The Prescott daily news. (Prescott, Ark.) 1907-1941, 1912-10-05
TELLS CLAPP COMMITTEE GIFT
OF 100000 WAS USED IN
ELECTING GOV. HIGGINS.
NEVER ASKED HARTMAN
FOR AID, He SAYS
Colonel Reads Letters to Show He
Ordered Return of Standard Oils
100000 ontribution-Crowd
Gives Him an Ovation.

Washington, Oct. 5-Demanding
that Charles d. Hilles, national Re
publican chairman, and Representa-
tive Richard ID. Bartholdt of st. Louis
be required either to make good or
apologize or else be driven out of
public life for the statement attrib-
uted to them that the Progressives
spent 100000 trying to nominate
Roosevelt at Chicago, Theodore
Roosevelt on his oath denied in toto
the principal charges which have
been brought against him in the pres
ldential campaign
Roosevelt also demanded that
Charles p. Taft, the presidents
brother. be summoned to testify.
Roosevelt denied emphatically that
e. H. Hartman, the railroad wiz
ard" raised the famous $260,000 fund
for the national campaign in 1904.
when Roosevelt was candidate for
president
On the contrary, Roosevelt swore,
Hartman raised the fund for use in
the New York state campaign when
Francis w. Higgins, Republican can
didate, was in danger of defeat.
Il never asked Mr.. Hartman di.
rectly or indirectly for a dollar to
help in the 1904 campaign, or in any
other," Roosevelt said in voice that
vibrated with emphasis and earnest
ness.
Col Roosevelt caused another sen.
Sation when he demanded that Sen
ator Boies Penrose should be thrown
out of the United States senate be-
cause of testimony given to the Clapp
committee
Bases Demand on Testimony.
Il hold that he should be thrown
out because of his own admissions
before this committee that he advised
John ID. Archbold to try to purchase
immunity from prosecution by the
government" the colonel asserted.
"Archbold testified that Bliss tried
to blackmail him." he went on explo
sively. Il don't believe that. AS you
haye seen by these letters Qetters he
read to the committee), as soon as
| there was any rumor about improper
contributions | ordered them returned
and l have the assurance of Cortel.
you and Bliss that there were no such
contributions.
Loeb had assurance over the tele-
phone that Standard Oil didn't give
| anything. Penrose says he advised
Archbold to submit to blackmail be
cause of hostility in certain quarters.
They could only obtain the hostil-
Ity of myself and they could incur
that only if they violated the law. The
purpose of Penrose in such advice
could only have been to secure i'm.
munity for the Standard Oil company
against government action if il vic.
lated the law"
Given Ovation by 1000 Persons.
Roosevelt was given an ovation bv
nearly 1000 persons, who had been
waiting for him to appear. The crowd
sheered him as he entered.
Senator Clapp gave the oath To
Roosevelt. The crowd in the com
mittee room cheered when Roosevelt
Dustled in. and took his place in the
witness chair. Senator Clapp admon.
lshed the crowd to keep quiet.
Colonel you were candidate in
lsO4?@ asked Clapp Il was" was the
colonefs opening statement. He sat
at rigid attention, his body inclined
slightly forward in the chair.
Clapp called his attention to John
D. Archbold's testimony regarding
The 100000 Standard Oil company
donation.
State what you know of that con
tribution, whether it was either asked
for or made" said Clapp Mr.. Chair
man, may l treat the letter sent YOU
as part of my answer" Roosevelt
asked Certainly" said Clapp.
Supplements His Letter to Bliss.
The colonel smiled and continued.
Il have two or three things to add
10 that letter. In the first place, since
was elected governor of New York
| have written and signed 1O0,0 let
ters. so it's not possible at once to
remember all of the letters | wrote
On any subject. Looking through my
press books, | find two other letters
regarding campaign contributions.
One was the letter to Mr.. Bliss al
ready printed. The other was a let.
ter to Mr.. Sheldon in 1908"