The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-12-11

tanned in the Presidents communication
to the press. | ask deliberate judgment
on it In reply to what he has seen fit to
charge upon me and mine"
Before preparing his formal statement,
Mr. Storer, when seen earlier in the day,
said:
81 seem to have been elected a member
of the Ananias club like all others who
have come into dispute with President
Roosevelt. | am now classed with Sena-
tors Chandler, Tillman, Bailey and with
others who have questioned some act or
word of the President. Like every other
American gentleman who has wife to
protect | undertook to defend her name
from insinuations and charges of false
hood"
Mr. Storer then reiterated much that
appeared i'm his first statement intended
for private circulation, me claims. and
added that he has four letters bearing
on the controversy as to the promotion
of Archbishop Ireland. all of which he
claims tend to hear out his contention
that Il obeved the explicit instructions of
Mr.. Roosevelt in acting as | did with
regard to the promotion"
Continuing, Mr.. Storer said:
Archbishop Ireland told me also that
the President on several occasions in con-
versation with him took the credit for
the action he now repudiates."
Cause of Removal.
Mr.. Storer continued:
1.-The crux of the whole matter which
led to my removal was the action taken
by Mrs, Storer and myself with regard
to the promotion of Archbishop John Ire
land of st. Paul to the cardnate. In my
letter to the President and cabinet, [
cited the letters written by President
Roosevelt to me speaking in the highest
terms of Monsignor Ireland, and express
a.
might profit by his promotion to the car
dinalate. December ?, 1903, l had an au
dience with Pope Plus at which | trans
mitted verbal message, the basis of
which had been given me by President
Roosevelt. | was particularly careful in
its preparation and after transcribing it
into English l translated 1t into French
and conveyed it to the Pope.
Message to the Pope.
1.-THE communication was follows;
He said to me and authorized me to
say to your holiness that the archbishop
of st. Paul is his personal friend and that
he possessed his confidence as a prelate
and as a citizen: that he earnestly de-
sired for Monsignor Ireland all the honors
of the church, and that he would view
with the greatest pleasure and satisfaction
the elevation to the rank of cardinal of
Monsignor Ireland
without warrant in this matter. l have
only to cite the fact that Archbishop Ire
land in conversation with me told me
that President Roosevelt had told him
of all l had done and instead of CRITICS.
ing me for my actions, seemed to take
great credit to himself
President Changes.
Everything was all right until a sec
ton of New York churchmen began to
agitate the elevation of another arch
bishop than Monsignor Ireland. They
pointed out to Roosevelt that the New
York prelate had at least as much claim
to the red hat as the archbishop of ST.
Paul. This resulted in much perturba-
ton at the White House and letters were
sent to me by Roosevelt pointing out
that what might be very appropriate as
the opinion of a private citizen would
come with a very bad ground as Pres
ident of the United States
Every one with a grain of sense knows
that there has never been n question as
to that / knew in the entire transac-
tion that | was not presenting the official
wish of the President This separation
OF the official and. personal side of the
matter is not unique. Mckinley did the
same thing. He favored the elevation of
Monsignor Ireland but he did not do so
as President of the United States.
Roosevelt favored the elevation of the
archbishop but he did not do 80 under
the great seal of the United States. All
that was perfectly clear and there was
no chance for mistake.
Interest Was Personal.
ION my word, thought was obeying