The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-12-11
StOTeT Says He is Backed By
 ArchbishOps Letter
GIVES PERSONAL DOCUMENT
Says Past Shows Those Differing From President Become Liars and Scoun- dreIs-Ireland Declines
 to Talk on Subject.

Cincinnati, December 1O.-Bellamy Sto- Ter, former United States ambassador at Vienna, this afternoon gave to the Asso- ciated Press the following statement in reply to the letter of President Roosevelt made public yesterday:
 My letter to the President and his cabinet was written for the cool, deib- crate judgment of men who should be kept informed of the true facts in the con- duct of the administration. It was not written for the public nor hurriedly given to the press to anticipate public opinion. It stands when taken in full as my state ment, and should be taken as an entirety, and as such l ask it's calm perusal. In itself it is an answer to many things the President has seen fit to say but as new matter has been put forward by Mr. Roosevelt, l feel compelled to speak.
 There was no need of violent and in sulting adjectives to show that the Pres ident dislikes me, and did not wish me to remain in the service, or to retire from it in any customary way
 While the past has shown that few men can differ with either the wishes or the memory of Mir. Roosevelt without at once becoming a scoundrel and liar, l must make some comments on what he has given out at the White House.
 That anything was ever written tc the President by my wife to the effect that Mr Choate and General Porter were not proper persons to be ambassadors is news to both of us For both these distinguished men we nave and have had nothing but respect and good will personally and off cially. It would have been an honor to anyone to take any post ever filled by either of them after they ceased to oc- cupy it. And the only feeling possible is one of regret that both of them have been lost to the public service since Mr. Roosevelt was reelected
 As to Mir. Root the press in 1901 was full of rumors that he might not be able to remain in the cabinet on account of his health, and would be succeeded by General Porter, which would leave Paris vacant.
 T give in full letter of the Presi- dent in answer to what he said was writ ten by my wife. l do this both because il is a letter for him to be proud of from it's full appreciation of eminent public men (apart from any reference to my selfD and also to show that my wife's
 
 spoken of only with sheer, was con- sidered differently by MT. Roosevelt at the time it was received.
 'EXecutive Mansion,
 'Washinston D. C., October I, 1901.
 My Dear Maria;-You need never be afraid of writing me or of asking any thing. If it is in my power to grant it, l shall do so. If for any reasons, whether put in the narrow or in the larger sense, l cannot, I shall tell you so frankly. Per sonal reasons can never exist when l do not do anything you say.
 "Bellamy was right about it's being needless to write me in order to keep him in mind. 1 think of both of you all the time and have several times gone over possible plans. First. as to the cab met It is very unlikely now that 1 shall change any member of the present cab met. You have probably seen that have asked them all to stay.
 .'rhe Secretary of War. Root IS one of the very strongest men before the people in our whole party. His Canton speech was the most effective delivered in the campaign last year. His advice is in- valuable, not merely in reference to his department but in reference to all branches of the service As for his de- partment itself, it is at the present time the most important in the entire govern ment.
 "It would be a public calamity to have him leave the cabinet now, and I use the words public calamity advisedly. He is a sick man, and his condition gives me great uneasiness not because there is the least fear of his death, but lest he may have to give up his work here. If he went out 1 should have to consider noth- ing whatever but the question of getting the best man the entire country afforded to do the work necessary to be done. It nffo tfxr lnDl rfrcr or the matter I should conclude that Bel lamy was the best man for the pur- pose.
 It may be that I should have to con- clude that some one else, of whom I have no thought at present, would be the best man, and if so l should be in honor bound to take him, and not to consult any personal preference of mine in d matter so vital to the country I do not believe that Secretary Long intends to leave the navy. For this department am sure without further thought that Bellamy would be admirable; but in fill- ing any vacancy in the cabinet l would have to take note of all kinds of con- alterations
 T should count Bellamys religion in his favor for a cabinet place. Other things being equal should like to have a Catho- lie in the cabinet. I am sure that in the navy department he would do exceedingly well as secretary. I do not know whether geographically he would be the right man. For instance I should like much to get a Pacific slope man into the cab inet, and particularly in the navy depart ment, and I do not wish to leave New England unrepresented.
 At present I see no Pacific slope man who would be competent to fill the posi- ton. Moreover, if possible. I should like 10 get one or more members of the cab inet who are in close touch with the people. carrying weight when they ex- plain the policies, purposes and acts of my administration.
 This Is the one point in which the present cabinet is not as strong as it should pe. l do not believe that a finer abler, more high-minded body of public servants was ever got together around president but there is no one of them with the possible exception of Root fwho is so busy that he can hardly ever speak) who can appear before the country with the prestige of political leader to ex- ~~~~~~~~----~----