The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-10-04
Pounded on Arms Of
His Chair--.Sweat Was
Pouring Down Face
Former President Nearly ApOpectc in His DenunciaOn Of
AccuserS.--Denies ALI Accusations Regarding
"' Standard Oil Contributions

Washington, D. c., Oct. 4.-Roose-
welt, on the witnes stand all day to-
day, gave testimony fatty denying all
accusations lodged against him in con-
nection with the Standard Oil Co.'S
contributions. He asserted he never
knew Of any Morgan contributions
until the latter testified.
A murmur of applause eliminating
in a cheer greeted Roosevelt as he
entered the building about Ave mid
Utes before the time set for his Lp-
Tearance He forced his way through
the crowds in the corridors with some
difficulty, and found his way to Clapps
private room. There he met the meIn-
bers of the committee. The crowd
continued to grow and every door OF
the big room was surrounded by an
anxious assemblage.
Roosevelt learned this morning that
Governor Hadley Of Missouri had de-
clared in favor of Taft. He would
make no comment upon the governors s
action. Neither would he express an
opinion upon the nomination of Sulzer
as the democratic candidate for gov
ernor of New York.
Il have nothing to say uEon any
subject" said the colonel. The spec
gators applauded vigorously.
Roosevelt entered the room followed
ny SCSLCNaAy At5SAhR q bA5 Npii5O
filled with papers. Colonel took his
place in the witness chair and the Sec
retary, with the grip between his knees
seated himself beside him.
You were a candidate for president
in 1904?" asked Clapp.
81 was" answered the colonel short
ly. -...
George B. Cortelyou was the chair
man Of the committee that year?"
He was"
And Cornelius N. Bliss was treas
urer?'
He was"
Clapp asked Roosevelt il his at
tention had been called to cetain
statements made by John ID. Arch
bold.
'It has" replied the colonel terseIy.
Clapp asked the colonel what he knew
about Archbold contributing at the
time 1t was said to have been made.
The colonel asked permission to in
l'clude in his answer q letter hc sent
| to Clapp already published, denying
| he knew anything of any Standard
| Oil contribution to the 1904 campaign
at the time 1t was made.
I'm the first place, gentlemen" he
said. since / was elected governor
OF New York-that was about four
teen years ago-I have written and
SlRlGu ABOUT ltUUu,UUU lCILCEbs 81 II lo
not possible at once to recall all the
letters l have written on any given
subject.
Looking through my letter books
since l wrote my recent letter to SEN
ator Clapp / have found two letters
bearing on the subject of campaign
contributions. One was a letter to
Cornelius N. Bliss in 1908, which 1
understand was recently given to your
l,1 nhI faY1
to George r. Sheldon in 1905"
Roosevelt turned to his secretary
to ask for the Letter book. The colo
mel found the letter he sought and,
stepping down from the witness chair,
handed it to Clapp, who had it placed
in the record as an exhibit. At the
chairman's request, Roosevelt read a
letter dated Sept. 21, 1908, and ad-
dressed to George r. Sheldon, treas
urer of the republican national COM
mittee.
1t was practically as follows: II
am informed that you, or some one.
in behalf of the national committee
has been soliciting contributions from
corporations, particularly John d.
Archbold and the Standard Oil Co.
If this is true I wish to enter a
vigorous protest and say that not only
should such contributions be refused,
but that, If made they should be Inn
mediately returned"
The letter set forth that four years
ago Cortelyou refused all contribu-
tions from corporations that were be-
ing prosecuted and that Roosevelt
wished the same course followed in
the 1908 campaign.
Roosevelt also read a letter of Oct.
26. 1904, to Chairman Cortelyou, in
which he directed that If any money
| had been contributed by the Standard
Oil Co. or j. d. Archbold, II should be
returned at once.
This letter, he said, had been re-
ferred to and partly quoted in his re-
cent letter to Clapp. 1t was an en-
phatic declaration to Cortelyou that