The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-09-02

the other evening about the Standard
Oil people; do remember that while
any proposals they may make will be
considered in an entirely frank and
honorable spirit, yet these proposals
must be conditioned upon absolute
obedience to the law and must be lcid
in detail before the attorney general
and Frank B. Kellogg before it would
be possible for me to express any
opinion upon them. I know you un-
derstand this, but 1 want you to be sure
that the Standard Oil people do not
misunderstood it and do not get the
impression that it is my desire or on
my initiative that negotiations have
been entered into with them by you or
by anyone. Sincerely yours,
THEODORE ROOSEVELT"
"Oyster Bay. n. Y, July 8, 1908 -
My Dear Senator: In my judgment it
visable to try to carry on the negotIa-
tons through sou as intermediary Let
the Standard Oil lawyers, any or all of
them, as Mr.. Archbold or Mr. Rookie
eide as to the course they wish to
follow, and then communicate direct
with Mr.. Kellogg or the attorney gen
eral. Sincerely yours.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT "
Mr.. Hearst has published much in
teresting and important correspon
dence of the Standard Oil people, es-
pecially Mr.. Archbold, with various
pubic men, L nave IN Tune past cTA'l-
cized Mr.. Hearst, but in this matter lie
has rendered 4 public service of high
Importance, and hope he VIII publish
all the letters dealing with the mat
ter which he has in his possession. If
Mr.. Hearst or anybody else has any
letter from me, dealing with Standard
Oil affairs, I shall be delighted to have |
it published: and if anyone can suggest
any question as to any letter L have |
ever written or received on the sub
to. 1.-;II civ 17n
date, 1 will at once try to look it Up,
and if I can find it, will publish it.
ct wish to emphasize that the tes-
timony of Mr.. Archbold and Mr.. Pen
rose in this matter is an attack on Mr.
Bliss, who is dead. and Is also m
Willingly the Severest possible refec-
ton on themselves.
Never Asked Favor.
Mr.. Bliss never asked me for a |
favor of any kind. and all his public |
and private acts 80 far as had know
ledge of them, we're on the plane of |
just and honorable dealing. Mr.. Bliss |
never even asked me about the Stand |
ard Oil company and never in any way |
alluded to the Standard Oil to me- 1
never heard Mr.. Archbold's name |
in connection with Mr.. |
Bliss. But a year or so after election !
I heard a report that Mr.. Bliss had ac- |
cepted contribution from Mr.. Rogers
alleging as his Justification that this
but from Mr.. Rogers person
ally, Mr. Rogers being an old friend |
and party associate of his
Colonel Roosevelt. after defending
the character of Mr.. Bliss, continues: |
"Mr. Archbold's testimony can only
mean that Mr.. Archbold has male
his contribution in the hope of get
ting some special consideration to
which, as a matter of fact he was not
entitled; that he believed that if he
had made the extra contribution ne
would have had this special consider
alton and that Mr.. Bliss thought so,
too.
Mr.. Penrose saws that ne, a mem
Der of the national Republican COM
nittee and United States senator, adj
vised Mr.. Archbold that it would be
a mistake for the Standard Oil com
pany not to contribute and IL they did
not make liberal contributions they
might incur hostility in certain quar-
ters Surely no more extraordinary
testimony was ever submitted by
United States senator under the I'M
preston that he was testifying I'm his
own behalf. 1t embodies a far wol sc
accusation against him than I ever
shou1d have dreamed of making.
This language is precisely that language /
that might be used by a Matchmaking
police officer in a big city in advising
the keeper of law breaking liquor saloon |
or a gambling house to contribute liberal |
ly because otherwise he might incur hos
tility in certain quarters If this language |
were proved against the policeman he |
would be removed from the police force. |
and as it is admitted by the senator, he |
should be removed from the senate.
I'm conclusion I want to say word |
about my connection with Mr.. Perkins. 1 |
have known him about fourteen years. |
I have never in my life, directly or indi-
rectly, asked him for contribution, OF 4
asked him to assist me in any way He \
has always assisted me and backed me /
up of his own accord. Until after the 1
statement of Mr.. Penrose In the senate, |
/ never asked him IL he had ever contrib |
uted to my campaign fund at any times