Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-04-06


response TO the statement made public
by President Roosevelt at washing
ton:
'For many years have main- aimed
en- Intimate. CONFIDENTIAL corr svoad-
ence with my friend sidney Webster
What l wrote him and what he wrote
me was. OF course. intended fer our
eyes alone. I'm the course of lefta.
which be wrote me I'm December. 1905.
he warned me against being drawn
into politics. and questioned whether
had any political or party instinct
united 20 what ne was pleased to call
my business instinct This drew from
me the reply 60 Nr Webster's inquiry.
which in a substantially correct form,
has been stolen and published. This
letter was written on January 2. 1906.
NJ q time when no one could doubt q
covdiality OF my relations with tho
president
about so DAYS ago 7 was told that
a discharged stcuographer was trying
70 sell Go some newspaper a reproduc.
ton from his notes of one OF my pri
vate letters I could hardly believe
that any matter so obtained would be
accepted or published. yet 1 made
every effort 10 prevent H. When
learned that a New York newspaper
had a Transcript OF these notes I no
tiled the publisher at once OF the
facts. and urged upon his attention
the gross outrage that the publication
Of 1t under such circumstances would
Involve. While deploring. OF course.
that the sacrcdness of a private cor
rspondCnCe should thus be violated.
cannot withdraw anything 10 the let
ter.
Il have read the presidents state
mcnt I am most anxious 20 treat him
and his other utterances with consid.
Grafton due TO the high Office which he
holds. NevertheSess, / feel bound &c
call attention 20 certain things in re
gard to which he does me injustice.
I'm his letter 20 Mr. Sherman he
clearly seeks Co convey the impression
that the personal interview with him
In the fan Of 1904 was of my seeking
and not his"
Mr. Hartman then quotes from let
ters he received from the president
urging him to visit him ia Washing
ton. and then says.
"The president dwells at length on
the assertion that he did not ask me
TO contribute for the presidential cam
paign' nor for his personal benefit ]
do not deny this statement. nor IS Il
all consistent with the assertions ]
made in the Webster letter respecting
ne
said: The president sent me a request
20 20 90 Washington 10 confer upon
the political conditions In New York
state. I complied and he told me he
understood the campaign could not be
successfully carried on without suni
cient money. and asked II would help
them In raising the necessary funds.
rs tho national committee, under
Chairman Cortelyou, had utterly failed
OF obtaining them and there was
large amount due from them 20 the
New York state committee
IF that means anything whatever
81 must be- that he was urging me &c
help the New York state committee
and not the national committee OF
presidential campaign. except so far as
the success OF the state ticket in New
York would contribute 20 tAe nationa
ticket
81 was asked 20 go 20 Washington
by tho president In the interests Of
the state ticket I could help 20 raise
money. That ] did help in this regard
that / did raise funds Immediately
upon nay return from the interview
with the president Is undeniable, and
10 this fund / contributed $4,000.
Il am not responsible for what Mr.
Sherman may have said 10 the presi
dent with reference to the conversa
ton he had with me. All that have
90 say Is that did not meet his urgent
requests that I contribute to his cam.
poign fund, and that the statements
alleged 20 have been attributed 20 me
by him are false. The president was
assured OF this fact by a mutual friend
who was present at the interview"