Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-09-02
Declares Penrose and
ArchboId Men OF Scared
Consciencss.
NO PROMISE OR THREAT
Colonel Claims If Donation Was
Made 1t Was Contrary to
His Order.

Washington, Sept. William Loeb,
Jr, and George 3. Cortelyou. both
former private secretaries 70 Roose-
welt when he was president; William
Randolph Hearst and John D. Arch /
bold formally have been asked TO ap-
pear before the senate committee IN
vestigating campaign contributions, |
when II resumes its hearings late ,
this month. Efforts are being
made TO locate tire men who handled /.
campaign funds during the recent
presidential primaries. There is much
speculation as 10 who will be the first
witness when the committee convenes
Sept. 30. A report was current to-
day Roosevelt will not appear, as at
that time he will be touring the west.
Inasmuch as the committee has sub
poenaed no one TO appear before it,
but left the date OF appearance TO the
discretion OF the witnesses, it Is be-
lieved this course will be followed in
regard 10 Roosevelt
Oyster Bay, N. Y, Sept 2.-Theo-
dore Roosevelt made public last night
his answer 10 the Pen-ose-Archbold
charges made recently before the sub
committee investigating campaign
contributions.
The reply takes the form OF an 49,.
900 word letter to Senator Moses Z.
Clapp. chairman Of the committee.
In II Colonel Roosevelt enters en-
phatic and detailed denial TO the
charge that he had knowledge of a
Sl25,0O0 contribution by the Standard
OF company TO his campaign fund In
1904.
Colonel Roosevelt defends the mem
ory OF the late Cornelius n Bliss
against the assertion made by Arch
bold that the latter paid Bliss $780,
600 under the impression that the oil
trust was TO be granted favors in con-
sideration OF the donation.
POINTS TO BLISS RECORD.
While not denying that the 800. 900
may have passed hands. the colonel
Gays he has extreme doubt that II did.
In support OF this doubt he points
a
ness man and public spirited citizen.
Colonel Roosevelt in support OF his
contentious reprints the two letters
and the telegram he sent to George
b Cortelyou, then republican national
chairman. advising Mr.. Cortelyou that
81 there had been a contribution by
the Standard OIL to return IL at once.
He reiterates his statement made
several times that he was assured by
both Mr.. Cortelyou and Mr.. Loeb, his
private secretary at the time, that
there had been no fund given by the
oil trust
PENROSE FAILS TO ANSWER
The charge against Mr.. Penrose was
a direct charge" Roosevelt says. This
charge was not merely that be tool
$4,000 from the Standard OIL company
but that at or about the time of his
taking Il, while a member OF a com
n.ittee OF the senate which was form
I'D TO investigate Industrial affairs il
the United States, he was In constant
communication with Mr.. Archbold OF
the subject. and that he submitted u
Mr.. Archbold. for his approval. in ad
vance, a copy OF the report OF the com
mission II these statements are true
OF course Mr.. Penrose is unfit TO rep
resent the people in the United States
senate; and the testimony against hin
Sc direct Apparently. however, the
committee Is investigating not thii
charge against Mr.. Penrose. which
was sustained by direct evidence, bu
Mr.. Penrose's countercharge, whiol
was sustained by no evidence at all
and only by the repetition of seconC
hand gossip.
ASKED NOTHING OF STANDARD OH
"As regards the statement OF MI
Penrnse and Mr.. Archbold that wit
my consent or knowledge Mr.. Bills
ssked the Standard Oil people 70
100000 or other sum. or received sue
sum from them, IL Is an unqualified
fRlsehood
If any request for funds was mad
from the Standard Oil company. or
Bny funds we're received from tn
Standard OIL company. by Mr. Bliss o
any one else connected with the nj
tional committee in 1904, II was nc
merely done without my knowledg
but was done against my express d
reotion and prohibition and in spite c
the fact that was assured that n
such request had been made. and ths
no such contribution had Ueen c
would be received
NO OBLIGATION FOR CoNTRIBUTIO,
In my letters 10 Mr.. Cortelyou du
ing the campaign the only allusio