The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1912-10-10

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fcryieH mentions a letter co Bliss
which Is supposed 90 have been
Bliss stated that his father had
destroyed all records pertaining
10 the campaign contribuffon OF
the sixteen years previous rs his
death because he feared they
might fall into the hands OF the
enemies OF the Republican party.
Biiss said me knew nothing
about the letter from Theodore
Roosevelt, which was supposed 10
have been DESTROYED.
He added that he had searched
nus fathers papers and found only
the documents produced.
IN response TO questions by SEN
atOrS Paynter and POrt1ereue
Bliss said ne had never heard MS
Iatner speak of Archbold or H
III. Rogers in connection with the
campaign funds.
A letter from Secretary Taft
dated May @, 1904. was then read,
In it Bliss, Sr., was urged To take
the cnaii7nanship OF the national
committee, because President
Roosevelt twas most anxious for
IT. It added that ''as chairman
OF the committee Mr.. Bliss
would secure the confidence of
those from whom contributors
might be expected.
The letter from Theodore
Roosevelt dated May 8. 1904. TO
Bliss, ST., also urged him 70 take
the chairrnanship and s,,@1eSsed
plans for opening national head
quarters.
AS TO THE BOOKS.
The witness, I'm reply to one
ries from Senator Paynter, said
ne had not heard his father give
the names OF any contributors TO
the campaign funds at any time.
he added that he had not found
any books relative TO the election
contributions among his fathers
effects:
Senator POmerene ouestioned
the witness as to the manner in
which books were kept.
Did you know of any one who
assisted your father In keeDino
books or who could give infor-
NATION concerning the campaign
'T do not.''
''Have you talked with anv
members of the national commit
tee on this?"
81 have"
don?'
II know Mr.. sheldon. have
talked TO him in a general way.
He succeeded my father as treas
user of the committee"
Did he audit the reports for
your father?"
mo; not that L know. James
6. Cannon, president OF the First
National Bank of New York.
signed the audit and audited the
accounts"
Senator Pomerene then asked
the witness in q loud tone con-
cernfng the elder Bliss effects.
Did you yourself destroy any
papers referring TO the contribu-
tons OF 1904, OF of former
years?"
II did not knowingly do so.
have, however, destroyed a great
many letters, and books of re-
cords, left by my father, but none
OF them would have shed any
light on this committee fnvestiga-
ton"
did you destroy any letters OF
d this nature a" bOre your fathers
II did not
NO ONE ELSE KNOWS.
lis there anyone else, now Iiy-
Ing, who knows anything con-
cerntng the campaign contribu-
tons received by your father?"
There is not.'
DO you know of anyone who
aided your father i'm collecting
and disbursing campaign funds?"
Robert Dixon, of New York.
now dead, and n MIR. DUEL, are
the only ones 1 remember"
Senator Paynter questioned the
witness again about his fathers
letters, which he, as co-executor,
with his mother and sister, went
over and destroyed. Nothing of
importance was brought out. as
Bliss remembered none of the
letters i'm particular.
II repeats" said Bliss, "that
Il do not think / have DESTROYED
anything of the slightest interest
TO the committee"
Ldbbey said he had been for
twenty-five years the foreign rep
reSentative OF the Standard Oil.
but had not been exclusively i'm
the company's service during the
last ten years.
by Senator Clapp:
HAS your attention been called
10 the articles published in
Hearst's Magazine during the
past three months?"
Yes, my attention has been
called to them"
DurlnS the last ten years have
YOU been consulted in legal mat
terS?"
''Only slightly"
"What interest did your COM
pany take in the campaign of
19OS?"
II have no knowledge of any,"
In reference to the campaign
OF 1904, what do You recall con-
corning the contributions"
Il was informed at that time,
and still believe, that the Stand
ard Oil Company made a very
large contribution TO the national
committee i'm that year,
"WhO was your Informant"
ROGERS TOLD HIM.
MIR. III. H Rogers; he told me
that the organization was making
generous gift do not recall
that the amount was mentioned"
do you know, of your own
knowledge, or by repute from
your assistants of the Standard
Oil Company, of any cOntribu-
tiOnS made i'm addition to the one
made by III. III. ROoerS?"
mo, sir; / do not
Iibbey further testified that the
men who would know about the
contributions are Mr.. ArchbOId
and the directors generally.
BY Senator Pomerene:
Ibid you see any one here
when you were lobbying for the
Standard Oil interests"
"SOme, but not many. Most of
my work was done with the pen.'
where are those Ietters?"
0In my or0hsuac