Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-10-08
BARTHOLDT MAKES STINGING
REPLY TO ROOSEVELT ATTACK.
Missouri Congressman Answers Attack Made by Col
onel in Des Moines Speech; Says Only Fraud at
Chicago Was Fake Roosevelt Contests.

CnlCagO w DIS rake w
Congressman Richard Bartholdt has
made public a letter he wrote to
Colonel Roosevelt in answer to an at
tack made on Bartholdt by Roosevelt
In a Des Moines speech. The letter,
which Is addressed to Colonel Roose-
welt at Oyster Bay, follows:
Colonel Theodore Roosevelt,
Oyster Bay, N. Y.
Dear Sir:
In the newspapers of September s.
The morning I sailed for Europe-you
IRE reported as having used the fol
language in a speech delivered
at Des Moines, Iowa, to.wit: +
II see Mr.. What's-his-name. that
congressman from St. Louis, Bar
tholdt-he Is one Of the highwaymen-
has asked Mr.. Cummins to debate the
Texas, California and Washington con-
tests at Chicago. I hope Mr.. Cummlns
will refuse for the reason that |
wouldn't debate with a pickpocket n
ownership Of a watch he has just
II the police are handy, I'll
hand him over to them. If they are
not, I'll tend to him myself. Any man,
any candidate for governor or other
who has knowledge OF n
facts, and supports Mr.. Taft gives us
the right to say that he Is not compe-
tent to pass upon honesty In public
life."
I shall not attempt to answer you In
kind. Nor shall I discuss with you the
Of the Chicago contests, for
your expected Nominations on this
subject show you to be either guilty
of persistent %prevarication or else in
Of all knowledge Of the facts
concerning it. In assuming the latter
everybody will admit that, In the face
Of the printed evidence, I am taking a
charitable view. And Just n more
word on this score After your defeat
in November when you will have
leisure to study the record, you will
find that every delegate who was seat
ed at Chicago by decision first OF The
national committee, then Of the COM
mittee on credentials, and finally OF
the convention itself, was honestly en-
titled to his seat. This has not bean
true, as you will know, Of all national
conventions held by either party In
the past, but it Is true of the Chicago
convention Of 1912. The situation was
serious as to discourage at the out
set any political trickery, and all men,
bers of the national committee with
whom I conferred, agreed that II there
was anything that could allay the ex-
element and heal the breach In the
republican party caused by your ill-ad-
vised candidacy, it was the square
deal, and by its decisions the commit
tee religiously lived up to that convic-
ton. The only fraud attempted at Chi
cago emanated from your side In the
shape Of the fake contests styled as
psychological" by your own press and
and voted down by your
own friends. Who, then, Is the high
It may be said that the
states and the smaller
should not h We been permitted
to control the nomination, but that Is
entirely different matter, and the
national committee could certainly not
be expected and had no right to
change a system which had been IN
vogue for half a century merely to
make your nomination possible. For
one, I voted in each case as the facts
and my conscience dictat-
ed. and being convinced of the Justice
Of the committees decisions, I have
challenged Senator Cummins, who
bases his opposition to President Taft
the disposition Of the contests, to
produce his evidence to the contrary
and meet me in Joint discussion on
any platform he may designate.
However, this letter is not intended
as an argument. You would not admit
the truth concerning the contests even
you were convinced Of 1t because 1t
would knock the props from under
your candidacy. I venture these lines
rather in an effort to show that your
reckless attempts at character assas-
sfnation are not a sufficient answer to
the reasons and we'll grounded argu-
ments of those who oppose you, my
self included. Before I proceed In the
enumeration Of these reasons, let me
suggest that I have known you since
YOU served your first term In the New
York assembly thirty years ago, that
| served in congress during the time
YOU were assistant secretary OF the
navy as we'll as during your two presl-
Dental terms, that I was your friend
and admirer, and In 1904 helped to or.
ganize the Nationa.. Roosevelt league,
Of which I was chosen president, and
through which the citizens Of German
birth and descent were rallied to your
support. This much to establish the
qualifications of the "highwayman" as
4 witness In the present case. My rea-
for opposing your candidacy r
The following, to-wit:
First charge you with being con
or unconsciously the tool Of
the steel and harvester trusts. II
Taft had disregarded the
law and the interests of the people as
you have done, through your failure
10 prosecute these trusts, he would
have had no opposition for renomina-
ton. But the moment he had author
led his attorney general to institute
proceedings, these powerful combina-
lions looked around fora candidate
with whom to beat Mr.. Taft, and they
on you and furnished all the
money deemed necessary to carry the
These interests had a