Omaha daily bee., 1905-10-02
Friends of Former Minister Say He Urged
President to Dismiss Loomis,
lR. ROOSEVELT CoNrRADlcTS STATEMENT
Says Secretary Objected to Even Light
Censure of hr. Loomis.
REGARDED BOwtSS CHARGES PERSONAL
Says lie Was DisloyaI 10 the Depart
ment of Administration
and to His COun-
WASHINGTON.

| WASHINGTON. oct. lin correspon-
dence between President Roosevelt and
Assistant Secretary Of State Loomis made
public here tonight, the president says
Secretary Hay disagreed with him on even
mild censure OF Mr. Looms in the Taft
report on the investigation of the charges
/ brought by Mr. Bowen, formerly minister
! to Venezula ana adds that Secretary Hay
| very strongly condemned Mr.. Bowcns
| course. The president quoted Mr.. Hay
as declaring that most Of the charges were
really against himself (NIr. Hay), and
mot against Mr.. Loomis at all and that
! Mr.. Bowen knew that
The statement made public is as follows
In order to make known the real facts
concerning n widely current misappre-
| hension respecting certain views of the
| late secretary of state, Mr. Hay, the fol-
| lowing correspondence was given to the
press today.
Department Of state, Washington, d. c..
Dear Mr.. President: For some time past
there has appeared in various newspapers,
including some Of the journals published
| In New York statements, more or less
direct, to the effect that grave differences
of opinion existed between yourself and the
late secretary of state, Mr.. Hay, concern
| ing both myself and the action to be taken
| by you on the findings and report of Sec
retary Taft in the matter of charges made
| against me by Bowen, former United
States minister to Venezuela. l will cite
a case i'm point:
Not long ago a responsible New York
paper, to which, | am reliably informed
on the best authority, Mr.. Bowen has been
! freely offering material for use, printed
| the following paragraph:
Practically the last official act of Mr..
| Hays life was to visit the White House
not to dismiss Bowen and to dismiss
| Loomis, but learning the presidents mind
was made up, he went away with his mes
'7Mr Hay thoroughly disliked and dis
trusted him (myselD and told the presi-
dent so, but was unable to produce any
effect on the presidents mind"
Similar suggestions. more or less circum-
stantial in form, have so frequently APP
peared in the public prints that l am con-
! strained to inquire whether insofar you
are aware, they are supported by any basis
do not know what private conversation
may have taken place between yourself
of conduct while j WAS connected with the
service of the public. but do know from
opinion of Mr.. Bowen and know full
well both the unfailing courtesy with which
Mr.. Hay received my many suggestions
concerning departmental matters and the
personal cordiality which he always mani
tested toward me.
In December last l went TO MIR. Hays
house and told him that ! expected to re-
sign from the department within the course
of the next eight or nine months He was
II am extremely sorry to hear this /
have always hoped you would remain In
in the cabinet"
on other occasions, both before and
since that time Mr. Hay accorded me
seemingly convincing proofs of his conf
dencc.
Hays request | spent at his home what
proved to be practically the last hour OF
his life in Washington He upon that oc-
casion indicated to me fully ana lucldly
as was his wont, what he wished my two
colleagues and myself to do In depart
mental action and policy to be carried out
during absence,
Bowen episode with much feeling. Among
Bowen beyond expression: that vanity ap-
peared 20 he disease with him, and that
he was both disloyal and untruthful, and
| had been treacherous not only 10 MN
/, | (Mr. Hay) but to the country.
In view of this conversation, TO which
manner 1t is difficult for me to believe
that there is any truth IN either OF me
or any others which have been printed of
! similar import.
As am very soon to retire fr9m RON The ths
that l am not unduly OF Improperly tres
} passing your time with this rather per-
Respectfully and sincerely yours,
FRANCIS r. LOOMS.
Mr.. ROOseVeltE Letter.
The presidents letter:
THE WHITE HOUSE. OYSTER BAY.
Sept 27.-My Dear Mr. Loomis: In answer
to your letter Of September %, desire TO
msnner mann IN that the Statement @ You quote as
a paragraph In certain newspapers and
especially In certain New York ne%SspaP pa Pe,rs. S,r
between myself and the late secretary OF
state Mr.. Hay. In respect 70 the action
taken by me regarding Mr.. Bowen in con-
nection with the charges against you is
not merely without foundation in fact but
is the direct reverse of the truth.
You were appointed assistant secretary
. Of state on Mr.. Hays suggestion and re-
quest He never spoke d oor3,JT TO me about you you
v of the services you were rendering and he
, expressed TO me very great regret that you
Q that he had hoped that you would stay as
I long as he did and that he would find II
, difficult to get anyone in your place whom
he would like so much.
Mr. Hay expressed himself very freely on
the occasion ci9D OF Rs sst ss 10 5sR
ever him alive, as regards the action
taken by me on the report OF MT; TAFT
v concerning the charges made by Mr. Bowen
= Not only did he express himself about
| MIR. Bowen to me in the language you quote
him as having used at about the same time
| 10 you In speaking Of Mr.. Bowen, but hd
stronger terms than those which you quote
r him' having used, and dwelt particularly
on the fact OF what he called the treach-
cry and disloyalty of Mr. Bowen 10 the
| government and to him (Mr. Hay) repeat
! ing again and again that the most OF the
charges Mr.. Bowen made were really not
- | charges against you at all, but against
!, himself. CMr. Hay)' and that Bowen OF
: Moreover, Mr.. Hay used about Mr. Bowen
. stronger language Of condemnation than
have ever heard him use about any other
:. ! man who had served under him. But this
q was not all. Mr. Hay then did what he
: very rarely did. He expressed his strona
dissent from the action l had taken in en-
n dorsng Mr.. Taft's report regards even
y the mild censuTe Of you which Il con,
o tained, stating that he disagreed with both
o Mr.. Taft and my self this point and
felt that you were in no way whatever
| censurabe, and that the only action that
!. had been called for was the dismissal OF
n Mr. Bowen and the announcement OF your
= entire YindiCatiOn. Very truly yours,
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
steamer Alameda sim Aground.
l. SAN FRANCISCO. Cal. oct 1-Th,