The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1912-08-27


who was highly honest would ever
impute evil motives to him. Mr.. Bliss
was incapable of conduct such az Mr..
Archbold imputes to him.
Had object In View.
Moreover. Mr.. Archbold shows
perfectly clearly. as published re.
ports say. that his corporation had
contributed in order to get value for
its sift and that the gift was made
with the expectation OF receiving i'm.
proper consideration.
II do not for one moment believe
that Mr. Bliss made any such re.
marks TO Mr.. Archbold az Mr.. Arch.
bold says. For example. MIR. Arch.
bold states that he and the late H.
H. Rogers visited me at the White
House and that then remarked to
them that there had been some criti.
cisms about campaign contributions.
This Is q falsehood. Neither on that
occasion nor on any other occasion
was one word said either BY me to
Mr. Archbold or by Mr.. Archbold to
me about campaign contributions.
"Mr. Rogers and Mr.. Archbold call.
Cd on that occasion to protest against
any government action being taken
against the Standard OIL company.
This was one Of a number OF calls
which Mr.. Archbold made on me to
try to prevent action against the
Standard Oil company by the bureau
Of corporations under the department
Of the interior and by the department
Of Justice.
III Mr.. Archbold had really believ.
ed that Mr.. Bliss had told him that |
knew Of any contribution by Stand.
ard OIL or had felt that he was jeop-
ardized by having refused to make a
contribution or was entitled to i'm.
munity for having made one, he
would certainly in one of these calls
have said as much. He never broach.
ed the subject.
Gle merely said over and over
again that Mr. Garfield and Mr.. II.
X. Smith were treating him unfairly
and he denied. again and again. that
the Standard Oil ever got any rebates
or ever did anything that was not
absolutely proper. And he would
keep on with these denials even
when | would tell him that I had in
my possession reports from the bu.
reau OF corporations and the secre.
tary OF the interior which conclusive
ly showed that the Standard OIL had
been taking rebates on the largest
possible scale.
'Inasmuch as Mr.. Archbold did not
tell the truth In his interview with
me. I have no doubt that he does no.
tell the truth about the man who Is
dead. and who living he never dared
to accuse az he now accuses him.
Neither Mr.. Bliss nor anyone else
ever suggested or hinted at, in any
shape or way. the idea that I should
refrain from taking any action In
connection with any corporation be.
cause Of any contribution whatsoever.
Specifically. he never said one
word to me about any contribution
from the Standard OIL corporation
and never said one word to me about
proceeding or not proceeding against
the Standard OIL corporation.
Let It be remembered that long
before the campaign OF 1904, | had
had sharp run-in with the Standard
OIL. and had shown them Just what
they could expect from me. This was
when we were passing the bureau OF
corporations act. found out that
the Standard Oil people were oppos.
Ing the passage Of the act that two
Of their representatives had come
down to Washington to oppose It,
and that they had sent kilograms to
various senators and representatives
against 1t. got hold OF these tele.
grams. published some OF them, and
forced the bill through.
Shows His Animus.
"Mr. Archbold shows his an nus
In his rather ludicrous complaint that
darkest Africa never saw anything
like the persecution OF the Standard |
OIL corporation He proceeds. unwit. |
Iinsly. to pay Messrs Garfield and
Smith the highest praise by his bit.
lcrness to them for their action.
II do not wonder that ne feels bit |
lerly. The action In question dis |
closed all kinds Of improper prac.
Ices en- the Fart CT the Standard OIL |
company and a colossal series OF re.
bates. A sop was nut to the rebates
because OF the action Of the people
IN my administration and through
The action fine was imposed by
Judge Lands on the Standard Oil |
which. II It had not been re-
gersed by the appellate division,
Tould really have made that corpora
Ion smart, and even as II was It
orced them to act properly.
ut seems to me that thu course Of
Mr. Penrose In this mater and the
bringing In Of Mr.. Archbold to testify |
'ear close anslogies to what In the
New York police situation AT this
line would be called a frane.up. /
nd this 10 shown by the questions
which Mr.. Archbold is asked and
hose he is not asked.
~ feel that the country has a right