Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-10-05

Nov, about the Hartman busi-
ness said the colonel. II feel that
there ought not to be need for any
Intelligent man to ask any questions
after reading the letters wrote at
that time Here he took up his let.
tiers to Mr.. Hartman and defended the
use of the term practical men" In
the much discussed letter of Oct. IA.
1906. He said his effort was to get
practical men into politics.
when the use of the word 'prac-
teal Is taken to indicate some i'm.
proper motive on the part OF the
user, then think there is some moral
weakness in the man who makes the
accusation" declared the colonel EN-.
phatically. Then he read the letter
and declared that 1T was absolutely
incompatible with suggestion OF my
getting aid from Mr.. Hartman In any
way"
On Oct. 20, 1904, Col. Roosevelt said,
Mr.. Hartman had telephoned to Sec
rotary Loeb who told the president
Mr. Hartman wanted to see him
about the New York state campaign
which was running badly" The
colonel said he made appointment
through Secretary Loeb at Harriman's
! request mir. Loeb was present
throughout most all Of that interview.
There was no possibility of any mis-.
understanding. mention that because
I have seen that some we'll meaning.
but flabby persons have said there
might have been a misunderstanding
between Mr.. Hartman and myself"
Col. Roosevelt said at the time the
Hartman contribution was made
there was no doubt of the. national
ticket carrying New York, but that the
state was in difficulties.
Money Raised For state Campaign.
There was not one word spoken
by Mr.. Hartman and me having any
reference to the collection Of funds for
the national campaign. On the con-
trary, the entire conversation was to
the effect that the national campaign
was safe and that aid should be given
to the state campaign"
Col. Roosevelt said he had subse-
uuently had a talk with Mr.. Hartman
who favored the appointment Of for
mer Senator Depew as ambassador to
France, but he told Mr.. hartman that
other financial men were supporting
James H. Hyde, Mr.. Hartman began
to back water" Col. Roosevelt added
he made 1t clear that Mr.. Hyde was
too young for the important diploma
tic post and had not won his spurs"
II wish to call your attention to the
fact that Judge Duell and Mr.. Sheldon
both have testified that Mr.. Bliss
stated that the money was not raised
by Mr.. Hartman for the national cam
paign but that 1t was raised by Mr..
Bliss to help out Mr.. Hartman In
the state campaign. Mr. Loeb was
present during the interview between
Mr. Hartman and myself and heard
every word.
"Mr. Hartman asked me to get Mr..
Cortelyou and Mr.. Bliss to help raise
funds for the New York state cam
paign. I never asked Mr.. Hartman
directly or indirectly for a dollar to
help in that campaign or any other"
Col. Roosevelt said he wished to cor
rect his statement regarding his inter
view with Mr. Hartman.
! "Mr. Hartman told me-" he said,
"the national committee people had
plenty of money and told him knew
nothing about that. His request to
me was that ask the national COM
mittee to give money not that l ask
the national committee to help raise
money. He said the national commit
tee already had plenty Of funds"
COL Roosevelt then discussed Judge
Alton B. Parker's statement in 1904,
and declared that repeated mis-
statement charged to him, was that
he had said corporations did not con-
tribute to his 1904 campaign.
II never made the statement that
corporations had not contributed to
the republican party" he said, en-.
phatically. He said his recent letter
to Chairman Clapp and his open pub
lished statement" made 1t clear that
he had never denied that corporations
had contributed but denied specifically
that corporations had been 'blackmail.
ed into contributing or assured OF
some kind OF favor for contributing.
Col. Roosevelt said he had secured
the word Of Bliss and Cortelyou that
| the statement was q fact before he
made it. Corporation contributions
were not considered improper In 1904,
1900 or 1896, he said, and it was pub.
| lie knowledge that they were beins
made.
For an hour the colonel had talked
practically without interruption. Hall
dozen questions by Senator Clapp
started him, and thereafter there was
no opportunity for questions. Col
Roosevelt talked along, choosing hla
own subjects, stopping now and then
to go through his papers or to confer
with Mr.. Loeb and occasionally turn,
ing to the committee with an earnest /:
us that quite clear?" He gesticulated
frequently when he declared that
cornnrafinns had confrihnfnd - bofl,