The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-08-24
A WICKED ASSAULT
ON A DEAD MAN"
Is Roosevelt's Reply to Testimony Of
Archbold on Stand in Campaign
investigation.

Oyster Bay, n. Y, Aug. 24.-Colonel
Roosevelt sat on the porch at Sycamore
Hill for an hour and half last night
and dictated statement in reply to
the testimony of John d. Arehbold yes.
terday before the Senate investigating
committee.
He reiterated his declaration that he
knew nothing of contribution by Mr.
Archbold of the Standard Oil company
to the Republican campaign of 1904, de-
clared that he did not "for one moment
believe that Mr.. Archbold's testimony il
truthful; charged Mr.. Archbold with q
"wicked assault on a dead man; added
that during many calls which Mr.. Arch
bold made upon him while he was presi-
dent, to urge him not to prosecute the
Standard Oil company, Mr.. Archbold
never referred TO any contribution to
his campaign fund, and concluded with
the suggestion that the Senate commit
tee should make both Mr.. Archbold and
Senator Penrose testify at once concern
ing their relations while Mr.. Penrose
was member of the industrial COM
mission.
In his last word, Colonel Roosevelt
thanked both Messrs. Arehbold and PEN
rose for making it clear beyond possi-
bility of doubt that I am the man the
Penroses and Archbolds of the country
most dread in public life.Y Colonel
Roosevelt's statement follows:
"In the first place, | wish to call at
tention to the fact that even if Mr..
Archbold's statements are true, they
amount only TO saying, so far as ami
concerned. that Mr.. Bliss told him that
! had knowledge of and approved re-
quest for 100000 from the Standard
Oil company. which was granted, and a
further request of $4,000, which was
not granted. This is a pure hearsay
statement, and even if made in good
faith would be utterly valueless.
Not only did | never know anything
of such request being made, but my
published letters and kilograms show
that when the rumor that there had
tcen contribution reached me | acted
Rt once, reiterating my demand again
md again that the money should be i'm
nediately returned if it had been Civ
I'm, and being assured by Mr.. Cortelvou
that the money had not been received
end would not be received. Therefore,
rven on the assumption that Mr.. Arch
bold is telling the truth, his testimony,
TO far as | am concerned, consists of the
repetition of hearsay assertions which
were instantly disproved by the produc.
tion of my letters and telegram. | wish
to reiterate that until Mr.. Penrose made
his speech, never had heard it sug-
gested that Mr.. Archbold had contribut-
ed to the campaign or been the means
through which any contributions had
been made.
Dead Man Accused.
"But | do not for one moment believe
that Mr.. Archbold's testimony is truth
full. He apparently possesses such a
moral stand that he does not understand
the infamous accusation he is making
against Mr.. Bliss. Mr.. Bliss is now dead.
But during the seven years that elapsed
before Mr.. Bliss death after Mr.. Arch
bold claims he made the contribution in
question, Mr.. Archbold never brought up
any statement of this kind.
"He now says that Mr.. Bliss warned
him that he was making a serious mis-
take in not contributing the extra
amount of money and that later on.
when the administration began to deal
with the Standard Oil people, Mr. Bliss
Eald 1t would have been different if they
had done as he asked them.
"This is an assertion that Mr.. Bliss
was deliberately trying to blackmaiI the
Standard Oil company into contributing.
by scarcely veiled threats as to what
would happen if they did not contribute.
and that Mr.. Bliss in effect told them
afterwards that if they had contributed
the administration would not have pro.
oeeded against them for violating the
law, for this was all the administra-
ton did.
This is a wicked assault on dead
man, whose high standing and probity
was such that no human being, who was
himself honest, would ever impute evil
motives to him. Mr.. Bliss was incapable
OF conduct such as Mr. Archbold i'm
putes TO him. And cannot too strong
~ denounce the baseness of making such
~ attack upon an honorable man who is