The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-10-04
1T.R.O .ONSTAND
Colonel Roosevelt Testifies Be-
fore the CIapp Committee.
He Talks Two Hours Almost
without Interruption.
HE ANTICIPATES QUESTIONS
And Replies to Them Before
They Are Asked.
Denies All knowledge of Any
Standard Oil Contribution.
HE ATTACKS HIS ACCUSERS
Declares Penrose Should Be
Turned Out of Senate.
Appears With a Big Grip Full
of Documents.
And Replies to Them Before
They Are Asked.
Denies All knowledge of Any
Standard Oil Contribution.
He ATTACKS HIS ACCUSERS
Declares PenrOSe Should BE
Turned Out of Senate.
ADpears With a Big Grip Full
of Documents.

Washington, Oct. fl asked no man
to contribute to the campaign funu
when I was elected president OF the
United States and I wish to reiterate
that Mr.. Bliss and Mr.. Cortelyou ooth
assured me that no promise had been
made as a return for any contribution
Neither they nor anyone else having
authority asked me to act or to refrain
from acting in any matter while l was
president because any contribution had
been made or withheld.
Gentlemen could I put it more
sweepinglv?" In these words Col.
Roosevelt summarized his testimony
today at the close of the first part OF
his hearing before the Clapp committee
OF the senate investigating campaign
funds.
The colonel specifically denied that he
ever asked for contributions to the
1904 campaign fund or that he had
known of any contribution by J. T.
ments Col. Roosevelt added again that
he had ordered the return to the
Standard Oil company of any contribu-
ton it had made in 1904, that he had
been assured by George b. CorteIyou
f'only Yesterday" that he know of no
such contributions and that he did not
believe Cornelius N. Bliss had ever de
nanded a contribution from John D.
Archbold or from any corporation by
any methods of extortion-
Col Roosevelt did not deny that
corporations had contributed to the 1904
campaign. He said his letters and pub
iished statements always acknowledges
that fact, but he specified that no such
contributions had ever been obtained
Under any suggestion that the admin
f-fr ard he
special favors.
The Progressive candidate was "A
forceful and emphatic witness. AL
though from a campaign tour of many
weeks. he appeared in perfect health
and his testimony was punctured Dy
vigorous slaps upon the arm of his
chair and his knee. For two hours he
talked and was interrupted but half d
dozen times with questions.
I had an explicit understanding with
Mr.. Bliss and Cortelyou that no money
vas to be accepted if any kind of con-
ditions were expressed or implied as to
It's receipts and the money was to be
spent in any improper way such as the
buying of votes.
Mr.. Cortelyou told me of two in
stances of his returning contributions
One of these was from a gentleman
who after making a large cor -ribution
mentioned that he would like to be =
candidate for minister to Belgium
co trust and the Independent Tobacco
Dealers
The Days Proceedings.
Washington, Oct 4.-CoI Roosevelt
arrived here early today to be the star
witness before the Clapp committee of |
the senate committee investigating |
campaign funds. The coloneTs train
his party he passed through the rail-
road station greeted by a few lead |
ers of the Progressive party here and |
went to breakfast at a hotel within |
sight of the White House.
The principal part of Col. RooseveIts |
examination before the committee was |
to be concerning the 100000 Standard |
Oil contribution to the Republican ma /
tional campaign fund of 1904 John D. |
Archbold has testified that he made |
such a contribution to the late Cor /
nelius n. Bliss; George r. Sheldon. |
this year also. has testified that Mr. /
Bliss records showed such a contri- |
button George B. Cortelyou, chairman |
of the committee in 1904 has sworn /
that no such contribution was received |
and Col. Roosevelt has said he gave |
repeated and express instructions to |
both Mr.. Bliss and Mr.. Cortelyou that |
# such a contribution were made il
was to be Immediately returned. Wit
nesses have told the committee they
knew of no record OF such a cOntribu-
ton having been returned and Chas |
H. Dueu, assistant treasurer of the
committee in 1904 told the committee
yesterday he did OF believe Mr. Bliss
kept information of any contributions
from Mr.. Cortelyou.
If Col. Roosevelt's examination by
the committee is concluded in COM
paratively short time, he expects to
visit the National Museum to look
over some of the trophies of his At
rican hunt mounted there.
Takes Breakfast With Loeb.
Col. Roosevelt ate breakfast with
William Loeb. Jr., formerly his pri-
vate secretary and now collector of
customs at New York before going
10 the senate Office building where the
hearings of the committee are held
Several hundred people were lined
ID in the corridors of the building
wo hours before the time set for the
le4 ring. hoping to get into the little
committee room with its capacity for
bout 100 Hundreds of others packed
he doorways and surrounded the
building to see Colonel Roosevelt en-
er. Seats had been reserved by
-ha frrnan Clapp for George Reid,
AiISfraIian high commissioner and