Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1912-04-13
BIG BUSINESS
BRAVES LAW
TO HELP TAFT
Tries False Pretenses to Secure
Contributions to the Cam
paigHFund Of Its Candidate.
CIRCULAR TO WALL STREET OUT

More Than Two and Hall Billions
Represented by the Signers, Who APP
peal For Help on the False Pretense
That Coionc3 Roosevelt Has Attacked
the Supreme Court and Menaces tho
Fundamental Principles of Govern
ment.
One of the means adopted by the
representatives of big business behind
President Taft to notify other repre-
sentatives of big business that more
money is required to carry on the Taft
campaign is described by competent
lawyers as a violation of section 1900
of the penal code of New York.
A few days ago a confidential circu-
lar letter was sent out from Wall
street to number of the most wealthy
people in New York and perhaps else
where asking for immediate financial
assistance for the Taft campaign. The
language of the letter was plainly in
tended to convey the warning that
Colonel Roosevelt seeks to establish
the popular recall of the justices of the
supreme court of the United States
and of their decisions, thereby null-
flying the constitution of the United
States and menaeing the fundamental
principles of the government. Having
used his falsehood as a scare, the let
ter then asks for a contribution to
bring these facts before the electorate
and to insure the denomination of Pres
ident Taft. Checks should be made
payable to Robert f. Huse, care Red
mond & Co.. SO Pine street"
Inasmuch as G5lonel Roosevelt has
never advocated. the recall of the JUS
tees of the supreme court of the Unit
ed States nor the decisions thereof.
but has distinctly confined his state
mentss of belief in regard to the recall
of decisions and judges to state courts
and then only under certain cireum-
stances, this letter is pronounced by so
able and competent lawyer as Amos
r. e. Pinchot Of 90 Broadway, New
York, to be a direct attempt to secure
money under false pretenses and ehere-
fore violation of the New York pc
nal code.
The letter bore at Its head as it's
sponsors list of nineteen of the prin-
cipaf operators in big business in the
Wall street section OF New York, in
Guiding Benjamin f. Tracy, Chauncey
NJ. Depew. George Sheldon. Otto T.
Barnard EDGAR l.. Marston, William
Berri, Andrew Baird. r. Ross Apple
ton, Hendriek S. Holden and others al
most equally well known In big busl-
ness. The letter in full follows:
Colonel Roosevelt is endeavorins to
secure a nomination for a third term.
contrary to a widely esta bsished rrece-
dent. on platform favoring the recall
of judges and the recall of judicial de-
cisions. which. In the opsnion of think
ing mem would guilty the constitution
and menace the fundamental princi-
Piles of republican governments.
"We> believe. that President Taft by
reason of his wise. conservative and
efficient administration is entitled to
denomination by the Republican party.
"Fo bring these facts properly before
the electorate and to insure the renom-
nation of President Taft vigorous
campaign is essential. We earnestly
solicit your support and ask you to
contribute to the necessary expenses
Of carrying on the WORK Checks
should be made payable to Robert f.
Huse. acting treasurer, care Redmond
& Co, 33 Pine street"
To show who is so interested In the
denomination of President Taft brief
study of the financial connections of
the men behind the letter is well worth
while. The entire list is too long for
reproduction here. but taking a half
dozen or so Of them in alphabetical or.
der shows their Wall street connection
as follows:
OTTO r. BARNARD.
President New York Trust Co..
Director Mahoning and Shenango
r. r. and Light Co...,........... $4,000, coo