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Show ROOSEVELT 01 cwra FUNDS NEW YORK, Dec. 21. The following follow-ing correspondence between Theodore Roosevelt and George R Sheldon, treasurer of the Republican national committee, was made public today: "December 15, 1911 "Hon. Theodore Roosevelt, Oyster Bay, N Y "Dear Mr Rooseelt Ever since the election of 1904 the story has boen continuously published and never denied, de-nied, except by you that you aske I E. H Harriman to contribute money to aid in your election and that he thereupon there-upon raised or contributed S250.000 to tho national committee fund Knowing Know-ing this to he untrue, I sevoral times suggested to my superior officer, C N Bliss, then treasurer of the national na-tional committee, that the facts In the case be p'alnly stated. "Mr. Bliss always belleed that tho books and accounts of tho national committee were prhate, and, although always carried on b him with the highest sensq of integrity and honor, he never, like all of his xjontemnor- ' arles would consent to any publicity This feeling has been change i In the last few ears by the laws requiting full publlcitv In elections It cms, therefore, to me that now In Justice to you the facts In the case ought to be known "Everyone knew and conceded that In the election of 1904 you wou'd carry the state of New York by a hrsp plurality but it was cronanll believed that Mr. Miggins would ho defeated The Democrats ceu'oied their efforts on the election of then candidate for goernorl About a wck be'ore the election Mr Odell. then -chairman of the New Yoik state com m'ttec, ,camo to Mr BMss an 1 told him E that unless he had $25 000 from the G national committee that the stuto ; ticket would bo defeated Mr Bliss i told Chairman Odell that he had no fjj money to give but would seo wh it k could be done. He risked E H Hnr- ; nman at his office and explainel to b him the urgencv of the situation as h told by Mr Odoll (j "Mr Harriman thereupon called un I opral of his frlondR on tho t-plephono -md next dav handed Mi Bl'ss Sififi - nno Mr Bliss himself raised sn nnn ' This sum of $240,000 was handed dl- i rectly to Chairman Odell and never &, In anv way went Into the treasury of i the national committee, which had In L charge tho presidential election. I K have personal knowledge of all the g within mntion"d facts Very truly p yours, (Signed) E "GFORGR R. SHELDON. g "Treasurer Republican National Com- k mlttee." Rooscve't'3 Reply. Ej "Now York, December 17, 1911. H "The Outlook, 287 Fourth Avenue, Office of Theodore Roosevelt. BB "Mr George Sheldon, Now York City. M "Dear Mr. Sheldon I thank you for ttj vour letter and I am glad that it wis nj written. There Is little for me to add 1 to what you have said. I neer dl- U rectly or Indlrect'y, In any shape, way H or form, asked Mr Harriman or anv- M body elseto contribute a dollar to aid H In my election. Moreover, on the only occasion on which Mr. Harriman Q sno"ke to me on th subject at all, he g did so of his own Initiative; and so far I from there being any request from 1 mo to him, he made to mo tho request $ that I would aid him In cutting the & nnHrmnl nnmmtftno trt rrmtrf finfr a enm of its funds for the campaign expenses of Mr. Hlgglns. tho candidate for governor gov-ernor of New York state. "He at the time stated to me that my own election was assured; that the election of Mr. Higglns. in which ho was especially interested, was doubt ful, and that he earnestly hoped that ! tho national committee would divert some of Its funds from tne national to tho Btato campaign, where tho need was great and where he believed the election of Mr. Higglns to be In Jeo- Ipardy. It was shown in your letter this " Is precisely -what the national , committee did. Vory truly yours, ' "THEODORE ROOSEVELT." |