The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-08-23
ARCHbOlO SAYS HE
PAID S125,OOO
TO BLISS
Contributed Sum to Success OF
Republican Party In 1904
BLISS WANTED SOME MORE
Vice President Of The Standard Oil
Company Testfies Before Sen
ate Committee.

Washington, Aug. 23-John D.
Archbold tday appeared before the
Senate committee which is investi-
eating campaign contributions and
testified that in 1904 he was vice
president of the Standard Oil com
pany and that that corporation con-
tributed $125000 to the Republican
campaign fund in 1904. OF this
amount $25, 900 went to Senator Pen
rose and 100000 to Cornelius n.
Bliss, treasurer of the national com
mittee The money was in cash.
He testified later that Treasurer
Bliss asked the Standard Oil for an
additional contribution of $4,000
and when this was refused he treas
urer said that he thought the corpora
ton had made mistake. Archbold
testified that Bliss said that Roose-
welt knew of the contributions.
Archbold further testified that when
the Standard Oil Company was made
the object of prosecution during the
Roosevelt administration that he had
spoken to Bliss in relation to the
matter The campaign treasurer, Mr..
Archbold testified said that he was
not in favor with the president and
could do nothing.
WashingtCl, Aug. 29,-John d.
Archbold OF the Standard Oil Com
pany agreed yesterday to appear at
$50 this mo ming before the subcom-
mittee of the Senate investigating
campaign contributions. This an
nouncement followed day of bitter
political reCrimination on the floor
of the Senate. devoted to an effort
to show that former President Roose-
welt knew that funds contributed by
big corporations were used to help
elect him in 1904. The attack on
former President Roosevelt between
Senator Reed of Missouri, a Demo
crat, and Senator Penrose of Penn
sylvania, who presented a resolution
demanding an investigation of the
circumstances set forth in his state
ment to the Senate Wednesday, in
which he charged that 100000 of
Standard oil money went into the
1904 Roosevelt campaign fund, with
President Roosevelt's knowledge.
Senators Penrose, Reed and Will
liams each attacked Colonel Roose-
welt and Senator Poindexter of Wash
ington, a supporter of the new pro
gressive party, came to his defense
Senator Poindexter charged that a
combination of regular Republicans
and Democrats was at work to defame
Col. Roosevelt.
The decision to summon Mr.. Arch
bold at once was made by Senator
Clapp early in the day, before the
Interrogation of Senator Penrose by
Senator Reed began. He got into
communication with Mr.. Archbold in
New York by telephone and the
Standard oil official agreed to ap-
pear Senator Pomerene of Ohio was
designated to sit as Democratic mem
Der of the special committee until
the return of either Senator Lea or
Senator Paynter.
The debate beween Senators Reed
and Penrose was marked by the rea-
diness with which the latter replied
to Senator Reeds questions Early
in the afternoon the two senators
with Senator Smith of Maryland had
held short conference in one of the
rooms adjoining the Senate chamber
Senator Penrose, in answer to ques
tons from Senator Reed. declared
that according to his information
Col. Roosevelt knew that 500. 900 OF
Standard oil money had Deen receiv
ed and spent in 1904, before he wrote
a letter directing that any Standard
oil contributions be return l. A new
element was injected int the politi
cal imbroglio when Senator Penrose
suggested to Senator Reed: There
has come TO my notice quite a lot oil
information leading to the thought
that some 100000 was underwrit
ten by George w. Perkins and his
associates to nominate Mr.. Roosevelt
for the presidency of the regular Re
publican party in the present cam
paign for their own personal use
Evidence regarding this matter will
be submitted to the proper Senat,
committee for consideration. Tn,
ultimate object of this enormous fun,
was the control of the Republican
party in the interests of the elemen
reresented by Mr.. Perkins. The lare
est campaign fund in the history o
the United States for a nomination
was raised for Mr.. Roosevelt for tn,
primaries last winter"
Alleged contributions OF $4,000
each by the Missouri Pacific and tn,
Southern Pacific railroads to tn,
Roosevelt campaign fund in 100
were mentioned by Senators Reed an,
Penrose, Senator Penrose declarin,
that President Roosevelt was AWAY
in close touch with the national com
mittee managing his campaign. whei
the colloquay beween Senators Pen
rose and Reed was concluded. Sens
tor Reed made an extended speed
attacking Roosevelt, reopening tn