The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1912-10-10

Col. Roosevelt Acquits Him
self, Campaign Managers
and His Administration
WAS ON STAND THREE HOURS


swer Infamous Charges That Had
Been Made on Hearsay Evidence
Knew Nothing of Morgan's Contri-
bution-Cortelyou and Loeb Back
Up the Colonel's Testimony-Read
Letters To Committee Showing He
Had Told His Campaign Managers
They Must Not Accept Money From
Trusts That We're Being Prosec0t-
ed-Says Penrose Should BE
Thrown Out OF Senate.
Washington, d. c., Oct 4.-Theo-
dore Roosevelt, for seven years Presi-
dent OF the United States and candi-
date for reelection on the National
Progressive ticket, occupied a wit
ness chair for three and a half hours
to-day before Senate investigating z
committee, defending his adIGInistra-
ton, himself and his campaign asso-
ciates against what he termed in
famous charges" and "hearsay. evil
dence"
He appeared before the committee
at his own request, to answer the
statmeents made in August by John
d. Archbold that the Standard Oil
Company had given 100000 to the
! Republican campaign fund in 1904,
under the impression that President
Roosevelt knew of, and approved ac-
ceptance of the contribution.
Not only did Colonel Roosevelt de-
ny this, but he put into the formal
records of the committee a sweeping
denial that he had ever solicited
funds from any one while President;
that any money had been received by
the 1904 campaign committee with
an express or implied promise of fa-
yOrs from the administration; that
excessive funds had been used in his
1904 or 1908 campaign; or that
money had ever been improperly
used in his behalf SO far as he knew
| In reference to the Hartman fund
of $4,000, raised in 1904, Colonel
Roosevelt declared the statements of
! ]. P. Morgan, George r. Sheldon and
others had fully corroborated his
earlier statements that this fund was
raised expressly for the New York
State campaign, and had not been So
licited by him for his own support in
! the fight for the Republican nomina-
| tioI that year.
No Reference to National Fund.
There was not one word spoken
| by Mr.. Hartman or by me having e
any reference to any collection of
! funds for the national campaign" he
said, referring to his interview with
Mr.. Hartman in October, 1904. "On
! the contrary, the request was from
MIR. Hartman that, inasmuch as we
| had ample funds for the national
campaign, and as the national cam
paign was safe, we could help him
out in the State campaign"
Darkest Abyssianian Treatment"
He referred to Archbold's state
ment that the Roosevelt administra-
tion's treatment of the Standard Oil
Company rivaled Darkness Abys-
sinia'
"It is true that when l was Presi-
dent l administered the Darkest
Abyssinian treatment to the Standard
Oil Company" the witness declared,
but it was because it needed it. II
am President again, | will again
administer it to any corporation Of
the Standard Oil type that may need
it,"
The Colonel added that a strength
ening of the Antitrust law was need
ed.
The next statement that I want
to call your attention to-" he resum-
ed, ''is that of Mr.. Archbold that
when the Bureau of Corporations
began its investigation of the Stand
ard Oil, Mr.. Archbold went to Mr..
Bliss to call me of. He testified that
Mr.. Bliss told him I have no inf1u-
ence with Mr.. Roosevelt, I cannot
help you That statement is only
partially true, for Mr.. Bliss did have
great respect for Mr.. Bliss. But it is
true that neither Mr.. Bliss nor any
other human being had the slightest
influence with me so far as getting
me to refrain from prosecuting any
corporation for breaking the law.
All those men who testified against
me testified that l refused to do. or
did not do anything improper in
their interest. And they are all now
supporting the candidates against
me-those who are alive
McHarg Had Made No Promises.
The letter Colonel Roosevelt wrote
to Ornsby McHarg March 4, 1912,
folir wed In this letter he expressed
confidence that there was no truth In
the story about an attempt to get