The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1912-08-28
CAMP AICN
SECRETS Barred
S'"-''f by PenrOSe and Arch
lid Startle Senate
ATTACK ON COLONEL ROOSEVELT
Testify That Teddy Knew Of $125,ooo
Contribution and Approved-FInn
Offered 100000 For Support For
Senatorial Ambition Alleged by Pen.
rose-RooseveIt and Finn Offer De.
nlals-Van VaIkenburg Accused.

Senatorial Ambition Alleged by Pen
rose-Roosevelt and Finn Offer De.
nlals-Van VaIkenburg Accused.
Senator Penrose of Pennsylvania,
rising to a question of personal priv
ilege in the senate, made his promised
disclosures in regard to the Roosevelt
1904 campaign fund
Senator Penrose charged that the
Standard Oil company contributed
$125,OOO toward the promotion of
Roosevet's candidacy. Subsequently
the late Cornelius n Bliss, Mr.. Roose-
velt's treasurer of the Republican ma
tional committee called on the Stand
ard Oil company for an additional con-
tribution OF $150,000. Officials of the
trust declined the second contribution.
Bliss, according to Penrose, repre-
sented that both Mr. Roosevelt and
Cortelyou, his national chairman,
knew of the original contribution and
appreciated it," Not only this, but
the demand for the additional $l50,000,
so Penrose charged, purported to come
from Mr. Roosevelt himself, and from
George Corteyou.
OF the Si25,0O0, Senator Penrose
said $4,000 was given to him as state
chairman in Pennsylvania and was
used in the 1904 campaign in the Key
stone state.
The Pennsylvania senator startled
his hearers when he alleged that ex-
State Senator Finn of Pennsylvania
and one of Roosevelt's chief support
ers, had offered to Israel Durham Of
Philadelphia and to himself 81 100000
or even S2,00O,000 for support for his
candidacy to the United States senate
and had also solicited the support of
John d. Archbold of the Standard Oil
company. In this connection the SEN
ator said:
"Mr. William Finn of the unsavory
Flinn-Van Valkenberg combination,
which until recently Mr.. Roosevelt
would have been quick to denounce
and repudiate, has made fortune out
of crooked municipal contracts and
the corrupt control of municipal coun-
ellis and state legislatures. Mr.. E. A.
Van Valkenberg was arrested and in.
dicted for bribery in my first sena-
torial contest and only escaped con-
viction on the leniency of Senator
Quay and payment of $4,000 for cost.
Upon the death of Senator Quay Mr..
Finn became a candidate to succeed
him in the United States senate.
"In Philadelphia Mr.. Finn, during
a discussion of the successorship to
Senator Quay, offered to Israel w.
Durham, a Republican leader in Phiia-
delphia, and to me $1,OOO,000 or even
$2,OO0O0O to favor his ambition and
the offer was known to others at the
time The offer vas declined and we
refused to support his candidacy"
Again speaking before his col
leagues in the senate chamber Sen
ator Penrose charged that a $3,000,000
fund had been underwritten by George
w. Perkins and others to make Colonel
Roosevelt the nominee of the regular
Republican party at Chicago.
Senator Penrose charged in effect
that Colonel Roosevelt knew when he
dictated this letter that the $125,OO0
contributed by the Standard Oil com
pany had been spent and could not be
returned
Following the disclosures by Pen
rose John d. Archbold of the Stand |
ard Oil company appeared before the |
senate committee investigating cam
paign contributions and corroborated |
in every essential point the story told |
by the Pennsylvania in regard to the
Standard Oil contribution in 1904 and |
of Roosevelt's alleged knowledge of |
the gift.
In his testimony John D. Archbold |
made the startling statement that in
his opinion Rooseyelts attack upon
the big corporation was inspired by
the failure Of the Standard officials TO
give up the additional $l50,000 that ne
says Bliss asked for
Mr. Archbod testified that Mr.. Bliss
himself had knowledge that things
might have been different for the
Standard If they had given the ad-
ditional Sl50,0OO Bliss, according TO
Archbold, said that it was a matter Of
deep humiliation to him, but that he
was obliged to say that he had no in
fuence with Roosevelt
Mr.. Archbold verified Penrose's
charges that the Standard had re-
cHved assurances that Roosevelt
knew all about the 100000 contribu-
ton. Mr.. Archbold also declared that
the oil officials insisted upon as.
surances before they gave the money
that it would be acceptable and ZAP
preciated by Roosevelt"
Archbold testified that Mr.. Bliss had
assured him definitely that he had in
formed both the president and George
B, Cortelyou, chairman of the national
of the Standard Oil contri.
button. This statement is a direct
of Colonel Roosevelt and
Cortelyou, who say they knew nothing
Of any Standard Oil contributions.
Mr.. Arch5old testified that the
Standard had contributed to the
Roosevelt campaign because upon the
representation of Mr. Bliss they be
Iieyed the eeCtion of the Republican
candidate would pnuGarva tho bucinnae !