The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1912-04-27
M'KINLEY FILES
SENSATIONAL CHARGE
Says Colonel Hid Needed Papers
on T. c. & Merger,
In Attic.
Suit by Taft Angered Roosevelt
Into Becoming Presidential
Candidate.
BY y. II. ARNOLD.
Intsnigencsr Bursay
UaahfnUtor, N q Anil u


That papers relating to the merger OF
the Tennessee Coal and Iron company
which the senate committee on judic-
: larry asked the commissioner OF cor
nish in January 1909. just before the
expiration OF Col Rooseyelt's term
were taken by the colonel and person
ally locked up In the garret OF the
White House, was the sensational
charge perferred by director Mckinley
ef the Taft campaign tonight.
Mr. McKinley's version OF the trans
action by which Colonel Roosevelt is
said TO have hidden the papers desired
by the senate committee in his own
domicile discloses still additional
light on the Roosevelt t-Bonaparte-Tenn-
essee Coal and Iron merger contro-
versy.
According to the Mckinley charge.
on January %. 1909. Herbert Knox
Smith, then commissioner OF the bu,
reau Of corporations, was summoned
as witness before the senate judici-
AIRY committee. When called upon TO
furnish the senate committee with all
relative to the relations between the
Steel Trust and Tennessee Coal and
Iron company, Mr.. Smih declined TO
obey the senate committee on the
ground that. as he interpreted the
law creating his bureau, he was not
permitted to give any confidential in
formation 10 agy person except the
President OF the United States, Theo-
DnlanVaHF 4.
the senate committee, promised 20
consult with Attorney General Bona
pare before giving the committee a
definite answer. On the following day.
January %. 1909. Commissioner Smith
appeared before the committee bear
ing the Official correspondence be-
tween himself. Attorney General Bona
parte and Mr. Roosevelt. In his own
letter Mr.. Smith laid before the attor-
ney general the demand which had
been made upon him by the senate
committe for information, with no ex-
PLANTATION OF the attitude he had taken.
In his opinion Attorney General Bona
parte advised Mr.. Smith to inform
the President OF the demand OF the
senate. The correspondence being
laid before Colonel Roosevelt. the lat
ter sent the moving van 20 the depart
ment OF commerce and labor. with the
following letter addressed to Mr.
Smith in his Official capacity as com
missioner OF the bureau OF corpora
tions:
in view OF what you state to
me you have been asked by the
subcommittee of the judiciary
committee OF the Senate 20 pro-
duce. I direct that you immediate
" forward TO me all papers in
your possession relating 20 the
Steel corporation and to the Ten
nessee Coal q Iron Co. so that in
accordance with the law. and TO
facilitate the inquiry OF the Sen
ate 7 may direct you as 10 what
portions n thse papers you may
properly make public.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT"
Were these papers ever sent 10 the
Benate by Mr.. Roosevelt? asked Mr..
; Mckinley.
Hid In Attic.
He says "assuredIy not" They were
taken from their Ofncial resting place
in the Bureau of Corporations 20 the
''garret" of the White House and kept
there until the Roosevelt administra-
tion expired
Employees of the Bureau Of Corpora
tiOns who desired 90 consult the pa
pers Ofncially went 10 the executive
mansion % see them. President ROose-
welt himself kept them under lock and
key. IN defiance Of the United States
Senate by trickerv. This fact was i'm
mediately recognized BY the senate.
and 70 admitted bv Mr. Roosevelt him
eeif Who laughed ~ the situation he
had created
A. result. conrluies fhe Tar man
nEer. no prosecution was launched
aEalnef fhn United States Steel cor
porafi0n Tor violation 90 fhe sherman
anfifrusf art until fho Tar afu1lris-
trafion few weeks aro lraflfrfed fhr
suit uhirh ar0uard Coi0npi Wnurereff
irfo su~h frenzy ~ rae fhaf Do on
nouncrd hI~arf RI candidate frr q
fhirf term ar president