The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1912-08-29
GLAD
HE'S PICTURED IFS
OIL TRUSTS FOE

effect, told them afterwards that if
they had contributed the administra-
ton would not have proceeded
against them for violating the law,
for this was all the administration
did.
This is a wicked assault on a dead
man, whose high standing and pro-
blty was such that no human being
who was himself honest would ever
impute evil motives to him. Mr.. Bliss
was incapable of conduct such as Mr..
Archbold imputes to him, and ] can
not too strongly denounce the base
ness OF making such an attack upon
an honorable man who is now dead
and whom Mr.. Archbold never ven
tured to assail while living. Mean
while Mr.. Archbold shows perfectly
clearly as published reports say, that
his corporation had contributed in
order to get value for it's gift and that
the gift was made with the eXpecta-
ton of receiving a proper considera-
ton.
The Washington Meeting.
Il do not for a moment believe that
Mr.. Bliss made any such remarks to
Mr.. Archbold as Mr.. Archbold states
that he and the late Ii. III. Rogers
visited me at the White House and
that then remarked that there had
been some criticism about campaign
contributions. This is a %falsehood.
Neither on that occasion MOI on n
other occasion was one word said
either by me to Mr.. Archbold or by
Mr.. Archbold to me about campaign
contributions.
Mr.. Rogers and Mr.. Archbold call
ed on that occasion to protest against
any government action being taken
against the Standard Oil company.
This was n of a number of calls
which Mr.. Archbold made on me to
try to prevent action against the Stan
dard Oil company by the bureau of
corporations under the department of
the interior and by the department of
justice. If Mr.. Archbold had really
believed that Mr.. Bliss had told him
that | knew OF any contributions by
Standard Oil or had felt that he was
je%opardized by having refused to
make a contribution or was entitled
to immunity for having made one he
would certainly in one of these calls
have said as much. He never broach-
ed the subject.
III merely said, over and over
again, that Mr.. Garfield and II. X.
Smith We're treating him unfairly and
he denied again and again that the
Standard Oil company got any rebat-
|es or did anything that was not abb
solutely proper. And he would keep
on with these denials, even when /
would tell him that had in my pos
session reports from the bureau of
corporations and the secretary of the
interior which conclusively showed
that the Standard Oil had been TAX
ing rebates on the largest possible
scale.
False in One. False i'm All.
"lnasmuch as Mr.. Archbold did not
tell the truth in his Interview with
me, ] have no doubt that he does Tot
tell the truth about the man who is
dead and whom, living, he never dar-
ed to accuse as he o him.
Mr.. Bliss never spoke to me about
asking for or receiving a contribution
from any one and he never before or
after the election said anything to me
my 1CIldQtl lOMdINS
tons except to say that he knew that
L would act fairly and justly towards
all; and told him that | should
never dream of acting any other way.
MI. Bliss nor any one else
even suggested or limited at in any
shap or way the idea that [ should
take or refrain from taking any act
ION in connection with any
non because OF any contribution
Whatever. Specifically, he never said
N word to me about any contribu-
ton from the Standard Oil
ton and never said n word to me
about proceeding or not proceeding
against the Standard Oil corporation.
/ saw Mr.. Archbold again and again
the department of justice was.
contemplating proceeding against
him (always at Mr.. Archbold's re-
quest. OF course) and listened to all
had to SAY and heard him repeat
the same statements over and over
again when | was entirely convinced
that they were false and directed the
attorney general TO proceed only
when 1t had become evident that Mr..
Archbold a nothing to tell me
would give any warrant for
directing the attorney general not
to act.
During all this time neither Mr..
nor any one else ever hint
to me that the Standard Oil people
had contributed or that there was any
expectation by any human being that
| should show favor to the Standard
Oil.
The Cause of Enmity.
"Moreover, let it be remembered
that long before the campaign of
1904 | had a sharp run with the
Oil and had to show them
Just what they could expect from me.
was when We We're passing the
bureau of corporations act. | found
out that the Standard Oil people
we're opposing the passage OF the act.
That two of their representatives
had come down 10 Washington to
oppose it and that they had sent
kilograms to various senator's and
representatives against it. | got hold
of these kilograms, published them
and forced the bill through.
MIR. Archbold shows his animus
in his rather ludicrous complaint that
Africa never saw anything