The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1893-09-30
MR. WHITNEYSDETENSE
He Denies the Alleged Sale Of an
Alubassadorship,
VAN AIM NOT PROMISED OFFICE

In His Letter TO the President MIR. whit
ney said. "Ihore Is No Obligation Upon
You TO Appoint Him"-Mr. Van Allen
Also Denies the Alleged Deal.
NEW YoHK. Sept. 2s.-wilam C Whit
ney who had been charged with promising
the Italian mission to J. J. Van Allen in
return for $4,000 contribution to the
Democratic campaign fund, gives out for
publication the following letter to the
NewsYork World.
To the Editor Of The World-It 7 alone
were concerned I should pay no attention
TO the slanderous matter contained in
your issue Of yesterday, headed Van
Alen's Bargain So fer as | personally
am concerned, any one who chooses to think
me capable Of bargaining an Office for a
political contribution is welcome to their
opinion. Having lived good part Of my
life In public affairs am certain that no
one for whose opinion / have the least re-
gard would entertain the thought for
moment But there is much more than
my personality in this matter. Mr.. Van
Allen has been set upon and oaricatured
and libeled i'm every way. ! propose to re-
lieve him from blame so far as | have
had relations with him.
The allegation is specific enough and i'm
putes to most dishonorable transaction.
What is the TRUTH have had nothingto
10 with Mr. Van Aliens candidacy except
what is'pontained in the following oommu-
nication-to the president With the presi-
dent personally have never exchanged a
word on the subject The letter and the
interview accompanying It contain a com
2lete answer TO the allegations:
Dear Mr.. President. enclose a clipping
from The New York Sun, which covers
what purports to be an interview with me
regarding the candidacy Of Mr.. Van Allen
for the mission to Italy. The interview is
substantially correct.
/ think in justice TO Mr. Van Allen l
ought to say more. l made it clear to
| everybody in the campaign that / would
assume no obligations, tacit or expressed,
as to the offices or appointments, and you
are quite aware that you have not been
asked to perform any con tracts Of this ma
ture, so far as | know.
Mr.. Van Allen Is a gentleman, and gave
what he contributed TO the campaign
freely and from an interest in the success
Of the party. He had previously identified
himself warmly with the party in Rhode
Island. His candidacy has the support Of
! y
have been called upon by these men to
see that his warm support of our party
should not initiate against his candidacy.
| l therefore break the silence which
have heretofore maintained since the in
auguration to say 1 know Mr.. Van Allen
we'll and he is, In my Judgment, in every
way adapted to the position which he
seeks, and that / sincerely hope that the
malicious stories which have found their
way into print will not affect him ad-
versely.
| There is no obligation upon you to ap-
! point him to any office; but there is the
additional reason for appointing him that
as the result Of very patriotic, generous
and cordial support fthe party in the late
campaign, when friends were few and
calls were great, he has been accused OF
iishonorable bargaining This, as you
know, is the first time you have been ap-
preached by me on the subject of ap
Dointments. Very sincerely yours,
W. C., WHITNEY.
The interview referred to appeared in
The Sun Of June 8, and the points con-
.ained in it are practically reiterated in
The above letters.
Mr.. Whitney then quotes letter which
was written by Mr.. Van Allen to friend
who had made inquiries regarding the al
legged deal. In it Mr. Van Allen says:
II am much surprised at the charges
you say have been made against me. Ger
5ainly If the president believes them my
appointment to any position would be
scandalous. l can only say that these
charges, that 1 stated | was to have dip
lomatic position in exchange for money
subscribed by me for political purposes,
are utterly false, and l defy any one to
prove that have written, spoken or hinted
st one word indicating in any way such an
agreement. l should be a combination OF
knaye, fool and liar TO have made such a
statement, for there was absolutely no un-
derstanding between myself and any one
that should have any Office under the
government"
Mr.. Whitney concludes:
81 trust you will gather from these let
ters and interviews that instead Of there
being any contract that Mr. Van Allen
should have the Italian mission the presi.
dent was distinctly, in terms, informed by
met There is no obligation upon you to
appoint him TO any office Mr.. Van Allen
had the support Of his state for this ap.
pointment, was personally known to the
president, and was selected as a gentle,
man deemed competent and fit for the
post"