The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-08-23
Judge T. Archbold Says that
$l25,OOO Was Donated to
1904 Roosevelt Campaign,
but Has No Receipt.
OIL MAGNATE TOLD
AN AMAZING STORY
Big Business Shows Its Hand
in the Plot Concocted with
Reactionaries to Discredit
Theodore Roosevelt.
(National News Association

"ASf1lNGI YIN, aug. Lo.-1u nat tue
Standard Oil company contributed
100000 to the national campaign of
1904 on the assurance of c. N. Bliss,
national committee treas
urer that year, that Roosevelt would
take a conservative view of the tariff
and not attempt to injure the business
interests" was the assertion of John
T. Archbold today before the senate
committee, headed by Senator Clapp,
which is investigating expenditures in
the last two presidential campaigns.
Statements fell from Archbold's lips
that held his auditors spellbound
Never before have assertions of direct
connection between Big Business and
a national party been publicly made
by SO commanding figure in the f.
nancial world as Mr.. Archbold.
No Evidence Exists.
The witness said that Mr.. Bliss had
solicited the donation. One hundred
thousand dollars was given to the ma
tional fund and $4,000 was sent to
Senator Penrose for use in Pennsyl-
vania. The bigger donation was paid
in currency at rs Broadway, New
York. No documentary evidence ex-
lists of the payment, Archbold being
unable to find the receipt he claims
he received from Mr. Bliss for the
100000.
Senator Penrose was present at the
hearing, although he is not member
of the committee. He seemed to re
gard Archbold's amazing statement as
personal vindication of his own asser-
tions- that. Colonel Roosevelt knew of
the Standards interest in his 1904
campaign.
Nothing was brought out, however,
in the cross questioning of Mr.. Arch
bold to indicate that Roosevelt had
any knowledge of Archbold's transac-
tion with Bliss regarding campaign
contributions. In answering questions
Archbold said there was nobody pres
ent beside himself and Mr.. Bliss when
the 100000 was paid over, nor at any
of the conferences he had previously
had with Bliss, except possibly on one
occasion, when he thought that H. H.
Rogers (now dead, also an officer of
the Standard Oil company, was pres
ent
Archbold declared that Mr. Bliss had
sent him a receipt for the $780, 900.
and he hoped at some future time to
be able to produce It,
After several conferences with Mr..
Bliss Mr.. Archbold said he consulted
other officers of the Standard Oil COM
pany and the contributions aggregat-
ing $125,000 were agreed upon.
$4,000 For Penrose.
1--WE decided that 100000 would be
given to Bliss" said Mr.. Archbold.
After that I had a consultation with
Senator Penrose, during which he as,
sured me that the party needed money
badly, and we then decided that $685.
600 should be given Senator Penrose" "
WAS this the money of the Stand
ard Oil company or the money of it's
directors?" he was asked.
"It was the money of the company,
Archbold replied.
did you have any other conversa-
tons with Bliss" he was then asked.
"He called at my Office a week later
to receive the contribution. I said to
him then I want to say to you that I
want it known to Colonel Roosevelt
that we are contributing this money
and 1 don't want to make the contribu-
tion unless it will be gratefully re-
ceived,' said Archbold
what did Mr. Bliss say to that?"
HE told me that l need have no ap-
prehension on that score" answered
the witness.
did you refer to Roosevelt by
name?'
Il did, and Mr.. Bliss then said to
me I will undertake to represent you
personally with Mr.. Roosevelt
Was Kept Secret.
The money was paid in currency
rather than by check, Mr.. Archbold
said, because it was more convenient
and the money had been drawn. This
avoided drawing up a check, he said,
and averted the necessity of its pass
ing through the clearing house.
You were not anxious that others
than the powers-that-be should know
of this contribution, were your" he
was asked.
NO." he replied, 81 don't believe
that either side was anxious to have
it known at that time"
Archbold said that later Mr.. Bliss
visited his ofiice and asked for another
contribution of $150.00O He outlined
the details of the campaign and said
it was necessary to have more money
did you inquire IL Mr. Roosevelt
had knowledge of your former dona
ton"
Mr. Bliss gave me the assurance
not only that past donations had been
lContinued on Last -Pagel ~