River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1912-10-10
NEVER ASKED FUNDS
ROOSEVELT MAKES STRONG DE-
NAL ON STAND BEFORE
SENATE QUIZ.
WOULD DRIVE PENR0SE OUT
Ex-President Says He Did Not Be-
IieVe Bliss Ever Demanded Con-
tribution From acknowledgements
ton Gifts Are Not Denied.

Washington, Oct. Tn the follow
ing words Theodore Roosevelt sum-
married his testimony here Friday at
the close of the first part of his hear
ing before the Clapp committee of the
senate investigating campaign funds:
Il asked no man to contribute to the
campaign fund when / was elected
president of the United States, and 1
wish to reiterate that Mr.. Bliss and
Mr. Cortelyou both assured me that
no promise had been made as return
for any contribution. Neither they nor
anyone else having authority asked
me to act or refrain from acting in
any manner while was president be-
cause any contribution had been made
or withheld.
Gentlemen, could l put it more
sweepingly?"
The colonel specifically denied that
he ever asked for contributions to his
1904 campaign fund or that he had
known Of any contribution by j. P.
Morgan. To these statements he
added that he had ordered the return
to the Standard Oil company of any
contribution it might have made in
1904; that he had been assured by
George B. Cortelyou "only yesterday
that he knew of no such contribution
and that he did not believe Cornelius
N. Bliss ever demanded a contribu-
ton from John D. Archbold or from
any corporation by any methods of
extortion.
Colonel Roosevelt did not deny that
corporations had contributed to the
1904 campaign. He said his letters
and published statements always had
acknowledged that fact, but he speci-
fed that no such contributions had
been obtained under any suggestion
that the administration would reward
the givers with special favors.
Senator Penrose should be driven
from the senate" he declared, be
cause Of his acknowledged friendli-
ness with Standard Oil interests.
Charles D. Hilles and Congressman
Bartholdt should be forced to prove
their statements that the Roosevelt
primary campaign funds this year had
amounted to 100000 or $4,000, 900
or should be driven out of public life. :"
Washington, Oct. 5.-The star wit
ness-and willing one-J. Pierpont
Morgan appeared before the senate
campaign fund investigating commit
tee Thursday. He testified:
That he contributed $150,000 to the
Republican war chest in 1904 in two
payments of 100000 and $4,000, the
latter in cash.
That no contribution was asked by
Roosevelt In 1904, and that he had no
communication with anyone at the
White House on the subject.
That his contribution was due to
fear of the effect Democratic victory
in New York would have on the coun-
try.
That he contributed $4,000 to the
Republican national fund in 1908.
That he made no contribution to
the preconvention campaign of any
presidential candidate this year.
Charles H. Duell followed Mr.. Nor
gan on the stand. Mr.. DUEL, who in
1904 was assistant treasurer OF the
Republican national committee, knew
of no contribution by John D. Arch
bold under that name. He knew there
had been several contributions of
100000 each and that the insurance
companies each had given $4,000"