Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1912-10-08
THE COLONEL
DECLARES HIS
INDEPENDENCE
Spends Three and Half Hours
Upon the Witness
Stand.
SAYS HE MADE NO PROMISES
Calls Attention to Fact That Test
lnoily Against Kim is
Hearsay.
SAYS HE MADE NO PROMISES

Washington, ID. u, Oct, D.
theodore Roosevelt appeared before
the senate investigating committee
yesterday at his own request TO an
swer the statements made in August
by John d. Archbold that the stand
ard Oil company had given $780,
900 to the republican campaign
fund in 1904, under the impression
that President Roosevelt knew OF
and approved acceptance of the con-
tribution,
Not only did Colonel Roosevelt
deny this, but he put into the for
NAL records of the committee a
sweeping denial that he had ever
solicited funds from any one while
president that any money had been
received by the 1904 campaign com
mittee with an express or implied
I promise OF favors from the admin
istration, that excessive funds had
been used in his 1894 or 1908 cam
paigns, or that money had ever been
improperly used in his behalf, so far
as he knew
In reference to the Hartman fund
of S240, 600, raised in 1904, Colonel
Roosevelt declared the statements OF
j. Pierpont Morgan, George r. Shell
don and others had fully corroborat-
ed his earlier statements that this
fund was raised expressly for the
) New York state campaign and had
not been solicited by him for his
own support in the fight for the re-
publican nomination that year
There was not one word spoken
by Mr.. Hartman or by me having
any reference TO any collection OF
funds for the national campaign,
he said, referring to his interview
with Mr.. Hartman in October
1904. Son the contrary, the re:
quest was from Mr.. Hartman that
inasmuch as we had ample funds for
the national campaign and as the
national campaign was safe, we
could help him out in the state cam
paign
The sessions Of the committee
were picturesque throughout. Colon,
4 eel Roosevelt arrived at the commit
tee room fully ten minutes before
the hour of opening. His progress
into the building was marked with
cheers from a throng that surgef
through the corridors.
Colonel Roosevelt was placed in {
chair on little square platform
from which he looked down upon
the table at which sat Senator:
Clapp, oliver, PomeYene and Payn
ter William Loeb, Jr:, his former
private secretary, now collector q
customs at New York, came will
him and occupied seat at his, left
The former president turned repeat
eddy to ask Mr. Loeb for facts ant
records, and at the end of his testi
mpny Mr.. Loeb himself took tht
stand to corroborate statement
Colonel Roosevelt had made.
Expressions that brought laugh
ter from committee and spectator
iRterspersed the colonel's remark
throughout the day. Once he said
Il have actually sent for, while
was president, trust magnates
labor leaders, socialists John l.. Sui
liyan, Battling Nelson" Uhere wal
a pauset and DR.. Lyman Abbott.
This was in response TO questions
as to the propriety OF his sendinE
Tor H. H. Hartman in 1904 to dis
euss matters of legislation or cam
oaign affairs.
If / am elected president, h
added, IF Mr.. Rockefeller or an!
one else wants TO see me, I'll Sc,
him
Again, when Senator Pomeren'
asked if some corporations did no
expect returns for their Rcontribu
lions. Colonel Roosevelt declared
emphaticalIy; As practical MAJ
Of high ideals, who has always en-
ieayored to put his high ideals int
practice, think any man who woul.
believe that he would get any con
sheraton from making any contri
button to me was either crook o.
a fool =
When the crowded committee
room was swept with a burst of APP
plause, the witness turned arounc
cried:
Stop that, please.
Asked whether the so-called "coa
trust had contributed to his cam