These letters uncovered one of the gravest scandals that had ever involved an American public man; they instantaneously destroyed Senator Foraker's political career and hastened his death.
They showed that this brilliant man had been obtaining large sums of money from the Standard Oil Company while he was filling the post of United States Senator and that at the same time he was receiving suggestions from Mr.Archbold about pending legislation.

Mr.Rockefeller was not personally involved, for he had retired from active business many years before these things had been done; but the Standard Oil Company, with which his name was intimately associated, was involved and in a way that seemed to substantiate the worst charges that had been made against it.

At this time Page, as a member of the General Education Board, was doing his part in helping to disperse the Rockefeller millions for public purposes; his magazine was publishing Mr.
Rockefeller's reminiscences; there are editors who would have felt a certain embarrassment in commenting on the Archbold transaction.

Page, however, did not hesitate.

Mr.Archbold, hearing that he intended to treat the subject fully, asked him to come and see him.