New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-08-27
"STRAiGHT AS A STRING"
Colonel Willing to Turn Letter
File Inside Out.


oyster Bay. y. y. Aug. 26.-"They
can have anything that I've got at any
time They are welcome to any letters
nave ever written to any human beng
on any subject whatsoever. was the
comment Of cX-President Roosevelt here
to-day on the passage of the Penrose
resolution To extend the inquiry OF the
'Iapp committee in the Senate so as TO
investigate campaign funds and CORE
spondence or financial transactions be-
tween John -. Archbold. of the STANDARD
oil Company; George w. Perkins, of the
Harvester Company. and Theodore
Roosevelt, Progressive candidate for the
Presidency.
Tie displayed genuine interest in the
fact that Senator La Toilette had forced
the passage of the resolution to-day on
a threat to bring about a record" vote
Of the Senate.
Colonel Roosevelt seemed not to have
tired to-day in his reiteration Of sorrow
and regret that he was not down in
Washington testifving before the Clapp
committee and turning his private letter
file inside ont to refute the testimony
of Senator PenrOse and John n. Arch
bold as 10 the "blackmail" fund of sl25,-
0oO from the Standard Oil Company 10
aid his election in 1904.
Replying 10 certain passages Of
statement i'm -egard to his relations with
e STANDARD Oil Company given out by
william Il. Hearst in London yesterday
Colonel Roosevelt said:
1of
committee to testify 1 would have pro-
duced my letter books and any letters
written by me or to me There certainly
is no letter o; mine that l am not de-
lighted to have published. and II | had
any idea as to what letter II was that
they were referring 20 In that statement
Of Mr.. Hearst I would produce 1t now
myself.
Mentions Brother" Hearst
II do not remember now whether or
not there were letters in which l spoke
Of the Standard oil or were written TO
the Standard oil people: but there is one
thing | will guarantee" he said. with
voice raised TO a high pitch, and that Is
that there is not one thing in any letter
that is not perfectly straight as string
I hope Mr.. Hearst himself will tell every
thing. II he doesn't l will. II Brother
Hearst has any letters in his possession
he will have to appear before the COLI
mittee and produce them
The colonels mirth was aroused by the
expression used by Nj. Hearst that
Colonel Roosevelt can boast OF De-
lated honesty
In the first place. ! nave not boasted'
don't YOU know" cried the former Presi-
dent. and in the second place, my non
estv is not belated. Outside that the
statement is quite correct.
The Progressive candidate expressed
q debt O: obligation to Governor Hadley
Of Missouri when he was Informed the
Governor had publicly taken his SIDE OF
the controversy with Penrose, MI Arch-
bold and others.
BULLY for Hadley." he exclaimed.
FolloUinp the visit 10 Sycamore Hlll
Yesterday Of William Loeb, former Presl-
dent RooseveIts private secretary II was
learned that Collector Loeb would TESTIFY
neforc the CIapp committee regarding
President Roosevelt's relations with MI.
Archibald and what President Roosevelt
said TO the late L. II. Hartman regard
inc the famous $4,000 campaign contribu-
ton in 1894.
The colonel authorized this statement
to-day
Nv attitude TO the standard Oh Com
many was precisely the same before cleo
ton as after election as every one can
find out by turning 10 the 1les Oh tiie
newspapers at the time OF the passage
- tLe fureau of corporations bill. be-
fore / was nominated or elected, when
he standard oil opposed the law and
got il through by making, public tne
kilograms Of the Standard on people op-
ENG the law and showing their dc-