Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-10-01
Son of Treasurer Of Repub-
lican Campaign in 1904
Gave Testimony to Inves-
tigating Body Today.
ROOSEVELT LETTER
PLACED ON RECORD
Senate Committee on Cam
paign Contributions En-
lightened on Financial
Matters.

Matters.
washington, D. c., Sept 3O-The
aenata subcommittee renewal of the
investigation Of presidential campaign
contributions today marked the peglh-
ning If hearings that are expected to
hrino many Of the leading ananciers,
nnlitfcians and candidates to the wit
ness stand during the next TWO
months.
Col. Theodore Roosevelt and ]. Pier.
nont Morgan are scheduled to step
into the spot light later this week, the
financier appearing THURSDAY ana eol'
Roosevelt on Friday.
Bliss Gives Testimony. fB
Cornelius N. Bliss, Jr., son OF the
treasurer of the republican campaign
committee in 1904, was called to pro-
dnca any papers in the files of his
fathers estate bearing on the charge
that Col Roosevelt acquiesced IN the
acceptance of 100000 from the Stan
dard OH interests in 1904 and IN q
further demand for $150,O0O from the
same source.
senators Clapp, oliver, Paynter and
pomerene were present when the com
Ynittee went into session. Mr.. BLISS
\ said he was an executor of his father 8
\ estate and had /, SOLE custody Yol ms
fathers papers.
"Haye you found any papers bear
ing on the campaign funds handled Dy
YOUR father?" asked Chairman Ciapp.
M. Bliss placed in evidence re-
nort from the auditor who examined
His fathers accounts when he re-
signed as treasurer of the republican
committee.
He said the records did not show
any contribution by John D. ArchDold
or the Standard Oil Co. Members OF
the committee examined the records
No names OF contributors to- the
1904 campaign fund appeared In the
records. Mr.. Bliss was asked to read
his fathers letter of resignation to
Harry s. New, which also had been
placed in evidence.
The letter set forth that the late Mr..
bliss had held as confidential the
names Of contributors and the amount
Of their contributions in the last four
presidential campaigns in which
, have acted as treasurer"
II have presistently refused to make
these reports public the letter read,
because regard the relations OF
campaign contributions to party COM
mittees as confidential. believe the
right to refuse to make public these
contributions is as sacred as the right
of man to cast secret ballot IN the
election"
The letter added that the republi-
can committee receipts in 1900 had
been "a trifle below $3,OOO,OOO";; IN
1896, $s,5oo,Oo0; and in 1892, $l,6oo,-
900.
Letters Made Public.
The witness said he had discovered
three other letters of personal and
more or less intimate nature" These
he handed to Chairman Clapp. One
was from President Roosevelt. another
from William H. Taft, as secretary OF
war. The committee members read
the letters privately. Senator Clapp
had them placed in the records as ex-
hints. They were not read aloud
and their contents were not divulged
At the time. Mr. Bliss said he had no
other documents and no recollection
/ Of any conversation with his father
which would throw any light on the
subjects under investigation.
Later, however, the contents of two
OF the letters became known. That
from Secretary Taft, written May 6,
1904. urged the late Mr.. Bliss to take
the Craftsmanship saying President
roosevelt was "most anxious" for it,
adding that as chairman, Mr.. Bliss
would "secure the confidence of those
from whom contributions may be ex-
pected." The letter from President
Roosevelt dated the day before urged
him to take the place.
Under examination by Senator Payn-
ter the witness said that his father
had told him he allowed the books
of the treasurer's Office of the repub-
lican national committee to be de-
stroyed because he, the elder Bliss, be.
lieved the records useless. They con-
tanned he said, the names and
amounts from various contributors.
The witness did not know who had
destroyed them. The witness could
not remember having talked with his
father about the much discussed $780,
900 Standard Oil Co.'s contribution.
Mr.. Bliss said that he, since his faith
er's death, had destroyed a great many
Of the papers left by the elder Bliss.
s.I know OF nothing that DESTROYED
CONTINUED on Page 81