The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1912-10-10
ROOSEVELT DENIES
I. ASKING ANY FUNDS
Colonel Is Forceful and Emphatic
in Testimony Before Senators.
BITTER TALK ON PENRosE
Witness Firm In Belief That Bliss
Was innocent of "6lackmaliins'
Operations Charged In Con-
test of 1904.

Washington, Oct ST. asked M
man to contribute to the campaign
fund when was elected president o
the United States. and wish to relter
ate that Mr.. Bliss and Mr.. Cortelyot
both assured me that no promise nae
been made as return for any con
tribution. Neither they nor anyone
else having authority asked me TO ac'
or refrain from acting in any matter
while | was president because any
contribution had been made or WIN
held.
Gentlemen, could l put 1t more
sweepingly?"
In these words Theodore Roosevelt
summarized his testimony at the close
OF the first part of his hearing oetor'
The CLAMP committee of the senate IN
vestigating campaign funds. he was
again in the witness chair when the
committee resumed its work aftei
luncheon.
Ordered Return of Any oil Money
The colonel specifically denied thai
he ever asked for contributions 10 his
1904 campaign fund or that he hac
known of any contribution by j. r
Morgan. To these statements ne add
ed that he had ordered the return u
the Standard Oil company OF any con
tribution it might have made in 1904
that he had been assured by George b
Cortelyou only yesterday that III
knew of no such contribution and tina
he did not believe Cornelius \. Bliss
ever demanded a contribution IRON
John D Archbold or from any corpora
ton by any methods Of extortion.
Corporation Gifts Not Denied.
Colonel Roosevelt did not deny tina
corporations had contributed TO th'
1904 campaign. He said his letter.
and published statements always hat
acknowledged that fact, but he specl
fed that no such contributions hat
been obtained under any suggestion
that the administration would reward
the givers with special fayors.
The Progressive candidate for pres
ident was a forceful and emphati'
witness. Although direct from cam
paign tour of many weeks. he az
peared in perfect health and his test
mcny was punctuated by vigorou
SLABS upon the arm of his chair an
his knee. For two hours he talke
and was interrupted only half dozel
times with questions.
/ Colonel Roosevelts testimony brls
tied with characteristic statements.
Would Drive Penross From Seat.
Senator Penrose should be driver
from the senate" he declared, be
cause Of his acknowledged friendlines
with Standard Oil interests. Charlie
D. Hilles and Congressman Barthold
should be forced to prove their state
ments that the Roosevelt primar.
campaign funds this year had amount
ed to $4,000 or 100000, or shoul
be driven out of public life
Mr.. Roosevelt asserted that the com
mittee's activities thus far had beel
directed solely toward the Roosevelt
campaign funds and that no attention
had been paid to other candidates. III
was assured by Senator Clapp that tn
representatives of other candidate
all would be called before election
Finishes His Testimony.
Colonel Roosevelt was excused as I
witness before the Clapp committee a
4:O6 p. m At midnight he returned
to New York.
AS a practical man, colonel, aske'
Senator Pomerene, near the close 0
the examination, don't you beliey,
that at least some Of the big campaign
contributors expected returns"
The colonel grasped the arms of hi
chair and half rose. Speaking as ;
practical man OF high ideals, who hat
tried TO put these ideals into practice
| believe that when ! ten a man b.
will receive no return, If he then in
sists upon giving and expecting re
turn, he is either a crook or a fool"
A wave OF applause swept the com
mittee room and Chairman Clap
banged his gayel.
-. -. - N..Nn--@.I@~ 40 |.