Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1905-11-16
DENIES HE
MISQUOTED
PRESIDENT
Whitney Objects to ROOse.
Velt Statement.
PRESIDENT SAYS he TOLD
CONFIDENTIAL MATTERS
Visit of Shoe and Leather Men at The
White House PfecipiiateS an
Unpleasant Difference
of Opinion.

BOSlOn, MdSS.. NOV. l5.--He0ry NJ,
Whitney president of the Boston
chamber of commerce, and democratic
candidate for lieutenant governor OF
Massachusetts in the recent election
issued a statement tonight in refer
ence to President Roosevelts remarks
to the committee of boot, shoe and
leather manufacturers who visited the
White House today. President Roose-
Velt told the committee that he could
not discuss the question freely and
informally, saying that year ago
Henry NJ, Whitney called on him with
reference to tariff matters, and later
misquoted what the president had
said. After reading the Washington
dispatch, Mr.. Whitney prepared a
statement in which he denied that he
had wtlfully msrepresented the presi-
dent or Intentionally violated any con-
tidence. The statement follows:
Andrew G.. Webster. j. M. Hall and
|, constituting a Subcommittee of the
chamber of commerce committee of
100 on reciprocal trade, visited WASH
ington last winter for a conference
with the president touching especially
the matter of the Hay Bond treaty. ],
us chairman of the committee, made
an argument In favor of the treaty,
and In the argument made reference
to the advantage of reciprocal treaties
with Canada. We understood the
president to express himself as not un-
favorable to the Hay-Bond treaty but
desirous of seeing and favoring the
freedom of trade with China. | was
not aware that this was to be regarded
in the nature of confidential COM
were there, as we stated to the presi-
dent, as a committee of the chamber
of commerce committee of 100, sent to
consult with the president and to re-
port the result of that conference TO
the full committee, which was equiva-
leent to giving 1t to the public.
while we may have misunderstood
the president. | do not see how we
couf @aye done so. | absolutely deny
'Nillu w % intentionaf misrepresenta-
ton Oh W allesident's attitude, and [
have no .conteston of what he refers
to as wy atfv the vie ich was calculat-
yea ,,,,,. ~ committee avs he expressed
lhe taltv this rDove named made
apsta,'tttt' AZ the eport to the full
comb n',,e. IN, e.,sbtngton, ime of our return
fromN ~ ne unand the presidents
attitud5fat ongrerstood it, has been
subject for 81 .atulation among our
people from the time of our visit to
Washington until the present 1t was
nothing new, and | did not regard 1t
as new matter in my campaign.
II regret extremely that the presl-
dent should consider that l have mis-
represented his attitude, and especial
~ that he should feel that | have in
tentionally done so. which l aver is
not true"
Copies Of this statement were sent
to Mr. Hall and Mr. Webster. who ac-
companied Mr. Whitney to the White
House. Mr. Whitney requested them
to examine the statement carefully,
and inform Mr.. Whitney If it corre-
sponded with their recolections of the
waiter. Mr.. Webster replied as fol-
lows:
Il have read your letter regarding
the interview with the president last
winter. MY recollection of what was
said at that time is substantially what
YOU have written. | did not under
stand that 1t was a confidential inter-
view"
Mr.. Hall said:
81 have just received your letter
concerning our conversation with the
president last winter. My recollection
agrees with yours. | had no cOncep-
tlon that the interview was considered
confidential by any one"
Washington. Nov. 15.--Governor w.
j., Douglas. of Massachusetts,, headed
a delegation Of boot and shoe manu-
facturers that called at the White
House today and made the principal
address to the president in behalf of
the movement to secure a repeal of
the duty on hides. The delegation
numbered in all twenty-eight men.
representing the various industries IN
terested In addition to the remarks
Of former Governor Douglas, there
were addresses by several of the other
members of the delegation. Following
The presentation of the Views and de-
sires of the delegation. the president
assured them that their interests
would surely receive the palnstaking
attention Of both the executive and
of congress.
In his address Governor Douglas
said that the boot and shoe industry
OF the country lis greatly oppressed
and burdened by what we believe to
be needless tariff duty on hides.
This duty not only handlcaps our in
dustry but prevents its proper growth
and expansion, both i'm the domestic
and foreign markets; but II is an evil
to the country as a whole Without
as we believe, serving any good pur-
pose. the tariff levles a tax on arti-
cles essential for the heath and COM
fort OF every man. woman and child
In this land and thus greatly increases
the cost OF living"
Governor Douglas announced that
the interests they represent would
willingly consent to a reasonable re-
ductioR of the 25 per cent duty on
boots an shoes In order to obtain free
hides and cheap leather. "All we
ask" he added. 'is free field and no
favor either In our own or I'm foreign
markets. Unless the cost OF mater
las can be reduced shoes must soon
sell ut much higher prices"
Augustus Healy. representing the
Hide and Leather association OF New
York City claimed that the removal of
the duty on hides was an urgent ne
cessity.