The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-07-25
OFFERED $4,000
TO DESERT TAFT
=
Alvah Martin Could Have Had
That Sum for the
Taking.
MONEY WAS PLENTIFUL
Lots Of Campaign Funds From
Fine Source" for
Roosevelt.

Columbia. S. c.. July 24-Republican
politicians throughout the south are
beginning to compare notes regarding
the efforts made by the financial back
ers OF Colonel Roosevelt TO recruit
delegates 10 the Republican National
Convention favorable to him Dis
closures already made and promised
ere expected to shed convincing illumi-
nation upon the charges made by the
managers OF President TAFT in his fight
for the presidential nomination that
the supporters OF Colonel Roosevelt re-
sorted TO bribery TO secure tho selcc-
tion OF delegates favorable 10 him o,
the conversion Of TAFT delegates 10 his
cause
The TAFT managers openly charged
that agents acting in behalf OF Colonel
Roosevelt or pretending to do so Of
fered sums OF money TO national com
mltteemen representing Southern
States 70 send Roosevelt delegates 10
chicago or to s~ine those instructed
Tor President TAFT TO the oyster Bay
sspirant World correspondent. who
WAS talked with several Republican
leaders OF Southern states has learned
of the activities OF member Of ,be
national committee representa-. an
Important Eastern State IN the inter
est or Colonel Roosevelt
Secret Work in South.
Before the Colonel made his KEY
Av,' speesh on February - before tho
ONO Constitutional Convention this
national committeeman made IA brrrtn'.
Trip through the South. HIS pirno.o
as 10 !lne W as many Of his assoc!a-
tes as possible for Colonel Roosevelt
or obvious reason. tho Eastern
committeeman operated on rubber ,!ros
40 puu!lcity characterized his move
mems ms presence was not always
'S'an.'shea ay the Signature he loft
On inc Motel registers. He avoided
newspaper reporters ana the watohfui|
fi!onds Of President Taft lie speni|
some time ia Virginia. crossed over
INTO North Carolina. iarrled In South
carolina and Georgia and before his
mission ended had traversod most or
the other southern States He told
ihe Republican leaders with whom he
talked IN confidence" that the Roose-
vol; campaign would De we'll financed.
piae'Ss special emphasis on this fea-
,ure
You Join the Roosevelt; movement,
and you shall have all the money YOU
reed FOR campaign purposes and more
was tho proposition ne made 70 more
than three leaders.
National Committeeman Alvan n
Martin. OF Virginia. was among the FIRE
men approached by tins agent sent
out 20 gauge sentimen, and offo- ald
a
o. Colonel Roosevelt, during the lat
tcr's term in the White House II
Roosevelt, wanted the Virginia ieleea-
t.or and thought that Nj Martin could
set IL for him.
Tells Martin of Finnnces
The Eastern national commiti.N-
man, fresh from conference Win
Colonel Roosevelt. wired Mr Martin
tina, he would vis!, him and lay before
him an Important matter.
Mr. Martn received tho visitor and
heard his offer The Roosevelt man
told Nj Martin that the colonel want
ed him 10 help him out IN Virginia
4 did not know tina, Mr Roosevelt,
was candidate said Mr. Martin.
That IS all right responded tho
caller. "he Will announce himself In
due time"
1t was explained by the agent Of
the Colonel that the Columbus speech
which was to be a corker, would be
followed by forna! annorncement
Martin told the visitor that he was
for TAFT and thought the majority of
Virginia Republicans were
Be for us, We need YOU" was tho
reply. THE Colonel likes you. ana
We can help each other. YOU help US
and We Will help yon. We can keep
your campaign Tor recollection from
costing you anything How much Will
Your campaign cost you2"
oh, about $1,000 from FIRST to last"
said the Virginian
Five thousand, That is not drop
IN the bucket to what YOU would get
from us II you dropped Taft and took
mp Roosevelt said the Roosevelt
agent
where IS all this money coming
from" asked Mr.. Martin
From a mo source We are going
to have lots Of campaign funds was
the reply
During the conversation +, is said
Mr.. Martin was told that lie could have
s25 600 or more If he would undertake
tho work
Mr.. Martin did not accept the offer.
lie continued his efforts for Mr.. TAFT
Early in January the Virginia Re
publicans In convention assembled at
Roanoke instructed for Taft
McHnrg After Martin, TOO.
Ormsb by Mciarg. the Roosevelt scout
IN the South during the campaign. had
nothing to do with the making OF this
offer. but three or four times after that
he tried to get Mr.. Martin and other
Virginia leaders to join the Roosevelt
forces
To several other southern leaders
similar propositions We're made by the
Roosevelt committeeman One man
claims that he could have had 500 600
FOR his state If he had joined the Col
onel's forces.
The contest between tho Roosevelt
and Taft forces for the South devei-
oped into a national scandal Demo
Gratis and Republicans in Southern
States are now negaged in digging up
the details OF the trades that we're Of
fered and in some instances made and
carried out to the letter.