The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-10-04


/ in cheer, greeted Colonel Roosevelt
as he entered the building about five
minutes before the time set for his
appearance. He forced his way
through the crowds in the corridors
with some difficulty and found his
way to Senator Clapp's private room.
There he met the members of the
committee. The crowd continued to
grow and every door of the big room
was surrounded by an anxious throng.
Makes No Comment.
Colonel Roosevelt learned this
morning that Governor Hadley of Mis-
souri, had declared in favor of Presi-
dent Taft He would make no COM
ment upon the governors action. Nor
would he express an opinion upon the
nomination of Congressman Sulzer as
Democrat candidate for governor of
New York.
81 have nothing to say upon any
subject" said the colonel
The spectators applauded vigorously
as Colonel Roosevelt entered the room
followed by a secretary Juggling big
valise filled with papers. The col
onel took his place in the witness
chair and the secretary, with the big
grip between his knees, seated himself
beside him.
You were a candidate for presi-
dent in 19O4?" asked Senator Clapp.
I was" answered the colonel,
shortly.
George B. Cortelyou was chairman
of the committee that year?"
He was
And Cornelius N. Bliss was treas
urer?"
He was"
Senator CIapp asked Colonel Roose-
welt if his attention had been called
to certain statements made by John
d. ArChbold.
1T has" replied Colonel Roose-
Senator Clapp asked the colonel
what he knew about the Archbold
contribution at the time it was said
to have been made.
Offers His Letters.
The colonel asked permission to
include in his answer the letter he
sent to Senator Clapp, already pub
lIshed, denying that he knew of any
Standard Oil contribution to the 1904
campaign at the time it was made.
I'm the first place, gentlemen he
said, "since I was elected governor of
New York-that was about fourteen
years agO-I have written and signed
about a hundred thousand letters, so
it is not possible at once to recall all
the letters 1 have written on any
given subject.
Looking through my letter books
since I wrote my recent letter to
Senator Clapp, I have found two 9TH
er letters bearing on the subject of
campaign contributions. One was the
letter to Cornelius n. Bliss in 1906,
which I understood was recently
given to your committee; the other a
letter written to George r. Sheldon in
19OS."
colonel Roosevelt turned to his as
sistantS to ask for his letter book.
The colonel finally found the letter he
sought, and stepping from the witness
chair handed it to Senator CIapp,
who had it placed in the record an
exhibit. At the chairman's request
Colonel Roosevelt read the letter,
dated September 21, 1868. and ad-
dressed to George r. Sheldon, treas
urer of the Republican national COM
Inittee. 1t was practically as follows:
Il am Informed that you or some
one in behalf of the national commit
tee had been soliciting contributions
from corporations, particularly John
D. Archbold and the Standard Oil
srtcr vigorous protest and say that
not only should such contribution be
refused but that if made that it
should be Immediately returned
The letter set forth that -Four years
ago Mr. CorteIyou refused all contribu-
tons from corporations which were be-
;uted,' and that Col Roosevelt wished |
he same course followed in the 1908 cam /
0aign.
Letter to CorteIyou.
october g. 1904. to chairman George B. |
CortelyOu in which he directed that il |
any money had been contributed by the /
Oil company or John D. Arch
)old 1t should be returned at once This |
etter, he said, had been referred to arc |
partly quoted in his recent letter to Sen |
ION to Mr. Cortelyou that We cannot |
lnder any circumstances afford to take a |
contribution that might be construed as
placing us under an Obligation
Col Roosevelt said he had also found |
hat on October q. 1904 he had sent an
extra telegram to Chairman George B.
,ortelyou which he had only recently
ound- 1t was sent from Oyster Bay ard
eferred to his letter to Mr.. Cortelyou 1e-
handing return of the Standard Oil con
r1butfOn. Col. Roosevelt offered the |
ommittee the ORIGINALS of all the letters
e had sent to Chairman Clapp or had
cad into the record.
Wen take your word for that" said
senator Oliver as the colonel returned
o the witness chair and testified that
e knew of no other letters bearing on
he subject and had practically for
often the Sheldon letter until he came
cross it searching his files.
Now in regard to the Hartman
Und.' began Senator Clapp Col.
Roosevelt interrupted and asked to ex-
lain the charges that have been
made in regular order and Senator
'lapp acQuiesced.
There is no testimony against me,
xcept in the form of hearsay evil
ence,' the colonel said, ''hearsay state
lents of men that are dead. Mr..
Lrchbold and Mr.. Penrose purport to
i've statements of what Mr.. Bliss had
, say; Mr.. Bliss is dead. Mr.. Odell and
he other gentlemen refer o statements
lade by Mr.. Hartman, who is dead
Colonel Roosevelt said he had not
Intended to bring his former private
ecretary into the controversy, but
hat as the committee had already
etermined to call William Loeb, jr.,
e had asked him TO bear out his
The Sibley Letter
May 1 speak of a letter published
1 Hearsts magazine from Congress
nan Sibley?" asked the colonel and
hen went on: 1T is a letter which