The Washington times., 1912-08-24
COL. ROOSEVELT
P|CN|CK|NG TODAY,
STATEMENT TONIGHT
Former President Declines to
Discuss Possibility of APP
pearing Here.


onel Roosevelt today said he would not
say anything more about his possible
appearance before the Senate Commit
tee in Washington to answer under
oath the testimony of j. d. Archbold
and Senator Penrose until he knows
what the committee wants to do, but
those close to the colonel were pretty
certain that Roosevelt was willing to
testify to his version of the Standard
Oil embroglio The colonel promised
to give out another statement tonight.
Saying that he had nothing at that
time to add to what he had said re-
garding the tertimony of Senator PEN
rose and John D. Archbold in Wash
ington, Colonel Roosevelt early today
went on an allday picnic with his fam
lily. Mrs. Roosevelt and Archie and
Kermit set out from Sycamore Hill
with the colonel in an automobile.
The colonel explained that he needed
the picnic and tramping to put himself
into condition for strenuous times
ahead.
Aside from possible trip to Wash
1ngton. Colonel Roosevelt's schedule
provides for three days in Vermont
He planned to leave New York next
Wednesday afternoon and said that he
would not get back to Oyster Bay be-
fore Saturday night. Then after Sun
day Of rest at home, he will start for
Hartford, Conn, and from there will
begin the long swing that will carry
him to the Pacific coast and back by
way of the Southern States, covering
month or more.
Colonel Roosevelt dictated a state
ment in reply to the testimony of John
L. Archbold before the Senate investi-
eating committee, in part:
Il wish to call attention to the fact
that even If Mr.. Archbold's statements
are true, they amount only to saying,
SO far as l am concerned, that Mr..
Bliss told him that l had knowledge
and approved request for 100000 from
the STANDARD Oh Company, which was
granted. This is a pure hearsay state
ment, and even If made in good faith
would be utterly valueless.
mot only did l never know anything
of such q request being made, but my
published letters and telegram show
that when the rumor that there had
been contribution reached me 1 acted
at once, reiterating my demand again
mediately returned. II 1t had been Civ
en-, and being assured by Mr.. Corteiyou
that the money had not been received
and would not be received.
But l do not for one moment be-
lieve that Mr.. Archbold's testimony is
truthful. He apparently possesses such
moral stand that he does not under
% aRng ns sgainst %s sss Ms b s.s IS
is now dead. But during the seven
years that elapsed before Mr.. Bliss
death after MIR. Archbold claims he
made the contribution in question Mr.
Archbold never brought up any state
ment of this kind.
"He now says that Mr.. Bliss warned
him that he was making a serious mis-
take in not contributing the extra
amount of money, and that later on,
when the Administration began to deal
with the Standard Oil people, Mr.. Bliss
said 1t would have been different If
they had done as he asked them.
This is an assertion that Mr.. Bliss
was deliberately trying to blackmail the
Standard OIL into contributing.
This is a wicked assault on a dead
man. whose high standing and probity
was such that no human being who was
himself honest, would ever impute evil
motives to him.
that Mr.. Bliss made any such remarks
to Mr., Archbold as Mr.. Archbold says.
For example. Mr.. Archbold states that
he and the late H. H. Rogers visited
me at the White House, and that
then remarked to them that there
had been some criticism about cam
paign contributions. This is false
hood.
Neither on that occasion or on any
other occasion was one word said
either by me to Mr.. Archhold or by
Mr Archbold TO me about campaign
contributions.
"Inasmuch as Mr.. Archbold did not
tell the truth In his interview with
me, I have no doubt that he does not
tell the truth about the man who is
dead"
''Mr. Piss never spoke, to me of ask
ing or receiving a contribution from
any one, and he never before or after
the election, said anything to me about
my conduct toward corporations, except
to say that he knew I would act fairly
and justly toward all; and l told him
that I should never dream of acting
any other way.
at seems to me that the course of
Mr.. Penrose in this matter and the
bringing in of Mr.. Archbold to testi-
fy bear close analogy to what in the
New York police situation at this time
would be called frame up and this
is shown by the. questions which Mr..
-Archbold was asked and those he was
not asked.
1T appears that Mr.. Penrose while
a member of the industrial commits
sion, received the check of $25,O00
from Mr. Archbold, and that he was
serving on that commission in a e.
culiarly confidential relation to Mr.
Archbold. among the instances of his
position as Mr., Archbold's represen-
he communicated in advance to Mr.
Archbold the report which the indus
trial commission was about to make
and secured his approval in advance
of its publication"