The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-08-24

which was not granted. This is a
pure hearsay statement, and even If
made in good faith it would be utterly
valueless.
Not only did never know anything
of such request being made, but my
published letters and kilograms show
that when the rumor that there had
been a contribution reached me / act
ed at once, reiterating my demands
again and again that the money should
be Immediately returned If it had been
given, and being assured by Mr.. Cor
Etelyou that the money had not been
received and would not be received.
Therefore, even on the assump-
ton that Mr.. Archbold is telling the
truth, his testimony, SO far as / am
concerned, consists of the repetition
of hearsay assertions, which were in
lstantly disproved by the production of
my letters and kilograms.
Il wish to reiterate that until Mr..
Penrose made his speech l never had
heard 1t suggested that Mr.. Archbold
had contributed to the campaign or
been the means through which any
contributions had been made.
Believes Testimony False.
But / do not for one moment be-
tlieve Mr.. Archbold's testimony is
truthful. He apparently possesses
such a moral stand that he does not
understand the infamous accusation
he is making against Mr.. Bliss.
"Mr. Bliss is now dead. But during
the seven years that elapsed before
Mr. Bliss death after Mr.. Archbold
claims he made the contribution in
question Mr.. Archbold never brought
up any statement of this kind.
"He now says that Mr.. Bliss warned
him that he was making 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 it would have been differ
ent 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, by
scarcely yelled threats as to what
would happen if they did not contri-
butte, and that Mr.. Bliss in effect told
them afterward that il they had con-
tributed the administration would not
hace proceeded against them for vio-
lating the law-for this was all the
administration did.
Wicked Assault on Dead Man.
t'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 i'm
pute evil motives to him. Mr. Bliss
was incapable of conduct such as Mr..
,Archbold imputes to him. And l can
not too strongly denounce the base
ness of taking such an attack upon an
honorable man who is now dead and
who Mr. Archbold never ventured to
lassail while living.
Moreover, Mr.. Archbold shows per-
fectly clearly, as published reports
say, that his corporation had con-
itributed in order to get value for its
gift and that the gift was made with
the expectation of receiving a proper
consideration.
II do not for one moment believe
that Mr.. Bliss made any such remarks
ITO 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 criticisms about
campaign contributions. This is a
falsehood Neither on that occasion
NOR on any other occasion was one
J, word said either by me to MIR. Arch
bold or by Mr.. Archbold to me about
campaign contributions"