The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-10-01
LITTLE new LIGHT
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not read aloud. and their contents was
not divulged at the time. Mr.. Bliss
said he had no other documents. and
no recollection OF any conversations
with his father. which would throw
any light on the subjects under inves-
tigatiou.
Contests Become Known.
Later. however. the contents OF two
Of the letters became known. That
from Secretary Taft. written May s.
1904. urged the late Mr.. Bliss TO take
the chairmanship. saying President
Roosevelt was most anxious" for it.
and adding that as chairman Mr.. Bliss
would secure the confidence Of those
from whom contributions may be ex-
pected."
The letter from President Roosevelt.
Gated the same. also urged him to take
the place.
Under examination by Senator Payn.
ter. the witness said that his father
had told him he allowed the books OF
the treasurer's ONCE OF the Republican
National Committee to be destroyed
because he. the elder Bliss. believed
the records useless. They contained.
he said. the names and amounts from
various contributors. The witness did
not know who destroyed them.
The witness could not remember
having talked with his father about
the much discussed 100000 Standard
Oil Company contribution.
Mr.. Bliss said he. since his fathers
death. had destroyed a great many of
the papers left by the elder Bliss.
I know Of nothing that I destroy
ed that could in any way assist this
committee" he declared emphatically.
vigorous c-oss-examination by
Senator Pomerene failed to shake his
statement.
Mr.. Bliss then was excused, and Will
liam H. Libby. of New York. foreign
representative OF the Standard Oil
Company. was sworn.
Chairman Clapp asked Mr.. Libby II
he had anything to do with advising
the company about legislative affairs.
only as to tariff matters. when 1t
Oil Company from the protective
tariff" replied Mr.. Libby.
THE campaign OF 1908 foreshadowed
tariff revision" suggested Senator
Clapp; what interest did your COM
pany take in that campaign
STANDARD Oil's big Gift.
Nothing that I know Of in the way
Of contributions" said Mr.. Libby. Il
was informed by H. H. Rogers that in
1904 the Standard Oil Company made a
very large contribution to the Repub-
lican national campaign fund" He
added he knew nothing personally
about 1t. He had not been told the
amount. he said. when. by whom or ia
whom it was made. He knew Of no
contribution other than that he heard
mentioned by Mr.. Rogers.
Did you see any members Of Con-
gress on the tariff natter? asked
Senator Pomerene.
Mr. Libby could not remember what
public oflcials he had talked with, but
thought he probably had discussed 1t
with President Taft and officials Of
the State Department. He said he
would produce any letters written in
that connection If he could find them.
Did any of these letters concern
campaign contributions" asked Sena-
tor Pomerene-
NO"
This concluded Mr. Libby's testimony
and he was excused
Roosevelt Letters to Bliss.
While the committee at first seemed
confused as to the disposition OF the
three letters to Mr.. Bliss. put In evil
dence, the substantial portions OF
them were finally made public. Two
were of no particular import but the
third. dated March 2s. 1906. written by
President Roosevelt from the White
House to Mr.. Bliss in New York. made
specific denial that he had ever been
influenced for or against any person
or interests as q result OF contribu-
lions TO the 1904 campaign
1T Is not only true that there has
come to me no suggestion that the
giving OF contributions entities any