Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-08-24

YES, named FreSlQenC HOOSeVelI,
said Mr.. Archbold. II said to Mr..
Bliss that we did not want to make
the contribution unless it would be
gratefully received"
did you have any misgivings as to
this, at that time "
There had been some talk about
objection to contributions from certain
sources" said Mr.. Archbold.
Had YOU any knowledge that this
contribution had been known to Presi-
dent ROOSEVELT"
Only the assurances of Mr.. Bliss
through my conference with him"
"Just what did he say?' urged SEN
ator Pomerene.
''He said: You need have no mis-
givings In that matter. | will repre-.
sent you and will see that it is prop.
erly known"
Neither Side "Wanted Publicity"
Senator Pomerene wanted to know
why the contribution had been made
in currency.
Mr.. Archbold smiled as he replied:
II don't suppose there was any de-.
sire on the part of either of us for
publicity"
Senator Pomerene then took up the
visit of Mr.. Bliss to 80 Broadway"
(the Standard Oil's New York Officer,
when further contributions, according
to Mr.. Archbold, were asked from the
company.
AT q later time, Mr.. Bliss came to
my offfce,'' said Mr. Archbold; "he
said, I have come to you again on the
money question. He pointed out the
situation In the campaign and the
need for further funds. said
thought we had done pretty literally.
Finally told him that could not de-
eide the matter but that would lay
1t before my board"
Was there anything in that con-
versation to indicate that Col. Roose.
welt knew Of your contribution?
asked Senator Pomerene.
Understood T. r. Accepted Money.
Yes, he gave me to understand that
our contribution had been accepted
and that further contributions would
be acceptable to Col. Roosevelt"
Mr. Archbold said that on the latter
occasion Mr.. Bliss mentioned $3.50, 900
as a further amount. Mr.. Archbold
told the board that he had impressed
upon Mr.. Bliss the desire Of the Stan.
dar OIL officials that the contributions
should not be received unless they
were acceptable to Col. Roosevelt.
The board decided to stand upon
what 1t had DONE" and make no
further contributions.
Did you regard Mr.. Bliss as a man
OF yeracity and integrity, and when he
said he had told Col. Roosevelt of this
matter, had you any reason to doubt
HING" asked Senator Pomerene.
Not In the world" answered Mr..
Archbold.
When you told Mr.. Bliss that the
board would do no more. what did he
say?"
HE said that it was mistake" an
swered Archbold. HE said, I speak
to you personally. | think you had
better make this contribution. II YOU
don't somebody else will and think
you Will be making mistake He
put 1t on personal grounds and men.
toned his friendship for me, toward
the end
Did Mr.. Bliss ever tell you that
Col. Roosevelt was grateful to YOU for
not making this further contribution ?"
asked Senator Pomerene.
NO" returned Mr.. Archbold.
UNJUST Attacks" Followed.
The witness said he had never heard
OF any proposition to return any cam.
paign funds until within the last two
or three days. Senator Pomerene
asked II Mr.. Archbold had ever talked
to Mr.. Bliss later about that.
Il went to Mr.. Bliss after President
Roosevelt and some of his bureau
heads began their line of unjust at.
tacks upon u.s." said Mr. Archbold.
"Mr. Bliss threw up his hands, said
that he saw the attacks were unjust,
and said that he sympathized with us
but that he could do nothing"
, Mr.. Archbold said the attacks he re.
ferred to were made upon the Standard
Oil Cos<by James A. Garfield and Her.
bert Knox Smith. Both had been
commissioners of corporations.
President Roosevelt unfailingly ap.
proved these attacks, without investi.
cation and without the slightest know
ledge of the facts he added. The
witness declared there was more OF
coincidence in the appearance OF
adverse governmental reports, every
time we were concerned in litigation
In the courts or every time legislation
appeared here in Washington in which
we were interested.
These reports of Garfield and Smith
were the work OF mere puppets, who
jumped when Roosevelt pulled the
string" de. e.reI Mr.. Archbold
Thought prosecution Spite Work.
Senator Pomerene asked Mr.. Arch.
bold If he thought the refusal Of the
Standard Oil Co., to make a second
contribution had anything to do with
the so-called unjust Investigation.
SWELL, Mr.. Archbold said and then
stopped to bite his lip. Il don't
know"
did you ever call the attention of
Mr.. Bliss to what he had told you be.
fore election in regard to Mr.. Roose-
yelt's attitude?' asked Mr.. Pomerene.
Il presume had some talk with Mr..
Bliss about Mr.. Roosevelt" replied
Archbold, but Mr.. Bliss was not the
kind of man to say I told you So Mr..
Bliss said that it was with humiliation