New-York tribune., 1905-08-29
CUMMINS ANSN ERS SHAW
Stands by HIS Guns and Tells Where
He Got His Ammunition.

Des Moines. Iowa. Aug. Ex-Governor A B. Cum
minis to-day indited reply to the letter written
to him by Leslie NJ. Shaw. Secretary of the Treas
ury, who criticised Governor Cumuns for mis-
quoting the Secretary in a speech before the Chi
cago reciprocity convention. The Governors letter
follows:
Executive ONCE, Des Moines Iowa
Mr.. Secretary; have the honor to acknow edge
your letter of the 26h inst, in which you challenge
statement that l recently made in an address
ton at Chicago. The statement is as follows:
cenH eyeTedy IN OF & sne o IN s2eeeh Te
ing that the explanation OF the refusal Of the Sen
everything to France and nothing to the United
States must do him the justice to believe lat
committed a grave offence against the prophecies
The question is accurate. made the statement
You say, respecting 1t:
"I knew that I did not say IT, or anything that
could be so interpreted but not so sure about
the report The occasion an informal luncheon
and the speech was impromptu. though not ex-
temporaneous."
You further say:
Knowing. therefore. that you would not violate
the Proprieties OF debate by quoting me without
authority as having made specific statement.
write TO inquire where you saw the report of my
speech given in your Chicago address. I have
not seen 1t, and I wish 10 correct the record as
possible
am sincerely gratifed to know that you deny
having made the statement for II was irnpossfbie
for me to reconcile 1t with the truth; am not
less grathed to be given the opportunity to advise
you Of my authority for imputing the sentiment to
you You may be against the French treaty and
may be for it, but you no more AFFORD to
mislead the public concerning its provisions than
can afford to misrepresent the statements you
make to Justify the inaction OF the Senate.
You are quite right in determining that both Of
US have had too long experience in the trial Of
cases to believe that any substantial victory can
be won either through any falsehood passive
suppression of the truth I therefore promptly
give you my authority for stating that you
reported saying in your speech at Des Mones
that the Senate failed to approve the French treaty
because it gave France everything and the United
States nothing.
In The Des Moines Capital OF Saturday May
27 1905 (the day after your speech here). you win
find a long editorial entitled Secretary Shaw"
1t deals wholly with your speech Of the day before
l quote that part of it upon which 1 relied in my
address at Chicago
TN his own original way. he drove home certain
facts that will be remembered he exposed Lhs
mohsfTathg That we were offeIinS France Oe tre
mendous bargain and getting practically nothing
If this De not a sufficient basis for the statement
Of the commonest words Of my mother tongue. La
fayette Young, the Editor Of The Des Moines
He is IN sJnDat6v Win voIT vieVs fs f % S1seif
/ speaker Of wonderful power and knows what
words mean He writes constantly concerning
tariff and reciprocity, and could have been
mistaken with respect 10 the trend and conclusion
Nhen he wrote in his vivid and striking way
that you exposed the proposed French treaty in
ing France tremendous bargain and getting
practically nothing IN return. II vas not possible
imputed TO you. I know that he could easily mis-
understand me, but it is incredible that he should
Following your example. will hand copy OF
my reply the newspapers at the time mail this
With high regard am I9P y2qrT very y7g,y;, trg,y
August Is. 1865