The Washington herald., 1906-12-09

President Roosevelt is uncertain wheth-
er he VIII officially recognize the dis
closures made by the publication Of pyi-
vate correspondence by .Bellamy Storer.
lie is conferTing with friends about II.
Secretary Taft. who is mentioned as hav-
ing also written to Mrs. Storer about
Catholic affairs was one Of the Presi-
dents first callers yesterday He went
over 20 the White House ots!ce soon after
Ii became known that Mr. Storer's SEN
satlonal disclosure had been made.
The authenticity Of the letters quoted
py former Ambassador Storer are not
Questioned in any important particular.
Inc President it is said has saved
every scrap or paper he ever received
from MT StOrer OF Mrs Storer. together
WIN copies OF whatever letters he wrote
% the eN-Ambassador and his wife. II
ne chooses 70 make a reply or a state
ment-and il is not improbable that ha
VIII DO 50 within few days-tbe Pres
.aeht can write with all the Information
before him ''''' 'O'i
IL is said that there are damaging
statements and letters that s.r. and Mr..
StDief wrote 10 the President and which
II publsned, would materially change the
present aspect Of affairs. some ~ the
PRESIDENTS friends doubt the wisdom of
ms noticing the pamphlet in any wav
Ihey argue that it would be better for
nm To maintain d discreet silence.
Politicians Are Worried.
The politicians are worried about the
effect Of the disclosures. lest they provs
troublesome in future campaigns. The
President seemed TO be much less wor-
ried about it than they He received =
large number Of friends at his Office yes
terday, and in the afternoon .a,o,ge6 =,
smashing game OF tennis with Assist
ant Secretary Of State Bacon as his op-
ponenL Afterward he attended the dinner
OF the Gridiron Club
one criticism Of Mr.. Storers pannbIof
made by the Presidents friends rsgar5s
lae conclusions the former Ambassador
draws II Is said that many Of Mr.
Storers conclusions are unwarr9nted and
can be shown TO be unwarrautad If -
president decides to give the public The
Information IN his possession Much viii
depend upon the effect Of the letters. l1noD
'Ie country as to whether the President
says aEythIng. In inside circles one hears
t said that Mr. StOrer's action in nj
ing the correspondence public afta- ba
had held office for nine years under a
Republican administration should alo,o
be evidence that the President did ro+
err IN thinking him unfit for the dirIo-
matte service.
Taft Is silent.
Secretary Taft, whom Mrs Storer mo,
uohs as having written about the ob,,r.p,
IN letter dated March %. 1q4 s,5 -
whom Mrs. Storer wrote in lgl5 ae sbo
did 10 President Roosevelt. asking tb.
meaning Of reports that the preSi5e-+
favored the elevation of two arcbbisbons
10 the cardinal3te, was as mum as n
oyster yesterday. To all INQUIRIES tba
Secretary placed his finger 10 his lips and
said nothing
II seems that the President received
former Ambassador Storer's letters. DARED
at Cincinnati, in November. about three
weeks ago. He was then convinced thar
the Storers intended giving the matter
more or less extended circulation. The
members OF the Cabinet have also had
their copies Of the pamphlet for several
days II reached the members of the
Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
but two or three days ago. It developed
last night that prominent Catholics in
Washington were appTised some time ago
that the pamphlet was being prepared.