New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-04-03

Following statement in response to the state
ment made public by President Roosevelt at
washington to-day:
For many years I have maintained an inti-
mate EnaIe: confidential correspondence with my
ITIehd Mr. Sidney Webster. What / wrote him
ana what he wrote me was of course, intended
t, IoE our eyes alone. In the course of letter
WIHch ne wrote me in December, 1905, he
WaTned me against being drawn into politics.
ana questioned whether / had any political or
party instinct united to what he was pleased
10 call my business instinct. This drew from me
the reply to Mr.. Websters inquiry, which, in a
suppSStantlaiIy correct FORM has been stolen and
This letter written on January 2. 1906
oS s d tlHle When no one could doubt cordlallty
OF my relations with the President.
ABOUT ten days ago 1 told that, a dis
charged stenOgrapher was trying to sell to some
newspaper reproduction from his notes OF
one one OF my private letters. could hardly De-
Neve that any matter obtained would be ac-
cepted or published, yet 1 made every effort to
prevent 1t. When l learned late yesterday ar
ternoon that a New York newspaper had d
transcript of these notes l notified the pub
Usher at once of the facts and urged upon his
attention the gross outrage that the publica
ton of 1t under such circumstances would in
volve. While deploring. of course. that the sa-
credness of private correspondence should
thus be violated, cannot withdraw anything
in the letter.
I have read the Presidents statement.
most anxious to treat him and his other utter
ances with consideration due TO the high office
which he holds. Nevertheless, feel bound 10
call attention to certain things in regard TO
which he does injustice.
In his letter to Mr.. Sherman he clearly seeks
to convey the impression that the personal in
tervtew with him in the fall of 1904 OF my
seeking and not his. He says His (Harrt-
man's) and my letters now before me- in the
fau of 1904 as follows: 'On his return from
spending the summer in Europe, on September
20 he wrote mo stating that if 1 thought 1t de-
sirable he would come 70 me at any time
then or later. (He had been. as you remember
a delegate to the Republican National COnven-
ton, having voted for my nomination).' on
September D answered this letter, saying: AT
present there is nothing Cor me to see you
about, though there were one or two points in
my letter of acceptance which I would like TO
have discussed with you before putting il out "
Let me present the facts. On June %. 1904
the President wrote me the following letter
which he does not include in the correspondence
published to-day. 1t reached me in Europe
white House. Washington, June %. 1904
(PersOnaD.-My Dear Mr.. Hartman: l thank
you for your letter. AS soon you come home
less be hot then II has been real pleasure TO
see you this year. Very truly yours
(Sigued) THEODORE ROOSEVELT"
CORRESPONDENCE WITH PRESIDENT
In reply to this l wrote him on my return
from Europe the letter of September 20. the
his publication.
New York September 90 1904.
Dear Mr. President:
Il very glad to receive your note OF June
20 last while l was in Europe l am now get
ting matters that accumulated during my abb
sence somewhat cleared up and ii you think
1
either now or later. II seems TO me that the
situation could not be in better shape.
y, II. HARRIMAN.
'To the President Washins ton. d. c.
Then followed a series OF invitations from
the White House. both from the President and
his secretary. urging me 70 go 10 Washington.
on October 10 the President wrote: In view
OF the trouble the state ticket IN New
York l should much like to have few words
with you Do you think you can get down mere
within a few days and take either luncheon or
dinner with me?" On October II he wrote; My
Dear Mr.. Hartman: suggestion has come 10
me in a roundabout way that you do not think
1t wise to come 10 see me in these closing weeks
OF the campaign but that you are reluctant 10
refuse. nasmuch | have asked you
funeral in my family prevented prompt
response to the Presidents repeated invitation
but finally about October 10 was able 10 so
to Washington and see him:
There is some difference OF recollection as to
what transpired that interview.
Fortunately the President himself, in his
strictly personal" letter to me OF November lJ,
throws some light upon what did take place lie
says: If you remember. when you were down
here, both you and were so interested in GER
tain OF the New York political developments
that hardly. If at all. touched on governmental
matters"
| Again In the same letter he says: LAS matter
OF fact as you will remember. when you did
come down To see me- you and / both
engaged in the New York political situation that
talked OF little else"
The invitation Of October 10 bade me to the
! White House To have few words with tho
President, in view of the trouble over the state
| II: II am giving very large part OF my time TO
correcting the trouble here. and intend TO do so
| If any effort on my part can accomplish 1t.
will take occasion the first of next week to run
| down to see you. and / think by that time the
| conditions will be very much improved
STANDS ON THE LETTERS.
Whether l was seeking his aid to secure the
adherence of the State of New York to the state
| ticket he was seeking mine. is proved or dis
proved by this correspondence. and cheerfully
submit to the public whether the inference clear
| " suggested by the President is the proper
| l did not understand IL from his invitation
| from the interview.
The President dwells at length on the asser-
| ton that he did not ask me TO contribute "for
| the Presidential campaign" nor for his personal
benefit" l do not deny this statement. nor is
il at all inconsistent with the assertions I made
IN the Webster letter respecting the interview
Therein distinctly said: The President sent
upon the political conditions In New York state
| I complied, and he told me he understood the
without sufficient money. and asked II would
help them N raising the necessary funds as the
/ national committee under Chairman COrtelyOu
had utterly failed of obtaining them and there
York State committee
II this means anything whatever. IL must be
| that he was urging me to help the New York
State committee and not the national commit
| tee or the Presidential campaign, except so far
as the success of the state ticket in New York
| would contribute to the national ticket.
What the condition of the finances of the
! New York State committee, and of the Ma
| tional Republican Committee at that time was
| is we'll known To every one. That the national
committee did owe the state committee and
that the state committee in financial straits
is notorious. / was not political manager 1
was. asked to go to Washington by the Prest-
| dent in the interests of the state ticket.
/ could help TO raise money. That did help I'm
/ this regard, that did raise funds Immediately
| upon my return from the interview with the
| President is undeniable, and TO this fund / con-
| trbued S5OOOo MY interview with the Presi-