The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-10-06
SECRETARY HAY UPHELD LOOMS
Emphatic in His Condemnation Of Bow
on.
CORRESPONDENCE IN THE CASE
Details Made Public BY the President
The Assistant Secretary OF State Re-
calls the Criticisms OF Mr.. HAY
Against Minister Bowen. Which
Were Very Severe.

Washington. October lin corre-
between President .Roose-
Welt and Assistant Secretary of State
LOOMS made public here tonight, the
president says that Secretary Hay dis
with him on "even the mild
censure' of Mr. Loomis in the Taft re-
port OF the various charges brought
by Mr.. Bowen. the former minister TO
and adds that Secretary
Hay very strongly condemned Mr..
Rowen's course. The president quotes
Mr.. Hay as declaring that most of the
were really against himself
(Mr. Hay) and mot against Mr.. Loomis
at ali' and that Mr.. Bowen knew that.
The statement made public is as fol-
lows:
In order to make known the real
facts concerning a widely current mis-
apprehension respecting certain views
of the late secretary of state, Mr.. Hay,
the following correspondence was
given TO the press today:
department OF STATE,
washington, ID. c., Sept -. 1905.
Dear Mr.. President: For some time
past there have appeared in various
newspapers, including some OF the
journals published in New York, state
mentS. more OF less direct, TO the eff
feet 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 upon the findings and re-
port of Secretary Taft in the matter of
the charges made against me by Mr..
Bowen. Il former United States minis
ger to Venezuela. l will cite a case in
point:
Not long ago a responsible New
York paper, to which, | am reliably in
formed upon the best of authority, Mr..
Bowen has been freely Offering mate
rial for use, printed the following par
aGraphs:
Practically the last official act of
Nj. Hays life was to visit the White
House for the purpose of urging the
President not to dismiss Bowen and to
dismiss LOomis, out learning that the
Presidents mind was made up, he
went away with his message unspoken.
"'Mr. Hay thoroughly disliked and
distrusted him myself and told the
President SO, but was unable TO pro-
luce any effect on the Presidents
mind
similar suggestions, more or less
.circumstantial in form, have SO fire.
quently appeared in the public prints
that | am constrained to inquire
whether. insofar as you are aware,
they are supported by any basis of
truth?
Il do not know what private ON
~Versation may have taken place be-
tween yourself and Mr.. Hay coLcern-
ing me and my course of conduct while
with the public service, but
l do know from Mr.. Hays own lips
something OF his opinion concerning
Mr.. Bowen, and l knew full we'll both
the unfailing courtesy with which Mr..
Hay received my many suggestions
concerning departmental matters, and
the personal cordially which he al
ways manifested toward me.
I'm December last | went TO Mr..
Hays house and told him that | ex-
pected to resign from the department
within the curse of the ext eight or
nine months. He was good enough to
say: L am extremely sorry to hear
this; l have always hoped you would
remain in your present position as long
as | remained in the cabinet
ION other occasions, both before and
since hat time, Mr.. Hay accorded me
seemingly convincing proof of his con-
fidence.
1T may interest you 20 know that
at Mr.. Hays request | spent ut his
home what proved to be practically
the last hour Of his life in Washing
ton. Having on that occasion indicat-
ed to Eae fully and lucidly as was his
won't, what he wished my two col
leagues and myself to do in the lines
of departmental action and policy to
be carried Out during his absence, he
referred to the then recent Bowen cpl
sOde with much feeling. Among other
things he said that he was disguised
with Bowen beyond expression; that
vanity appeared to be a disease with
him, and that he was both disioyal and
untruthful, and had been ~treacherous
not only TO him (AIr. Hay), but TO the
country.
III view Vi lhIS Nv cboh ~
which | have adverted in the briefest
possible manner, it is difficult for me
to believe that there is any truth in
either of the foregoing paragraphs
which / have quoted, or any others
which have been printed of similar
import
As | am very 500 TO retire from
the public service | trust you will o
feel that / am unduly or improperly
t~respassing upon your time with this
rather personal matter.
Respectfully and sincerely yours.
"FRANCIS II. LOOMS"
THE PRESIDENTS LETTER.
Oyster Bay. y. Y. Sept q, 1905.
Ny Dear sIr. Loomis In answer TO
your letter of September - / desire 10
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