The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-03-18
"Didn't Say It."

| Dhuu Cay ~
Washington, ID. C., March 5.-A
clear issue on varacity has been drawn
between President Roosevelt. and sew
eral members of the Tennessee delega-
ton. The issue Is whether Mr.. Roose-
welt stated to the Tennesseeans that
he would see Senator Carmack In
hades before he would do anything for
him, or whether he did not say 1t.
Mr.. Roosevelt denies saying 1t. The
congressman say he did make the
statement.
Incidentally, Mr.. Carmack today de-
clared he Is too good o. Democrat to
ever ask any favors at the hands of the
Republican president and he added
that the statement OF the president was
entirely gratuitous.
The episode in which the statement
Is alleged to have been made took
place several days ago. congressman
Richardson, Gaines, Sims, Psdgett and
BrownlOw, had called on Mr.. RoOse-
velt, with ex.Secretary Of State w. s.
Morgan, who wanted place a. canal
commissioner. The president, it Is
alleged, declared he was delighted to
favor them when he could. It Is al
legged that he then added:
''But there Is one OF your colleagues
whom I would see In hsdes before I
would do anything for him."
"Helr' On Hrs Lips.
He started to use the word hell and
had it half spoken when he changed
1t to hades, according to the congress-
men. The Tennessee members
thought the remark applied TO Sena-
tor Carmack, because they knew the
president was very bitter towards the
senator for his attacks on. the policy
of the administration in the Indfanola
case and in the PHILIPPINE Islands.
Someone told Senator Carmack Of the
remark and 1t has found its way into
print.
Yesterday the president sent for
Major J. NJ. Carson, OF The New York
Times, and denied the statement at
tributed to him. Last night Senator
Carmack said:
"Mr. Richardson told me that the
president did not call my name but
that he snd all the rest OF them under
stood that he referred to me, and since
I had heard OF 1t. he thought, 1t was
due that should hear the true story.
He then told me Of the incident and
said after the president had nearly got
the word "heil" out Of his mouth; be
checked himself and changed It to
'hades' and that he did not call my
name.
II afterwards saw Mr.. Gaines and
.Ir l. et,n kor nd tNI
just about as Mr.. Richardson had.
Mr.. Sims said that his attention had
momentarily been diverted and while
he heard the latter part OF the state
ment I would SEE him In hades be-
fore would do anything for him. he
did not, at the time understand that 1t
referred to any member Of the Tennes-
see delegation.
Believes His Friends.
"Of course know thai these gentle.
men told me the truth and no mans
denial can make me believe otherwise.
The president Is, Of cnurse. at liberty
to say that he referred TO some other
senator or representative from Tennes-
zee, though the gentlemen present had
me. The effect upon my feelings IL
the same whether the reference was
to me or to any Of my colleagues In
either house.
ut was an unprovoked and entirely
gratuitous affront to the whole state,
for there Ia no man In the whole dele
CATION, Democrat or Republican, who
does not bear the character Of an hon.
est man and q gentleman, and who
has not conducted himself a. such In
all his relations with the administra-
ton.
"For myself I accept the interpreta-
ton Of my colleagues and believe that
the president referred to me. The
gratuitOusness of this cowboyish ebul-
lition appears in the fact that when
Mr.. Morgan asked me to 60 with the
delegation to the white house. ! told
him plainly that could not do 30, as
l did not desire to ask any favOrs Of
the president, but that II I could serve
han in any other way should be
glad to do 10.
"Mr. Morgan had the promise Of
support from q very distinguished
senator from another state and I told
him l would see this senator and get q
letter from him. I afterwards saw the
senator, bnt he told me that he had In
the meanwhile been treated with such
indignity by the president that he
could not afford TO address him q
communication upon any other sub
ject whatever.