New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-10-05
Roosevelt Repeats to Senate
Committee That Bliss and
Cortelyou Told Him No
Money Came from
Standard Oil.
DOESN'T KNOW ABOUT 1912
Too Busy, he Says, to Keep Track Of
Primary Campaign Expenses, but
Wants Hilles and Bartholdt
Questioned as to $3,-
100000 Story.
tFrom The Tribune Bureau.I

washington. Oct. Theodore
Roosevelt, with the supreme self-con-
fidence Of which he is master. appeared
before the Senate campaign investica-
ting committee to-day and made spe-
cific and general denials of the charge,
that have been made In connection with
the so-called Hartman fund and the
Standard Oil contribution to his cam
paign in 1904.
incidentally the colonel protested that
the committee. of which Senator Clapp.
one of his supporters, is the chairman.
was not giving him square deal"
quoted two of the ten commandments
to them as guide for their action. in
timated that John d. Archbold was
guilty Of corrupt practices, and insisted
that Senator Penrose should be thrown
out OF the Senate on his testimony and
his own admissions
The third term leader reiterated his
assertion that f. Fl. Hartman, the
friend Of Governor Odell, took the in
itiative in seeking his aid to enlist the
efforts Of the national committee Of
1904 TO raise funds for the fight In Few
York State despite the chain Of letters
submitted by the late railroad mag
mates secretary. To what extent the
committee accepted his testimony re-
mains to be seen.
After examining william Loeb. jr,
who was secretary to the ex-President,
who supported Mr. Roosevelt's testi-
mony on this point Senator oliver ex-
pressed his willingness to let the record
Of correspondence stand for what 1t
was worth" Senators Paynter and
Pomerene persistently sought to secure
from both witnesses some expression or
opinion on the apparent conflict be-
tween their testimony and the letters,
but without success.
Mr.. Hartman, Colonel Roosevelt as
serted, made the request for an appoint
ment, and sought the interview follow
ing which the $25o,0o0 fund was col.
Iected. "Some we'll meaning but habby
persons" said tho colonel, say there
mioht have been a misunderstanding.
There was not. There was no possibil.
ty Of a misunderstanding
Know Of No Oil Gift.
Colonel Roosevelt also reiterated his
assertion that he had been assured the
Standard Oil Company had made no
contributions to the campaign fund ot
1904, and that he had insisted that none
should be received.
AS In the case Of the controversy
over the Hartman fund, the question
ot issue over the Standard Oil contribu-
t,on was finally shifted 70 one who is
now dead. According to the testimony
of Colonel Roosevelt and his former
secretary, William Loeb. 1r., Mr.. Roose-
Welt had received the assurance from
the late Cornelius N. Bliss that the
Standard Oil Company had made no
contribution to the 1904 campaign.
The fact that John d. Archbold con-
trihuted 100000 remains, but the third
term leader disposed Of this by saying
he was a very busy man during the
campaign and was not disposed to
audible with Mr.. Cortelyou or Mr.. Bliss
when they said no contributions had
been received"
And now. gentlemen" said Colonel
Roosevelt, In summarizing his test1-
mony on the general subject OF cam
paign contributions, 1t seems to me
that / have completed my statement.
want to reiterate that / asked no
man to contribute to the campaign
fund when / was elected President OF
the United States. / wish to reiterate
that Mr.. Bliss and Mr.. Cortelyou ex-
plicitly assured me that no promise had
been made and no obligation OF any
kind incurred in connection with my
election; that 1t was on their explicit
assurance that ! issued my statement
in response to Mr.. Parkers accusation.
and that their subsequent actions
showed that their assurance was
proper, IoT Heithei s"e' "o' 49,
else having authority ever. directly or
indirectly, asked me to act or refrain
from acting on any matter that came
before me as President, with regard to
the fact that any contribution had been
either made or withheld.
Can put IL more sweepingly than
that?
Although Colonel Roosevelt dealt for
the most part with the controversies
relating to the contributions Of corpo-
rations Of corporate interests to his
campaign. he made many other pointed
and emphatic observations to the COM
mittee. He asserted that the testi-
mony Of Senator Penrose and John D.