archbold was called TO
the stand he said the Standard oil
companys contribution 10 the Repuh-
lican war chest OF 1904 was made
upon assurances from Cornelius n.
Bliss that the contribution was &C.
cceptable 10 Colonel Roosevelt and
that further contributions would be
acceptable
Il told Mr.. Bliss we did not want
10 make the contribution unless II
was to be gratefully received. he
said. MIR. Bliss told us of Mr.. Roose.
velt's attitude toward business. and
said he believed Mr.. Roosevelt would
be fair and conservative man when
1t came TO the test MIR Bliss urged
that the policies OF the Republican
party were the safest for business
We decided that our interests as a
business organization lay on the Re
publican side and We decided TO make
this contribution
Mr.. Archbold explained that 500,
600 went to the Republican national
committee. and that $4,000 was given
TO Senator Penrose for the Republl.
can state committee. The $4,000
given to Mr. Penrose. he said. was a
political contribution, and not pay
ment for services in public or private
life.
Later. when the late MIR Bliss came
and asked the Standard oil company
for more money-about sl50.o00-Mr
Archbold said. the board OF directors
refused to contribute further. He
quoted Mr.. Bliss as saying 4 speak
10 you personally, think you had
better make this contribution. Ii you
don't somebody's else will"
Later. Mr.. Archbold said, when the
bureau OF corporations began making
adverse reports on the Standard Oil
company. Mr. Bliss admitted that the
governments attacks were unjust. but
said he had no influence With Presi-
Assf pa0ssvAit