Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-05-21
THE STRANGE WAYS OF OUR
VERY ERRATIC PRESIDENT
LeLler b. New York ErenIng Po.l.

Letter in New York Evening Post.
have only just seen, in your issue Of
April Both, the statement that I was re-
called from Madrid by the President to
make way for personal friend.
Inasmuch as the President himself in
formed me why ] was recalled, il may be
of interest, since the matter has been re-
ferred to at all to give the President s ex-
PLANTATION as stated by himself
On taking official leave of him when re-
tiring from the service, he said in sub
stance That he had offered me the first
assistant secretaryship of State, but that I
had preferred 10 90 to Spain; that he had
no use for a man who was unwilling to 20
where he was wanted, instancing his own
acceptance Of the Vice-Presidencv from a
sense of duty and against his inclination;
that he had determined / should 20 10
Spain since / wanted 70, but that should
go nowhere else, especially as, when offered
the secretaryship, I had inquired what ]
was 10 get next II | accepted IT, It re-
quired some patience to listen to these
statements, but interviewers of the Presi-
dent know that patience becomes a neces-
sary virtue when no interruption is
brooked
subsequently explained and apparent
to the Presidents entire satisfaction. the
facts in the case, namely. That I had al
ready been appointed, without solicitation
of any kind, minister 20 Spain when Mr.
Hay offered me the assistant secretaryship
OF State being then ON leave in Washing
ton on my way to my post; that in making
this offer Mr. Hay had not only said ne
anticipated what my decision would be.
but added also that / was entirely free TO
proceed to my post if l so preferred; that
my letter to Mr.. Hay, written in Washing
ton on the day Of the offer, would be found
to say that inasmuch as you (Ar. Hay)
assure me am entirely free to proceed to
Spain il / so prefer, have decided. &c. As
to my bargaining for future promotion and
the report current in Washington and
given to the press by William Il. Curtis.
that cablegrams were exchanged on the
subject, in one of which the President
said he was not in the habit Of making
bargains Of that sort, there is absolutely
no shadow Of foundation. In the first
place, the question Of the secretaryship
was settled in Washington with Mr.. HAY
and no cables were exchanged. In the
second place, no intimation was ever con-
veyed to me Of any preference on the part
OF either the President OF Mr. Hay The
offer was presented as a simple alternative
and nothing was said Of the future.
Mr.. Hay knew that ] desired 10 remain
in the service, but only ON the basis of nv
record, and so long as my services were de-
rired by the Department and the President
| made grateful use Of the testimonials of
friends when / FIRST sought an appoint
ment from Mr.. Mckinleytgoing to Persia
because l was sent there and not because /
wished to), but none Of my subsequent
promotions to Greece. Switzerland or
Spain we're due 70 any other influence
than my record and my desire to remain
in the service was based on no other
ground
AS throwing further light on the Presi-
dents attitude TO the diplomatic service. I
may say, that having taken leave of the
President in September. on nv wav 10
Spain. without the slightest intim5tion
that my recall in March had been already
decided upon, when my brother called
upon the President, at my cahled request
from Madrid. 10 learn the reason, Mr..
Roosevelt informed him ''yom brother
has had his cake and eaten it."
Arthur s. Hardy.
Woodstock, Conn, May l4th, 1906