Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-09-03
ROOSEVELT ON
OIL CONTR0vERSy
THOUSAND WORD DE-
TENSE TO EVIDENCE GIVEN
az JOHN D. ARchBoLD.
HOLDS PENROSE UNFIT

Colonel Declares Pennsylvania sena-
tor should be ousted on Own
Testlnnony-Never Asked
Perkins For Contribution.
Oyster Bay, N. Y, Sept. 2.-Colonel
Roosevelt has made public his letter 10
Senator Clapp, chairman OF the senate
committee investigating campaign con-
tributions, In reply to the recent testl-
mony OF John d. Archbold and Senator
Penrose regarding an alleged contrlou'
ton of 100000 by Mr.. Archooid 70
the republican campaign OF 1904. Inc
letter is a document Of approximately
is. 900 words covering forty-four type
written pages. About one-third OF the
letter ia devoted to copies Of cores
pondence by Colonel Roosevelt WIZ
president, with James 3. Snerlnan'
now vice president, Senator bourne'
and others, and to the reply OF fresr
dent Roosevelt to the charge maze ny
Alton B. Parker In 1904 tnat tne re'
publican campaign was finsncea, III
large measure, by the contributions Oh
big corporations.
Saws Penro0e 10 OnvN'
The letter, in part, follows:
"The charge against Mr.. Penrose
was a direct charge. This charge was
not merely that he took $4,000 from
the Standard Oil Co., but that at or
about the time Of thus taking 1t, While
a member of q committee of the senate
which was formed to investigate IN
dustrial affairs in the United States,
he was in constant communication
with Mr.. Archbold on the subject ana
that he submitted to Mr.. Archbold ior
his approval in advance copy OF the
report OF the commission. II tnese
statements are true, Of course Mr.. ZEN
rose ia unfit to represent the people
IN the United States, senate; ana
the testimony against him Is direct.
Apparently, however, the committee Is
Investigating not this charge against
Mr. Penrose which was sustained ny
direct evidence, but Mr.. Penrose's
counter charge which was sustained
nv no evidence at all and only by the
repetition Of second hand gossip.
Denies Knowledge Of OIL Fund.
"As regards the statement OF Mr..
penrose and Mr.. Archbold that with
NV consent or knowledge Mr.. bliss
asked the Standard Oil people Tor
800 900 or other sum. or received
such sum from them. it is an unquail-
| fled falsehood. ~
"If any request for funds was MADE
from the Standard Oil Co.. or II any
funds were received from the Standard
Oh Co. by Mr.. Bliss or anyone else
connected with the national committee
IN 1904 It was not merely done with
ont nv knowledge, but was done
AGAINST nv express direction and pro-
hibition and in spite OF the fact that
I was assured that no such request
ha been made and that no sucn con-
tribution had been or would % re-
o IN support OF this statement Colonel
Roosevelt includes here his letters ana
telegram to George B. Cortelyou, the
renublican national chairman. OF
October &c, q and 20. 1904, respective
" These letters, which were made
nubl,c recently, called Mr. Cortelyou's
attention to a report that Standard OH
interests had contributed 100000 to
the Roosevelt campaign and directed
that the money be returned II the re-
mort were true The telegram was one
nsking Il this had been done and add
mo that there should be no delay IN
SO doing. ~
"subseouent to this telegram. mr..
ooh INV private secretary, called Mr..
Cortelvou M on the telephone the
ie+tAr continues. "and later / did 50
mvse,f He notified me first through
NJ Loeb and then directly that no
auch contribution had been received
or would be received. He tells me he
Jaw Mr.. Bliss, showed him the letters
ard telegram. and that Mr. Bliss then
to,d him that no Standard Oil money
nod heen received and that none
would be accepted.
Opposed Penrose In 1904.
mr.. Penrose was candidate 1or
chairman of the republican national
committee in 1904 and 1t was reported
~ me that the members OF the commit
Too wished to choose him. This en-
nhotically refused to allow. knew put
little az Mr.. Penrose at the time, put
7 vas not willing to have any man
n,houo 7 did not personally know and
in whose probity did not nave entlre
confidence as head Of the committee
"Mr. Cortelyou was put on at my
nersonal request. He ran, the campaign
almost without suggestions from me.
I communicated with him occasionally
bv telephone. and generally IN writ
ing"
Several matters irrelevant to the
|committce's inquiry are mentioned by
Colonel Roosevelt as the topics OF
thasa letters. He communicated also
With With senator Penrose Colonel Roose-
Welt added. One letter from Colonel
2 ooseyelt to Senator Penrose, dated
the nU'e day after the 1904 election, read;
'' supon my word! OF all phenomenal
returns. the Pennsylvania figures are
most phenomenal. I congratulate you
and heartily thank you.
Colonel Roosevelt continues: