The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1912-10-04
COL. ROOSEVELT
ON THE STAND
Makes Sweeping Denial of All the
Charges" That Have Been
Made Against Him
fORCEFUL, EMPHATIC WITNESS
Declares There Is No Testimony
Against Him But Hearsay
Evidence
NO AID ASKED OF HARTMAN

washington. Oct. Al asked no
man to contribute to the campaign
fund when was elected president, and
! wish to reiterate that Bliss and Cor
telyou 10th assured me that no prom
ise had been made as a return for any
contribution. Neither they nor any
one else having authority asked me
TO act or refrain from acting in any
matter while ] was president. because
any contribution had been made or
withheld
Gentlemen. could put it more
sweepingiy?"
With these words. Theodore Roose-
Welt summarized his testimony today
at the close Of the first part OF his
hearing before the Clapp Senate COM
mittee investigating campaign funds.
He was to continue in the witness
chair when the committee resumed
after luncheon.
The Colonel specifically denied he
ever asked for contributions to the
1904 campaign fund; or that he had
known of any contribution by j. r.
Morgan. Roosevelt added he had or
deed the return to the Standard OIL
co. of any contribution II might have
made in 1904; that he had been as
sured by George Cortelyou only yes
terday" that he knew OF no such con-
tribution; that he did not believe Cor
helus Bliss had ever demanded con-
tbution from Archbold or from any
corporation by any methods of extor-
ton.
Roosevelt did not deny the corpora :
tions had contributed to the 1904
campaign. He said his letters and
published statements always had
acknowledged that fact, but specified
no such contribution were ever OBJ
tanned under any suggestion of the
administration that 1t would reward
givers with special endeavor.
The Colonel was forceful and en-
phatic witness. He talked two hours
and was interrupted but half a dozen
times. His testimony bristled with
Characteristic statements
Senator Penrose should be driven
from the Senate" he declared. be
cause Of his acknowledged friendliness
with the standard Oil interests. Chas.
d. Hilles and Congressman Bartholdt
should be forced to prove their state
ments that the Roosevelt primary
campaign funds this year amounted to
three or four millions or should be
driven out of public life."
Asked about the Hartman fund
Roosevelt interrupted and asked the
committee to explain the charges that
have been made" in regular order. and
Chairman Clapp acquiesced.
There is no testimony against me,
except in the form of hearsay evil
dence," the Colonel said, "the hearsay
statements of men that are dead.
"Archbold and Penrose purport to
give statements Of what Bliss had to
say; Bliss Is dead. ODell and the
other gentlemen refer to statements
made by Hartman, who is deed"
Roosevelt said he had not intended
to bring his former secretay, william
Loeb. into the controversy, but as the
committee had already determined TO
call Loeb, he had asked him to bear
out his statements.
The Colonel then spoke Of the letter
published in Hearst's Magazine from
Congressman Sibley.
1T is the letter." the Colonel said,
which in substance states Sibley
came to see me to speak to me about
seeing Archbold, and I said would
De delighted to see him and asked
sibiey to bring Archbold to lunch. I
oon't remember ever having talked TO
s'o'ey In that matter. but II is very
possible I may have done so. Any in
V'tation I may have extended was the
result of a request Of sIbley. al