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

matters of legislation or campaign af-
fairs.
II | am elected President" he add
ed, IF Mr.. Rockefeller or any, one else
wants to see me, I'll see him."
Again when Senator Pomerene ask
ed if some corporations did not ex-
pect returns for their contributions,
Col. Roosevelt declared emphaticaIly:
las a practical man of high ideals.
who has always endeavored to put his
high ideals into practice, / think any
man who would believe that he would
get any consideration from making
any contribution to me was either u
crook or a fool"
And when the crowded committee
room was swept with a burst of APP
Ilause the witness turned around and
cried: stop that, please
Asked whether the so-called Coal
Trust" had contributed to his cam
paigns, he replied:
MY dear sir, after the revelations
that have been made here. / wouldn't
be surprised at anyone having con-
tributed" He had said previously that
he had no idea Mr.. Morgan had con-
tributed To his 1904 campaign until
the financier testified yesterday.
The only reference to the use of
money in the Progressive campaign.
this year, was brought in by Col.
Roosevelt himself with a denial that
Ormsby McHarg had improperly used
funds in securing Southern delegates.
Il saw the different gentlemen who
We're interested in my campaign, both
at Chicago and before Chicago" the
colonel said and ! explained with
the utmost expictness to them that l
would not tolerate any effort of any
kind being made by the use of mon
ey or the offer OF patronage or the
offer of any consideration whatever.
to get 4 delegate for me of any kind,
or te description.
A letter dated March 5, 1912, from
Mr.. McHarg was presented to the
committee by Col. Roosevelt. Mr.. Me-
Harg, who handled contest cases for
Col. Roosevelt at the Chicago eonven-
ton, declared that mo reputable man
in the United States can face me and
unblushingly say that l made prom
Use of patronage, or money or made
any sort of an improper offer to in
fiuenee him to secure delegates for
you or do anything else of political
character for You"
Col Roosevelt insisted that the COM
mittee should summon at once the
representatives of all other eandi-
dates.
Il suggest very strongly, he said
referring TO Messrs. Hilles and Bart
holdt. that those gentlemen be
brought Immediately before the COM
mittee and required to make their
statements good. / draw very little
distinction between the inquiry of
breaking the eighth and breaking the
ninth commandment Thou shall not
steal is one. and Thou shalt not bear
false witness against thy neighbor'
is the other, and any man who breaks
either commandment is guilty of in
fanny.
III Mr.. Hilles and Mr.. Bartholdt
can prove their assertion / want to
know it. If they can't, they should
not only be required to apologize, but
they should both of them Immediately
be driven out of public life
Col. Roosevelt presented to the COM
mittee a letter, he had found in his
files, written Sept q. 1908. to Treas
urer George r. Sheldon of the Re-
publican National committee, reiter-
ing corporation contributions. 1t
read:
MY Dear Sheldon: s4stk'Af's
II have Been informed that you, or
some one on behalf of the National
committee have requested contribu-
tions both from Mr.. Archbold and
Hartman If this is true wish to
enter a most earnest protest and to
hat ~, i,.Ie nj
should such contributions not be So
licited, but If rendered should be re-
fused; and If they have been accept
ed they should Immediately be re-
turned. I am not the candidate but
l am the Head of the Republican adj
ministration, which is an issue in
this campaign, and I protest most ear
nestly against men whom we are
prosecuting being. asked to contrib
ute to elect q President, who will APP
point an attorney general to continue
these prosecutions. Four years ago.
Mr.. Corteiyou returned, as / am in
formed, any money forwarded by any
one who was being prosecuted or pro-
ceeded against by the national gov
eminent or who had any personal in
terest whatever in any matter pend
ing before the administrator. AZ
that time / was informed that mon
ey had been contributed to the ma
tional campaign by representatives. of
the Standard Oil Co, and wrote the
following letters:
Ulere followed President Roose-
velts letters to Cortelyou dated Oct.
26 and 81, 1904, in which he instruct
ed the chairman TO return any con-
tribution that might have been made
by the Standard Oil Coz
Il hold that the reasons that then
obtained are now far stronger" the
letter read. Il would rather see us
defeated than receive one dollar from
the sources / have mentioned; and |
regard it as an imperative duty OF
the most binding kind without an
hours delay, to retract any such re-
quest If 1t has been made, and TO re-
turn any such contribution if II has
been received The acceptance of a
dollar from such source would do
more to hurt Mr.. Taft than all the
\ hatn