The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-08-22
PENR0SE ATTACKS COLONEL,
AND ROOSEVELT HITS BACK.

WASHINGTON, Aug. Ex-senator
Boies Penrose, of Pennsylvania, stood
in the presence of the United States
Senate yesterday before full attend
ance of senators and with galleries
crowded to the utmost, and made
confession of the most startling i'm
port, corroborating to the fullest ex-
tent the claim made by Progressives
as to how big business" has ruled the
politics of the country by contributing
to campaign funds and getting it's take
off either in immunity from prosecu-
ton or in tariff graft obtained through
inordinate protective schedules.
Listen in Astonishment.
The impression made upon the Sen
ate Progressives by Senator Penrose's
speech, which was his long-heralded
answer to the charges accusing him of
too close a relationship, since he has
been a senator, with the Standard Oil
company and of accepting check for
$4,000 from that octopus, was best
stated by Senator Borah of Idaho,
who listened in establishment to what
Penrose had to say.
81 think the average normal citizen
who reads that speech will feel like
taking a bath and an emetic. He adj
mits everything and seems to be glad
of it, said Senator Borah.
Speaking in wholly matter of-fact
way, as if such performances were in
strict good taste, Senator Penrose told
how he had MIXED the Standard Oil
company for a contribution of $685.
900 in 1904, of which $4,000 was con-
tributed to him for use in the cam
paign in Pennsylvania and the remain
ing 100000 was turned over to Cor
nelius n. Bliss, treasurer of the Re-
publican national committee.
Senator Penrose explained to an al
ready disguised crowd of listeners that
he was considerably younger in 1904
than he is now and anxious to make
as good a record as possible as state
chairman, so he accepted the Standard
Oils contribution of $4,000 and was
,, highly gratified by the result in the
state"
Proud of Bride Offer.
He also referred with great pride to
| the alleged fact that he had been offer
ed a bride of between $1,00O,00O and
| So, 100000 to procure the senatorship
for William Finn as successor of
Senator Quay.
While admitting enough to con-
denim any public man, Senator Penrose
lodged some of the most important
charges made against him. He did not
explain how he spent the $4,000 which
the Standard Oil contributed for use
in Pennsylvania.
He said nothing whatever about the
charge, which is substantiated by cor
respondence, that as member OF the
Industrial Commission, with access to
| it's facts and information, he furnish
/ ed John ID. Archbold of the Standard
Oil company a copy of the commits
sions report before it was made pub
] lie and that it was given Archbold's
| o. K.
Will Force Investigation.
The general consensus of opinion to-
night is that Penrose's remarkable
confession will force a thorough con-
gressional investigation of the rela-
I tons between Big Business and poll
! tics.
president Roosevelt had been ad-
vised of the contribution" Senator
Penrose declared He said that later
Cornelius N. Bliss, then treasurer of
! the national committee, asked for an
other contribution of $150,000 from
Archbold and his associates interest
ed in the Standard Oil company"
1.-The demand was urgent, insistent
II may say, imperative-an it was
represented that it came direct from
President Roosevelt" declared Sena-
tor Penrose forcefully.
Promises More Details.
At the conclusion of his speech the
senator promised further disclosures.
Senator Stone, of Missouri, asked him
ton of E. H. Hartman to the 1904 Re-
publican campaign fund.
The papers are on file, and letters
exist" said Senator Penrose, (which
1 think, during the campaign, will see
the light of day. / think it would be
very beneficial to the country if they
should become public
where are they now?" asked Sena-
tor Stone.
'They are hidden in the archives of
campaign committees, in the cellars
and vaults of business men and in the
offices of lawyers" returned Senator
Penrose. 81 think the time has come
when these charges should be met
and the American people should no
longer be gulled by answers which in
sinuate that another man is a liar"