The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1907-11-22
Mr.. Editor;

Mr.. EDITOR
Having patiently waited for the clouds
Of criticism 10 roll by, which certain OF
our Vermont newspapers created by rea,
/ son of a reported interview alleged TO
have been had with me by representatives
OF Washington, New York and Boston
papers as TO the presidential preferences
of the republicans OF Vermont, IL is now
my turn To say a word Of explanation.
by reason OF the uncertainty of being
reported correctly | have always avoided
interviews intended for publication, |
now affirm for the information OF such
As care To know the truth that ! never
had any interview with reference TO the
subject matter of which criticism has been
made, with anyone connected with q New
York or Boston newspaper TO my knowl.
edge nor with anyone Connected with a
Washington newspaper with view TO
its publication.
Sitting IN the lobby OF the New VII
lard Hotel, Washington, ID. C., the even
ing OF Oct 18th, ! was approached by a
gentleman whom ! recognized as having
seen before but did not know his name
or occupation. lie addressed me by name
and as one of the representatives from
Vermont, and for ~ or 10 minutes we
conversed of various matters including
the presidential outlook Tor next year
During this conversation he informed me
that he was connected with the Wash
ington Post, and ! then said TO him that
| could not talk for publication and at
the conclusion requested him not to make
public anything | had said. He replied
that he desired to make an item for the
Post and that whatever he wrote would
not be at all to my detriment. The next
morning | read in the Post what pur.
ported TO be an interview with me and
on my way home saw the same, substan-
tally in two New York newspapers
one the Tribune. Some things | did say
were correctly reported, some incorrectly
and some things | did say were not re-
ported at all. | did say to him that the
president was very popular. IN Vermont
with both republicans and democrats and
were it understood that he was to be a
candidate Vermont would, unquestlon-
ably, send delegation to the convention
favorable to his denomination, but IN
view of his published statement made the
evening of the last presidential election
that he should not be candidate again
nor would he accept OF another nomlna-
ton, | believed he would stand by that
declaration and, therefore, his name could
be safely eliminated from among possible
candidates. | stated that | was opposed
to third term and that so far as my
knowledge extended the strong, thinking
men of the country were also opposed TO
the third term idea.
He then inquired Of me with reference
to Secretary Taft, | replied that ! liked
Secretary Taft, that ] considered HIM q
strong man with excellent Vermont blood
in his veins, having known his paternai
grandfather who when living resided
about IL miles from my home; that he
had shown great executive ability, was
an excellent lawyer as every president
ought to be. and that while United
States circuit Judge had displayed hrm-
ness and determination IN the admins.
tration of the law in labor disputes. lhat
in my opinion he was handicapped py thS
fact that it was understood ana Wen
known that he was the candidate OF the
nresident: that the people of my state
Aid not like to have their candidates Tor
any office made to order for them by any
one man or any small cotere OF men,
and that this feeling was quite prevalent
EVERYWHERE as had observed. felt theh
and still feel fully justified in that state
mont | further stated that | had serious
doubts as to the ACCESSIBILITY OF Secretary
Taft as a candidate by reason OF the wen
known opposition he would ehco9hteI
from the labor unions and the eoloreu
voters who hold the balance OF power IN
several of our northern republican, states.
He inquired whom | thought vermont
would support in the convention, l o re-
piled that H. had %ar 4e9R e S at Eome e as " to
t%e PRESIDENTIAL candidates; that | was
present and heard Governor Hugnes al
he meeting of the fish and game League
which has in its membership some OF the
most W ,.t" influential men of our, state and !
tb C,r everyone was favorably impressed
NTH, his address as / certainly was. That
while / could support almost any one %, Oh
th n''' probable candidates mentioned my
Srst Choice was Uncle Joe Cannon ana
for the reasons correctly given IN the pup
Ished interview, but not Tor me I5 eas1aa'
imputed to me by the o RnmdGlP@ assign
viz, to secure good cohih''''ee "'e"