Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-10-05

| anu the SECRETARY, Win lHe plS Silp
between his knees, seated himself oe-
side him.
You were candidate for Presi-
| dent in 1902" asked Senator Clapp.
Il was" answered the Colonel.
shortly.
George B. Cortelyou was chairman
of the committee that year,"
"He was"
And Cornelius N. Bliss was treas
urer?"
He was"
Senator Clapp asked Col Roosevelt
if his attention had been called TO Ger
| tain statements made by John D.
Arehbold 1T has he replied
Senator Clapp asked the colonel what
he knew about the Archbold eentri-
button at the time it was said TO have
been made.
The colonel asked permission to in
clude in his answer the letter sent to
MIR. Clapp, already published, denying
that he knew of any Standard Oil con-
trihution in 1904 at the time it was
| made.
"In the first place, gentlemen" he
said. ''since | was elected Governor Of
New York about IA years ago, ] have
written and signed about 100000 let
tiers so it is not possible at once to re.
call all the letters / have written on
any given subject.
Looking through my letter book
since | wrote my recent letter to Ser
ator Clapp | have found two other
letters hearing on the subject Of cam
paigs1 contributions
"One WAS the letter to Cornelius n.
Bliss in 1906, which II understand was
recently given to Your committee; the
other a letter written to George r.
Sheldon in 1905"
Col. Roosevelt asked for his letter
book. He finally found the letter he
sought, and handed it to Senator
ClapD, who had it placed in the rec
ORD IS an exhibition. At the chair
mans request Col. Roosevelt read the
letter, dated Sept. q, 1903. and adj
dressed to George r. Sheldon. treasur
er of the Republican National commit
tee. 1t was practically as follows:
L am informed that you or someone
on behalf of the National committee.
has been soliciting contributions from
corporations, particularly from John
D. Archbold and the Standard Oil Co.
II this is true / wish to enter a yigor
Gus protest and say that not only
should such contribution be refused,
but that if made it should be at once
returned
The letter set forth that -four years
ago Mr.. Gortelyou refused all eontri-
buttons from corporations which were
being prosecuted or We're likely to be
prosecuted. and that Col. Roosevelt
wished the same course followed in
the 1908 campaign.
Col Roosevelt also read the letter of
Oct. &c, 1904. to Chairman Cortelyou.
in which he directed that if any money
had been contributed by the Standard
Oil Co or Mr. Archbold, it should be
returned at once.
This letter, he said, had been partly
quoted in his recent letter to Senator
Clapp. 1t was an emphatic declaration
to Mr.. Cortelyou that TIVE cannot. un-
der any circumstances. afford to take
contribution that might be construed
as placing us under an obligation"
Col. Roosevelt said that he had also
found that on Oct. "a, 1904, he had
sent IAN extra telegram to Chairman
Cortelyou. which he has only recently
fount. IL was sent from oyster Bay
and referred to his letter to Mr.. Cor
telyou, demanding return of the Stan
dard Oil contribution.
Col. Roosevelt offered the committee
the originals of the letters he had sent
to Chairman Clapp or had read into
the record.
Now in regard to the Hartman
fund" began Senator Clapp.
Col. Roosevelt interrupted and asked
to explain the charges that have been
made, in regular order, and Senator
CIapp acquiesced.
There is no testimony against me
in the form of hearsay evidence the
colonel said. "Hearsay statements of
men who are dead
Mr.. Archbold and Mr.. Penrose
purport to give statements of what
Mr.. Bliss had to say; Mr.. Bliss Is
dead, MIR. Odell and the other gentle
men refer to statements made by Mr.
Hartman, who is dead"
Col. Roosevelt said that he had not
intended to bring his former private
secretary into the controversy, but
that rs the committee had already de-
termined to call, VIM. Loeb. .yr. he
had asked him to bear out his state
ments.
MAY SPEAK VI Il itllSE puDtiSlGd
in Hearsts magazine from Cong. Sib-
ley?" asked the Colonel, and then
went on:
1t is a letter which in substance
states that Sibley came to see me
and spoke to met about seeing Mr..
Archbold and l said | would be de
lighted" to see him and asked Mr.
Sibley to bring Mr.. Archbold to lunch.
| don't remember ever having talked
to Mr.. Sibley about that matter. but
it is very possible l may have done
so. Any invitation that l may have
extended was the result of a request
by Mr. Sibley. l always saw men
brought to me by a representative or
senator"
The Colonel spoke very slowly.
while I was President" he said
leaning forward, .'if any man, trust
maaaate, socialist, lawyer or clergy
man, had any business with me and
wanted to see me, l gladly saw him.
If | am elected President, month
hence, if Mr. Rockefeller or any one
else wants to see me, I'll see him, ans
moreover, if l have anything to ask