The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-09-02
Roosevelt Sweeps Pen
rose, Archbold, Eft. Al.
Into Ananias Club.
LETTER TO CLAPP
is MADE PUBLIC
Colonel Defends Himself on
Charge That He knowingly Ac-
copied Corporation Funds,
and Produces Letters to
Prove Himself the Great
Truth Teller.

Especial to The Times Dispatch.l
Oyster Bay. y. Y. September IL,
Colonel Roosevelt made public tonight
ms letter to Senator Clapp chairman /
OF the Senate Committee investigatinr
campaign contributions. in reply to
the recent testimony of John d Arcn- (,
bold ma Senator Penrose regarding
an alleged contribution of 100000 by
Mr.. Archbold to the Republican cam
paign OF 1905 The letter is docu-
mert OF approximately $4,000 words,
covering forty-four typewritten PAGES. T
About cne-third OF the letter is de-
voted 10 copies Of correspondence bv
Colonel Roosevelt while President J
with James : sherman now Vice +
President, Senator Bourne and others
and to the reply Of President Roosevelt +
70 the charge made by Alton Par
ker. In 1904, that the Republican
campaign was financed. in large meas
ure. hy the contributions of big cor
porations
The letter in part follows
The charge against My Penrose
was direct charge. This charge was
not merely that he took $4,000 from
the Standard Oil Company, but that
at or about the time OF thus taxing
It. while member of a committee OF
the Senate. which was formed to in
vestigate industrial affairs In the
United States. he was in constant COM
munication with Mr.. Archbold on tho
subject. and that he submitted to Mr.
Archbold for his approval in advance
copy OF the report of the commits
sion. If these statements are true. of
course, Mr.. Penrose Is UNIT to repre-
sent the people in the United States
aenate. Ed the testimony against
him is direct. Apparently. however.
the committee is Investigating not this
charge against Mr.. Penrose which was
sustained by direct evidence but Mr..
| Penrose's countercharge which was
sustained by no evidence at all and
only by the repetition of second hand
gossip.
Unqualified FnIsehood.
las regards the statement OF Mr..
Penrose and Mr.. Archbold that with
my consent or knowledge Mr. Bliss
asked the Standard oil people for
100000. or other sum- or received
such sum from them. 1t is an un-
qualified falsehood
If any request for funds was made
from the Standard OIL Company. or IL
any funds We're received from the
sta ndard oil Company by Mr.. Bliss or
any one else connected with the ma
tional committee in 1905 il was not
merely done without my knowledge.
but was done against my express di-
rection and prohibition and in spite
Of the fact that | was assured that
no such request has been made. ana
that no such contribution had been
or would be received"
In support OF this statement. Coll !
onel Roosevelt Includes here his let
ters and telegram to George p Cortel-
YOU. the Republican national chair
man. of October 26 n ana %. 1904.
respectively. These letters. which
were made public recently. called Mr..
Cortelyou's attention to report thar
sta ndard oil interests had contributed
100000 70 the Roosevelt campaign
and directed that the money be Re-
turned ii the report wcre true The
telegram was ono asking If this had
been done, and addng that there
should be no delay in so doing.
subsequent TO this telegram. Mr.,
Ieoh my private secretary. called Mr..
Cortelyou mp on the telephone" the
myself He notified me first throush
Mr.. Loeb. and then directly that no
such contribution had been received
or would he received. He tells me he
saw Mr. Bliss. showed him the let-
ters and telegram. and that Mr. Bliss
then told him that no STANDARD OIL
Money had been received. and that
none would he accepted
Opposed His Selection
Mr.. Penrose was a candidate for
chairman OF the Republican Natfonali
Committee in 1903. ana it was report
Su ~ l41 tnat the members OF tho
committee wished To choose him. This
l emphatically refused to allow.
knew but little or Mr.. Penrose al tha
time. but I was not willing to ha,a
any man whom | did not personally
know and In whose probity lid not
have entire confidence as head OF tha
committee.
Mr.. cortelyou was put on at my
personal request. lie ran the cam
paign almost without suggestions
from me I communicated with h!rn
occasionally by telephone and eener-
ally in writing"
Several matters irrelevant to the
committees inquiry are mentioned by
colonel Roosevelt as the topics Of
those letters. He communicated also
with Senator Penrose. Colonel Rooss-
Welt added. one letter from Colonel
| Roosevelt 70 senator Panrse dated
me day after the 1904 electin. read:
Upon my word OF all phenom-
enal returns. the Pennsylvania hgurea
are most phenomenal--I congratulats
you and heartily thank you" colonel
Roosevelt continues.
In an my communications with
him before or after election I smoke
OF contributions but once This vas
In letter TO him on October IS. 1904,
[ In response 10 a request OF his that
should retain tha services o, one ~
his henchmen named Bum III ma
! Philadelphia 5ost-oftce who had heen
! recommended for removal hy the civil
service Commission because 81 the coi-s
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