Semi-weekly herald., 1912-10-07

Colonel Roosevelt entered the room,
followed by his secretary, Juggling a
big valise filleo with papers. The
colonel took his place In the witness
chair, and the secretary, with the big
grip between his knees, seated himself
beside him.
"You was a candidate for presi-
dent in 1904?' asked Senator Clapp.
81 was" answered the colonel short
ly.
George L Corto'v,u WAS chairman
of the committee that year?"
"He wae."
"And Cornelius N, Bliss trea urer ?"
"He w.s."
Senator Ciapp asked Colonel Roos-
evelt if mis- attention had been called
to certain statements made by John
d. Archbold.
at has," replied the colonel, tersely.
Senator Clapp asked the colonel
what he knew about the Archbold
contribution at the time it was said
to have been made.
The colonel asked permission to in
clude in his answer the letter he Sent
to Chairman Clapp already published,
denying that he knew of any Stand
ard Oil contribution to the 1904 cam
paign at the time it was made.
an the first place, gentlemen" he
said, "since was elected governor
of New York, that was about four
teen years ago, I have written and
signed about one hundred thousand
letters, so it is not possible at once
TO recall all letters have written on
any given subject. Looking through
my letter books since | wrote my re-
cent letter to Senator Clapp, 1 have
found two other letters bearing on
the subject of campaign contributions.
One was a letter to Cornelius n.
Bliss in 1906, which understood re-
Gently was given to you. committee.
The other letter was written to Geo.
+ Sheldon in 1908"
Colonel Roosevelt turned to his let
ter book and finally found the letter
he sought, and steppin9 from the wit
ness chair, handed it to Ecnltor Clapp,
who had it placed on record as an ex-
hibit.
At the chairman's request Colonel
Roosevelt read the letter dated Sept.
81, 1908, and addressed to George R.
Sheldon, treasurer of the Republican
national committee.
1t is practically as follows:
~ am informed that you or some
one on behalf of the national COM
mittee, has been soliciting contribu-
tions from corporations, particularly
from John D. Archbold and the Stand
ard Oil company If this is true,
wish to enter vigorous protest, and
say that not only should such con-
trbution be refused, but that if made,
it should be Immediately returned
The letter set forth that four years
ago Mr.. Cortelyou refused all contri-
buttons from corporations which were
being prosecuted or were like'5 to be
prosecuted" AMI that Colonei Roosc-
velt wished The Same course followed
in the 1908 canpai,,n.
Colonel Roosevelt also read the let
ter of Oct. 26, 1904, to Chairman
George B. Cortelyou, in which he de-
clared that if any money had been
contributed by the Standard Oil COM
pany or John d. Archbold it should
be returned at once. This letter, he
said, had been referred to and partly
quoted in his recent letter to Senator
Clapp. 1t was an emphatic declara-
tion to Mr.. Cortelyou that 1--WE can
not under any circumstances afford
to take contributions, placing US un-
der any obligations"
"Much has been made of my send
ing for certain men," said the colonel.
well, did send for all sorts of peo-
pie. Trust magnates included. If
there is any man from whom l think
I can get anything of value to the
people I will send for him. I ha re
sent for trust magnates ard prize
fighters. have sent for Iohn L..
Sullivan, Battling Nelson and DR.. Ly-
man Abbott" he added with laugh
that brought a response from the
crowd.
"If ever find my virtue is so frail
it won't stand being brought in con-
tact with trust magnates, labor lead
ers or any one else, I'll ge. out of pub.
lie life," was the colonels parting
greeting.