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About The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 30, 1912)
lTr" jjrjw. I S Ifc i id 4 n.- The Commoner. VOLUME 12, NUMBER 34 1 j Secrets of the Republican Campaign 'Fund Leak Following Is an Associated Press dispatch: Washington, D. C, Aug. 21. In a careful, deliberate speech in tho sonato late today, Senator Penrose of Pennsylvania, replied to charges made regarding a certificate of deposit for $25,000, sent him by John D. Archbold of the Standard Oil company in 1904. Senator Penroso admitted receiv ing that sum from Archbold.Mmt uaid it was part of a collection of a con tribution of $150,000 made by Arch bold to the republican national cam paign, $100,000 of which amount, he said, wont to the republican national committee, and $250,000 to himself for uso in Pennsylvania. "Roosevelt had been advised of tho contribution," Senator Penrose declared. Tho senator said that later Cornelius N. Bliss, then treas urer of tho national committee, asked for another contribution of $150, 000 from Archbold and his associates "interested in the socialist." "The demand -was urgent, insis tant I may say imperative and it was reported it came direct from Roosevelt," declared Senator Pen roso. William Flinn, Roosevelt leader in Pennsylvania, was scored by Pen roso. Tho senator charged that in 1904 Flinn offered him and Israel W. Durham $1,000,000 or $2,000, 000, if they would favor his candi dacy to the senate to succeed Sena tor Quay. Penrose read whnt nnr- ported to be copies of telegrams to snow mat Minn asked John D. Arch bold to assist him in securing the election. Senator Penroso also attacked E. A. Van Valkenberg, editor of the Philadelphia North American, and referred to the "effrontry, hypocrisy and mendacity of the Van Valken-berg-Flinn commission. Galleries Wore Crowded Jsl1The galleries of the senate were filled m response to the announce ment that Senator Penrose was to Speak. He read his speech from printed proofs, and talked slowly and impressively. At the conclusion of his speech tho senator promised further disclosures. Senator Stone of Missouri asked him if ho know anything of the contribution of E. H Harriman to the 1904 republican campaign fund. "The papers are on file, and let tors, exist," said Senator Penrose, wiuuu i unnic, aunng the campaign, will see the light of day. I think it would bo very beneficial to the coun try if they should become public. "Where are they now?" asked Senator Stone, "They are hidden in the archives of the campaign committee, in the collars and vaults of business men, ana in tne omces" or lawyers," re turned Senator Penroso. "I think the time has como when these charges should be met and Ihe American people should no -longer be gulled by answers which insinuate that .another man is a liar." Penrose had Toad by the clerk, a newspaper interview with Colonel Roosevelt in which .the latter was quoted as saying that Penrose had nothing to do with tho presidential campaign of 1904. The senator said ho was a member of tho national committee, chairman of tho Pennsyl vania state committee, and conducted the campaign in Pennsylvania. "Mr. President, is this ingratitude, mendacity or political aphasia?" he demanded. A ripple of laughter greeted this question, and Penrose seized his big palm leaf fan and settled into his scat. Culberson Calls Up Bill Senator Bacon asked to whom the $2,000,000 was to be paid by tho "citizen who wanted to be elected to tho senate." "I suppose either Mr. Durham, or myself," responded Mr. Penrose. "We did not get that far in the con sideration of the business." Senator Culberspn of Texas, seeing a psychological opportunity, immedi ately called up his bill forbidding campaign contributions by corpora tions, and limiting the amount to be contributed by individuals to $5,000. A filibuster developed and after a half dozen roll calls on it the senate was forced to adjourn. Senator Penrose in his speech, said, in part: "Certain letters from John D. Archbold, addressed to me, have re cently been published. "Their publication now, with the malignant insinuations comprising them, is in the nature of political blackmail. The purpose Is to punish, coerce, or intimidate me because of my political course. The. statement that there is any connection between the industrial commission and acer taln check from John D. Archbold, is false, malicious and without justifi cation. "I now come to the letter alleged to have been written to me by John D. Archbold inclosing a certificate of deposit in my favor for $25,000, written under date of October 13, 1904. I have reason to believe this letter is a fororfirv nnri t M,oiiAn Its publication, but at the time it was well known that duringtho presiden tial campaign of 1904 I did receive such a contribution from Mr. Arch bold for the campaign In Pennsyl vania. Had Roosevelt's Sanction r"?-,0LnF after the contribution of $100,000 to the republican na tional committee, Mr. Bliss, on behalf of the committee called again to see Mr. Archbold, and asked for a fur ther contribution of $150,000 He represented that Mr. Roosevelt had been advised of the original con tribution, as had the chairman of the republican national, committee, Mr Cortejyou, and that the contribution was appreciated by both, but the need of further financial assistance was badly felt at headquarters and that such further assistance would be stiU more appreciated "In- the camnatpn nf iqaj .. " " 'v, uu con tribution was made to the Pennsyl vania republican state committee by the republican national committee and hence the special arrangement for the, Pennsylvania republican state committee in this Instance. "The malicious attempt now made to misrepresent a transaction which at the time wnn onfimw it ", proper, is only part of the systematic S of the Flinn-Van ValkeiSurg hrina"n, in Pnsylvania, to break me down and deceive the people through tho unscrupulous methods of yellow journalism "Mr. William Flinn, of this un savory combination, which until re cently Mr Roosevelt would have been quick to denounce and rnn,,. dlate-, has made a fortune out of crooked municipal contracts and cor rupt control of municipal councils and state legislatures. Indicted for Bribery "Mr. E. A. Van Valkenburg, edi tor of .the North 'American in Phila delphia, was arrested and indicted for bribery in my first senatorial con test in 1896, and only escaped con viction through the leniency of Seua- tui vuu; uuu uyuu. mo imyixiuut UJ. about $10,000, for costs for lawyers, detectives, and for other expenses of prosecution, which amount was paid by his attorney the day before the trial was set to take place. "Upon the death of Senator Quay in 1904, Mr. Flinn became a candi date to succeed him in the United States senate. In Philadelphia dur ing a discussion of the successorship to Senator Quay, Mr. Flinn offered to Israel W. Durham, a republican leader in Pennsylvania, and to me $1,000,000 or even $2,000,000 to favor his ambition, and tho offer was known to others at the time. The offer was declined and we refused to support his candidacy." Wilkesbarro, Pa., Aug. 21. An attack on Penrose was made by Colonel Roosevelt tonight after he had read the senator's statement in the senate today. The ex-president quoted from letters and telegrams which he sent to George B. Cortel you, chairman of the republican na tional committee, in 1904, to prove that no contributions had been ac cepted from tho Standard Oil com pany. "Mr. Penrose and his allies and the entire crowd of crooked politi cians and crooked financiers who have attempted to . make these at tacks upon me," said Colonel Roose velt, "have made them and are mak ing them, not only knowing they are false but because they know that the forces behind me, which I at this time represent, are the. only forces which the croo"ked politicians and crooked .financiers of the- country have, really to fear. "The only part of Mr. Penrose's statements that, needs, comment by me.ls that portion, in which -he as serts that I had been advised of a heavy campaign contribution from Mr. Archbold in behalf of the Stand ard Oil company to tho republican 5? I0??, camPalen committee, and that I directly or indirectly requested a contribution from Mr. Archbold and. his ARnnnintna )n(Ani.j n Standard Oil company. This state ment is false." Colonel Roosevelt then read from copies of letter which he said he had sent to Mr. Cortelyou in the lat ter part of October in 1904. In these I wr h o.SaI? he bad been inarmed that the Standard Oil people had con tributed $100,000 to the campato and he told Mr. Cortelyou that if it was true that m, J.A,L had been made the money should be returned at once. oe He wrote that, "In view of the opinion and pronounced opposition of tne Standard Oil .company to th establishment of a bureau of cor porations, one of the most important accompl ishments of my admintatS- Ite Vd rn0t foel billing to accept its aid. I request, therefore thJrf the contributions be returned with out further delay." "Mr. Cortelyou informed me," said Mr. Roosevelt, "that there had been no contribution from the Standard Oil people and that none would be re- n?ihetd, Ver th0 telPhone iSt night, in response to a question of SSI?' Val5. he had tha time made the statement and his memory and mine agreed as to the circumstances of the occurrence If any contribution was received it was against my explicit and reiterated directions as set forth in these let ters in response to which, as I hav said, Mr. Cortelyou informed that my directions would be complied with and no contributions accented from the Standard Oil people JSow York Aug. 21. George B Cortelyou, chairman of the renubll can national committee in 1904 had his attention called tonight to Sena tor Penrose's statements regarding alleged Standard Oil contributions to the republican campaign fund in that year: ' "I have no comment to make," ho said, "other than to refer you to my testimony on July 11, before the senate sub-committee on privileges and elections:" In this testimony before that committee-, Mr. Cortelyou said he had never hbard of Mr. Archbold or any one else in his behalf making a con tribution. Attack Roosevelt Washington, Aug. 22. -John D. Archbold of the Standard Oil com pany will appear at 9:30 o'clock to morrow morning before the sub-committee of the senate investigating campaign contributions. The an nouncement that he would appear followed a day of bitter recrimination- on the floor of the senate, de voted to an effort to show that For mer President Roosevelt knew that funds contributed by big corporations were used to help him. in 1904. Tho attack on Fofmer President Roosevelt today originated in a col loquoy between Sehator Reed of Mis souri, a democrat, and Senator Boies Penrose of Pennsylvania, who pre sented a resolution demanding an in vestigation of the circumstances set forth m his statement to the senate 2SSAArAdAy In whIch h charged that $100,000 of Standard Oil money went into the 1904 Roosevelt cam paign fund, with President Roose velt's knowledge. i. 1 Roosevolf Has a Defender ' -Senatdrs Penrose, "Reed and Wil liams each attacked Colonel Roose velt and Senator Pohutexter of Wash ington, as supporter of the new pro gressive party, came to his defense, faenatof Poindexter charged that a combination of "regular republicans" and democrats were at work to de fame Colonel Roosevelt The decision fn aiimmstn XT-.. A -1. I bold at once was made by Senator u.lty cany . 1D. laQ aay Defore taG Interrogation of Senator Penrose by Senator Reed began. He got into communication with Mr. Archbold in New York by long distance telephone and the Standard Oil official agreed to appear. Senator Pomerene of Ohio was designated to sit as the democratic member of the special committee until the return of either Senator Lea or Senator Paynter. The debate between Senators Reed and Senator Penrose was marked by the readiness with which the latter replied to Senator Reed's questions. Early in the afternoon the two sena tors, with Senator Smith of Mary land, had a short conference in ono of the rooms adjoining the senate chamber. Senator Penrose,- In answer to questions' from Senator Reed, de clared that, '-'according to his infor mation," Colonel Roosevelt knew that $100,000 of Standard Oil money had been received in 1904 before he wrote a letter directing that any Standard Oil contributions be re turned. A new element was injected in tho political imbroglio when Senator Penrose suggested to Senator Reed: "There has come to my notice quite a lot of information leading to the thought that some three million dollars was underwritten by Georgo W. Perkins and his associates to nominate Mr. Hoosevelt for the presi dency of the regular republican party in the present 'campaign for their own personal uses. Evidence regarding this matter will be sub mitted to the proper senate com- : H 'IV if - .ycaara rtfKg . ' fi-Wiirv ttt : j