Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-11-04
Appearance In Print of Letter
Written by Roosevelt Causes
Surprise
THE NAMES ARE LEFT OUT
1t is Generally Believed, However, to
Have Been Sent to Representative
John w. Dwight, of Dryden, N. "
Emphasizes Presidents Position in
Investigation of Postoffice Scandal.

political nor social reasons to keep him
from going to the bottom of the post
office scandal is shown in a letter writ
ten by him which has just found it's
way into print thru the medium of the
Review of Reviews, edited by Dr.. AL
bert Shaw. This letter, marked per
sonal,' is as follows:
white House. Washington. q. c.,
Oct. =. 1903.-vMy Dear Congressman:
The statement alleged to have been
made by Inspector -, that l ord
cred his indictment-or that Of anyone
else-is lie, just as much of lie as
II it had been stated l had ordered that
any one should not be indicted
MY directions have been explicit,
and are explicit now that anyone who
is guilty is to be prosecuted to the ut
most rigor of the law. No one who Is
not guilty is to be touched. care not
rap for the political or social inf1u-
ence of any human being when the
question is one as to his guilt or inno-
cense on such matter as corruption in
the government service.
Il not what you say that the circu-
lation of this report about me may
ALLEVIATE the support of many Of
-'s friends from my admins
tration. Frankly, I feel that any one
who would believe such a story must
be either lacking in intelligence. or else
possessed. of malignant credulity.y II
any one is to be alienated from me by
the fact that direct the prosecution
regard to his political or social stand
ing, when it appears he is guilty of
gross wrongdoing, why all Lean say is,
let him be alienated.
IF District Attorney knows
anything which should be shown by the
attorney general or me as regards this
suit, should be delighted to see him.
But. frankly. / have not the slightest
desire to see him if his visit i's to be
in the interest of the welfare of the
party or my success In case like
this where the crime charged is one
that strikes at the foundations of the
commonwealth, I should hold myself
unfit for this office If l considered for
one moment either my own welfare or
of anything else except the interest of
justice. Respectfully,
THEODORE ROOSEVELT"
The letter, which was marked per
sonal." was written to "a certain con-
gresham" The letter is printed in the
Review of Reviews without Names
with the announcement that 1t was
never intended for the public. but rath-
er to make clear in a private way to
certain politicians that no further at
tempt must be made to use political ar
gument for the sake OF affecting the
presidents conduct of his plain duty"
That the letter refers to the case OF
State Senator George Greene, ,of Bing-
hampton, N. Y. whose name SHOULD be
inserted in the first blank space, there
is no doubt, and is not denied. 1t Is
said that 1t was not sent as a reply to
a written appeal in behalf of Senator
Greene, but followed conversation be-
tween the president and the congress-
man in question held last month at the
white house, and only intended to en-
phasige the presidents verbal explain
alton.
1t is not denied there or affirmed at
the white house that the letter was sent
to Representative John w. Dwight, of
Dryden. New York. The president re-
ceived Mr.. Dwight at Washington last
month when he called at the white
house 1t is supposed that at that time
he discussed the Greene case with the
president.
Does Il Mean Platt2
In the surmises made here as to
whose name should be filed In In the
second blank space in the published let
ter. where the president, speaks of the
alienation of the support of many Of
-s friends" Senator Platt's
name has been mentioned by many,
while others say that the president
means Senator Green, who has many
friends in New York state politics. The
district attorney referred to i!s the one
who has been conducting the case at
1t was stated at the white house last
week, when rumors of this letter were
In circulation. that 1t would not be CIV
en- out for publication here, AS 1t was
not letter intended for such purposes.
It's appearance In the magazine, there
FORE is matter of some surprise al
as 1t was not thought that
the, representative to whom II. was adj
dressed would give 1t to the public.
Secretary Loeb announced yesterday
that nothing whatever would be said