Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-04-29

my good faith has been questioned
by my dear and devoted friend, MIR
Bowers"
"This," interrupted Mr.. Bowers. Il
a matter that is beyond friendship"
Mr.. WINS then said he made no at
tempt to total the subscription bu,
that Col. Roosevelt himself had said
that Mr.. Cortelyou had told him the
fund was about half the size of Pres
ident McKinleys, or about $3,0Oo,00O.
Mr.. Bowers replied:
Read the record in this case" Here
Colonel Roosevelt said: / assume YOU
are reading from the official report {?
and Mr.. WINS replied: I am.
Justice Andrews remarked that, all
things considered, the evidence given by
Mr.. Corteiyou before another tribunal
was not to be taken in this one as a
fact He then asked Mr.. Bowers If he
wanted to show by Mr.. Cortelyou's tes-
timony that he estimated the actual
total Of the campaign contributions as
81, co.,
Precisely" said Mr. Bowers, land
want to show also that other persons
made other estimates. / don't see why
the witness was misled by Mr.. WINS" !
Mr.. WINS protested. saying:
II misled nobody, certainly not as
astute witness as this one. Col. Roose-
welt himself said he knew more about
the contributions than the Clapp COM
n1ittee did He voluntarily made that
statement about the S3,00O,OOO''
In reply to questions by Mr. Bowers,
Col. Roosevelt then said that the attor-
ney had "called his attention to testi-
mony before the Clapp committee. In
this way the defence got before the jury
the testimony from the hearings Of the
,,lapp committee. The testimony of a
son of Cornelius Fl. Bliss, treasurer of
the Republican National committee was
read. Receipts produced by Mr.. Bliss
son We're for contributions aggregating
less than $3,Oo0.000.
Cortelyou and Bliss
Col. Roosevelt was asked why he Sc
lected Mr.. Cortelyou and Mr.. Bliss.
"Eecause," he replied, they We're alb
solutely upright and honest. l knew
they would make no promises. l had
known both men intimately for many
years"
attention to correspondence between
him and Former United States Senator
Thomas c. Platt concerning the fran
chise tax bill.
"Col. Roosevelt, you have testified to
many conferences with Senator Plat
and suggestions received from him.
EYES," said Colonel Roosevelt. Il found
his wide knowledge of much value to me
I consulted Mr.. Platt on all important
matters that came up through my ell
tire administration. My purpose was
partly to take advantage of his expert.
ence and partly to see if I could moi
come to an agreement with him as head
of the Republican party, SO as to prevent
a break with the organization. l did not
want to disrupt the Republican party.
knew l could get good affirmative ant
right things done in Albany if l didn't
break with the party. / knew 1 coult
prevent wrong"
Col. Roosevelt went on to say:
The organization controlled bot.
houses of the legislature. I had to pre-
vent break. If there had been one
could not have had my nominees con
f1rned by the legislature.
II could go to one or two senators who
were not controlled by the organization
AFTER full investigation I became con
WINGED that the organization controlled
the Senate and if there was likely to be
an issue between me and the Senate
must go to Senator Plat, where the rea
power was behind the Senate.
II was not satisfied to have a mad.
negative result of my administration a.
governor. l wanted affirmative actor
for good"
The colonel was slapping his knee will
the palms of his hands to emphasiz
his words.
"As for the nomination." the colone
went on, II saw Senator Plat after
mad been informed he had decided t.
have me nominated for governor
Before you were elected did you maxi
| asked Mr.. Bower
| II certainly did not
Afternoon Session
| In reply to questions at the after
noon session the colonel said:
Il had a number Of talks with Sen
ator Plat about the contents of thai
letter (about the franchise taxi
Senator Plat told me he consider
ed l was unjustly attacking the COL
porations."
Did you confer with Senator Plat
about Mr.. Gelsheman?"
| Il did"
WAS his name presented to you by
| Senator Grady"
| ut was.'
why did you see Senator Crafty
HE was the leader of the Demo
cratic organization in the Senate. II
questions like that of Mr.. Gelshemar
treated the Democratic as I did the
Republican organization"
Congratulated Barnes
"As> matter of fact, you wrote {
letter congratulating Mr. Barnes foi
making the nomination Of Gov. Hughe:
unanimous, didn't your"
II did. In 1908, the man I communi
Gated with told me the men who wer,
back of Hughes were trying to breal
my influence and attack my position
paid no iced to their statements.
went right ahead, believing that III,
best men available should be nomi
mated"
who instigated the correspondence
between you and Mr.. Barnes regard