The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1912-10-11
WASHINGTON LETTER.

ulttee ne could remember In relation
particularly to 1904 campaign. declared
that he had contributed 6rst $Foo. 600 to
the Republican campaign fund, then
subsequent $4,000. and had given frs,
$40, 900. then a subsequent SIC, 600 to the
Taf: fund 10 1908.
Many details which the committee
sought TO obtain from the financier had
failed to impress themselves upon his
memory sufficiently, but he did correct q
few wrong impressions. For one thing,
he said the second $4,000 contributed to
Cornelius N Bliss. Republican national
treasurer, in 1894, went to the New York
State Committee to help out Odell.
He thought Bliss and Odell came for the
$4,000. He did not remember whether
National Republican Chairman Cortelyou
was with them. But he did say that Cor.
telyon came around several timesn after
money, he supposed He didn't get irri.
tated over the appeals for more contribu-
lions II got used 10 it, he told the.
committee.
Farther questioning developed that he
took The visits Of the dough bag COM
mittee rather philosophicaliy. He said
$Ioo, 600 was the usual Morgan contribu.
ton to . Republican national campaign
when it was an important one. The sum
was contributed in 1900 also. The
dough bag" committee also took these
fakcontributions as matter Of fact.
~
Representing thirty aud more great
good roads associations Of the various
states, the American Road Congress
voiced demand for new department at
Washington to be called the department
Of roads.
In other resolutions the various states
were urged to establish schools or courses
Of instruction for the teaching of high
way engineering; TO apply larger sums for
the maintenance Of public roads; 10 in
augurate the use of prison labor on public
roads or continue il where now used.
! Likewise, the action of the automobile
and dealers in setting aside
. sum equal to one third Of per cent OIL
their gross income to help ia the con-
struction Of a highway along the old
trails Of the United States, was CON-
mended.
~
For the FIRST time in the commercial
history Of Philippines. corpa led all
local exports during the fiscal year ended
June 80. But its margin over hemp was
q narrow one. as $I6.5I4.7 TAG worth Of
corpa was exported. as against SIC. 28r.-
$50 worth of hemp. Next 10 corpa and
hemp came sugar, with an expectation of
$Io. 400. SIS. OF cigars, 81. go, 900 was
exported, better showing than last year,
but somewhat behind the record for 1870. |
A halt million dollars worth of hats was
exported. Rice led all the imports, more
than $4,000. 900 worth being brought
into the, islands. Manufactures of cotton
were close second. 5000. 900 worth
being imported.
~
Colonel Theodore Roosevelt may be a
mine of valuable information about scan
dalous campaign funds, but the Clapp|
Com mittee, after an all-day effort, failed
to tap pay streak.
II is hard to determine whose fault it Is
that the Colonel did not prove q more
profitable witness for the committee and
a less profitable one tor himself. Some
blame the committee and some blame
the Colonel. Hope of getting definite
FIRST. hand information from Colonel
Roosevelt began to fade from the moment
he blithely announced early in his testi-
mouy that he never knew until Thursday
that J. P. Morgan had contributed to his,
1904 campaign fund, as he was under the
impression that Morgan was at that time
unfriendly to him because of the
Colonel's part in settling the anthracite
coal strike.
Things that the committee inlerropators
had stored away in their minds 10 ask
him, and Inconsistencies in the Roose-
welt Hartman correspondence that to the
Iiuterrogators looked like certain pitfalls,
were met by either entire absence of i'm
formation ON that particular subject, or
were plapsihly explained The absence
of Information abou, some things went
farther than never having heard of the
Morgan Could and Archbold $Ioo. 900
contributions Colonel Roosevelt did MOI
know who Mr.. Dodge was, whom Mr..
Herman had promised to see. Nor did
Colonel Roosevelt know who the late
Job1 W Gates was. The unexpected
hiatuses in the Colouel's memory con-
corning names and essentials hampered
the copmittee's progress very con-
siderably.
! These. laps $, however did not mean
that the Colonel's mind was not in fine
working order One the whole, the con-
sensus Of opinion appears 10 be that ''the
Colonel got away with it."