The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-10-05
TESTIMONY FROM TEDDY

In Washington, yesterday morning.
ExPresident Roosevelt took the wit
ness chair before the Clapp committee,
which Is investigating the source and
disposal OF campaign funds.
The principal part of Colonel
RoOsevelts examination before the
committee was to be concerning the
100000 Standard Oil contribution TO
the republican national campaign
fund Of 1904. John d. Archbold has
testified that he made such contri-
button to the late Cornelius " Bliss:
George r. Sheldon. treasurer OF the
committee in 1908 and this year. also
has testified that Mr. Bliss records
showed such a contribution; George
il. COrtelyOu. chairman Of the com
mittee in 1904, has sworn that no such
contribution was received and Colonel
Roosevelt has said that he gave re-
peated and express instructions to
both Mr. Bliss and Mr.. Cortelyou that
# such a contribution were made it
was to be Immediately returned.
Witnesses have told the committee
that they knew Of no record Of such
contribution having been returned and
Charles II. pUell, assistant treasurer
for the committee in 1904. told the
committee yesterday he did not believe
Mr.. Bliss kept information Of any con-
tributions from Mr.. Cortelyou.
al asked no man to contribute to the
campaign fund when l was elected
president of the United States. and L
wish to reiterate that Mr.. Bliss and
Mr.. Cortelyou both assured me that no
promise had been made as a return
for any contributions. Neither they
nor anyone else having authority ask
ed me to act or refrain from acting in
any matter while I was president. be
cause any contribution had been made
or withheld.
Gentlemen, could l put it more
sweepingly?"
In these words the colonel summa-
rized his testimony to the Senate com
mittee Investigating campaign funds.
The colonel specifically denied that he
ever asked for contributions to his
1904 campaign fund: or that he had
known of any contribution by ]. p.
Morgan. He declared he had ordered
the return to the Standard Oil Com
pany of any contribution it might
have made in 1904; that he had been
assured by George r. Cortelyou "only
yesterday that he knew Of no such
contributions and that he did not be-
manded a contribution from John d.
Archbold or from any corporation by
any methods Of eXtortion.
Colonel Roosevelt did not deny that
corporation had contributed to the
1904 campaign. He says his letters
and published statements had always
Acknowledged that fact but he speci-
fed that no such contributions had
ever been obtained under suggestion
ahat the administration would reward
the givers with special favors
The former presidents testimony
bristled with characteristic state
ments.
Senator Penrose should be driven
from the Senate he declared. be
cause of his acknowledged friendl-
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 si,OOO,OOO,
or should be driven out of public life"
He declared, as had Senator Dixon,
his campaign manager, Wednesday,
that the Senate committees activities
had thus far been directed solely to-
ward the Roosevelt campaign funds
ana Judl no attention ndu DeSn Ddlu 10
other candidates.
He was assured by Mr.. Clapp that
the representatives of other candi-
dates would be called before cleo
ton"
Colonel Roosevelt asked to explain
"the charges that have been made" in
regular order
Senator Clapp acquiesced.
There is no testimony against me
except in the form of hearsay evil
dence," the colonel said; "hearsay
statements of men that are dead. Mr.
Archbold and Mr.. Penrose purport to
give statements of what Mr.. Bliss had
to say; Mr.. Bliss is dead. Mr.. Odell
and the other gentlemen refer to
statements made by Mr.. Hartman.
who is dead.
while l was president if any man,
trust magnate. socialist. lawyer or
clergyman had any business with me
and wanted to see me, l gladly saw
him. And if l thought there was any
thing to be gained from the stand
point Of the public service in seeing
any man then. without waiting for
him to ask l would send for him. If
L am elected president, a year hence if
Mr.. Rockefeller or any one else wants
~ see me- ii see MIN anu moreover,
If 1 have anything to ask for the pub
lie service from Mr.. Rockefeller. J.
Pierpont Morgan or anyone else, I'll
send for him"
Colonel Roosevelt declared that dur
ing his administration ne had sent for
James j. Hill, the railroad magnate
Il think 1 sent for ]. Pierpont Nor
gan" said the colonel AT least
saw Mr.. Morgan in regard % the cur
reney question At this moment some
of the same newspapers that are car
rying comments on the supposed fact
that l sent for Mr. Archbold" con-
tinued Colonel Roosevelt, ARE COM
menting on the fact that 1 also sent
for socialist. Mr.. Bruiere. to help me
draw up my platform.
AS for Mr.. Bruiere.' he added,
they are right. If there is any man
from whom l think l can get anything
of value to the people. l will send for
him. 1 have sent for trust magnates
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