The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1912-08-23

Archbold, and he replied
"I never met Mr.. Archbold until long
after I had left here and gone to New
York. unless may have met him
among the thousands Of others who
came during a long series Of years to
Washington"
Mr.. Cortelyou's testimony before the
committee also contains this question
and reply:
Senator Lea--In the questions that were
asked you by the chairman relative to
the contributions by various so-calied
trusts--questlons that have been asked
very often before-your answer includes,
whO1 you say that there were no moneys
contributed by any OF these ORGANIZATIONS,
also any of the directors and officers Of
those institutions, does It?
Corporations Weren't barred.
Mr.. Cortelyou-f do not want to be un-
derstood as saying that no money was
contributed In any such cases. l simply
want to be understood as saying that
do not recall.
No line was drawn as against contri-
buttons by corporations. 1t was regarded
then as entirely legitimate to receive the
contributions OF corporations unless In
such instances as ! have cited someteins
appeared to make II improper. That was
not a personal preference on my part. be-
cause my personal preferences on taking
charge OF that campaign were more Of
theoretical that practical nature.
In other words, l was not seeker for
the place, and had pretty radical Views
as to how a campaign should be conducted
But 1t was impossible for me- selected In
the hurried way in which I was selected
and taken out of a department where
wanted to continue the work OF its organ
ization, to take up new work Of which
I had no previous warning that ] was
to take up and no opportunity for any
sort OF education of the people through
series of months as to the different
methods OF raising funds for campaign.
I would have been very glad at that
time to have had any personal credit that
might have attached to n scheme OF pub
licity where II would relieve the cam
paign management OF some of the crit-
cism that had been passed upon It. and
that Is passed upon any campaign man
agemcnt, and which is inseparable from
that kind OF work. but would have been
a very poor commander OF the forces OF
that campaign IL l had undertaken some
thing that | was morally certain would
not have yielded a cent. relatively. to
conduct a national campaign.
A friend TO whom Mr.. Cortelyou talked
said that he made this statement about
contributions:
no cleaner campaign has ever been
conducted than that OF 1904, and there
were no corrupt practices acts at that
time either. Whatever else they say
about us they cannot say We were not
absolutely frank in our campaign col
lections
Il did not call a business man here from
st. Louis, ask him II he was respectable
and then tell him to be careful to collect
nothing from dives and saloons. l knew
the men around me were respectable and
of the highest standing, and the only
| gave them as to the money
was, Go out and get it
No Discussion with Bliss.
III I ever had any talk with Mr.. Bliss
as to the campaign funds it was only
in the most casual way, such as on an
occasion when we were planning to make
a large expenditure and / would ask him
il we had enough money on hand to pay
for it. If we didn't | simply postponed
that matter for a time.
NO man stood higher in the public
esteem than Mr. Bliss. and / have full
in everything he did. He
wanted to retire as treasurer when l re-
remain until 1907. What was more natu-
raj than that when he gave up his post
all the documents which he held as
treasurer should be destroyed?
-Therelwas no possible likelihood az the
time that they would ever be called for
for any purpose whatever. The insur-
ance investigation and other inquiries
had ended. Even the strict corrupt
practices acts only require that these
documents be kept for twelve months or
so and here Mr.. Bliss had them for three
years, was retiring from his activity and
could see no reason why the documents
he had should be preserved
"NIr RlisS yprlI ba Va. haap ha last man
to destroy them had he believed they
would ever be required for any purpose
Mr.. Cortelyou's friends say that some
time he will tell the story of the part he
had in the passage of the corrupt prac-
tices act OF Connecticut. which was a
law several years before Perry Belmont
began the agitation which resulted in
the passage of the Congressional act Of a
similar nature.
Got Corrupt Practices Act.
At the close of his work one day. when
he was tired out and disguised with the
demands made by strikers, looters and
hangerson. his friend. Judge Lyon Harri-
son of Connecticut, came i'm to see him,
and they talked about the need of laws
which would prevent such demands.
Judge Harrison was interested immed-
lately and year or so later the Connecti-
cut law was passed. Mr.. Cortelyou has a
stack OF letters half foot high on this
sub ject which show what he had to do
with it. His friends cay he has never
believed in any sort of politics but clean
politics and no has been accustomed to
remain silent concerning things said
of him that his friends know are untrue
Senator Penrose said in his statement
to the Senate that he knows Mr.. Cortelvou
very we'll. but the latter's friends declare
that he has only dim recollection that
during the campaign of 1904 Senator
Penrose walked through the nationa
headquarters offices, and that is all He
but Pennsy ylvania was not
causing the National Committee any
alarm, because the Republican ma ajority
was assured.
1t is said that Mr.. Cortelyou has not
always had the cordial regard of Senator
Penrose. becau he could not do thin rs at
Washin gton that tho Senator wanted him
to do; but because he knows that Senator
Penrose is having a fight for his political
life he will not say anything publicly
to add to his discontinue or that will
involve any one else connected with the
present campaign. although statements
are made that are not based on fact.
1t was said yesterday that four years
ago James Creelman made six weeks
investi CATION of the manner in which the
1904 campaign was conducted for the pur-
pose of magazine article and that the
facts Mr.. Creelman gathered tally exactly
with the statements of Mr.. Cortelvou be-
fore the Senate committee. At that time
President Roosev welt gave to Mr.. Cree Imam
the letter to the national chairman refer
ring to Standard Oil contribution which