Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-08-12
Washington, D. G. Aug

Every once In while there springs
up new rumor as to Secretary Shaw's
candidacy for the presidency in 1904.
There has just come to publicity, how
ever, letter which Mr. Shaw wrote to
certain Missouri editor about June /
which very plainly lays down his posi-.
tlon on the matter. His statement is
very positive that he will not allow any
presidential aspirations of his to stand
in the way of MI. Roosevelt's renomi-
nation in 1904. Mr.. Shaw has made no
declaration of what his attitude will be
in 1908 on the subject, and an effort to
getssuch a statement from him recent
ly resulted in nothing definite being
aScertained.
Intimate friends of Secretary Shaw
do not hesitate to express in very plain
terms their belief that the intermittent
mention of his name for the presidency
in 1904 is being made by other poll,
ticians for Interior purposes. Mr.
Shaw has lately taken occasion to
mention to personal friends his annoy.
ance at the mention of his name in
connection with the next national
campaign. Such talk and action on
the part of certain politicians has been
exceedingly embarrassing to Mr.. Shaw
whose devotion to the cause of Presi
dent Roosevelt is known to be unalter.
able. 1t is known that the secretary
at the time of Mr.. McKinley's funeral
said to Secretary Wilson at Canton and
to Senator Cullom at Chicago and 9th.
ers that prior to the death of Mckinley
it was proper for anyone who so desir-
ed to play checkers with Mr.. Roosevelt
and beat him in the game if he could,
but now that he had assumed the dut-
les of his Office under these peculiar
circumstances, he thought it was es-
sential that every republican should
do all he could to make his administra-
ton a success, and that no man could
give him unqualified support who was
watching for an opportunity to under
mine. He then told Secretary Wilson
to say to the President for him that so
far as Iowa was concerned there would
be no wires stretched across his path
way.
Mr.. ShaW's Letter.
Before Mr. Roosevelt fixed on the
appointment of Mr.. Shaw as secretary
of the treasury it was expected by re-
publican leaders that Mr. Shaw would
be candidate for the presidency in
1904. Less than two years ago Senator
Allison said that Secretary Shaw was
his candidate. 1t was supposed that
Mr.. Shaw's appointment would stop
the talk but the fact that it has kept
up was undoubtedly what caused the
secretary to write the letter in ques-
ton which reads as follows:
'.My Dear Sir:-I am in receipt of
your letter and while desire to thank
you for the kind words you have been
pleased to say, and for the hopes ex.
pressed and pledges made, desire to
say: Please do not connect my name
with 1904.
"sNo man has ever given this country
more thoroughly honest and con
scientious administration than it is
now receiving at the hands of Presi
dent Roosevelt. He came to the office
in the most unfortunate manner He
did not desire the nomination to the
vice-presidency, but took it at the so
licitation of his friends, and now i,
seems to me that there should be nc
other thought in the minds of anyone
than his denomination.
81 wish you knew the President as
! well as | do. He is not only prince
among men, but peer of statesmen
Again thanking you for the friend
ship expressed in your letter am,
Yours sincerely
81. NJ. Shaw"