Gilpin observer., 1907-06-06
A LIVELY tilt
GOV. HAGERMAN's SHARP RE-
TORT FOR ROOSEVELT.
SAYS LETTER WAS STOLEN
New Mexico's Former Govos'nor Takes
Exceptions to Presidents At
tack on His Father. Z.

Albuquerque, N. M.-Tke publication
of letter from President Roosevelt, in
which former Governor Hagerman is
severely arraigned, has revealed the
fact that it was procured by theft. The
former governor has met this last trick
Of his political enemies by publishing
the full correspondence between him
self and the President regarding his
resignation. In this connection the
former governor shows that direct in
suit was offered by the President to
his father.
Governor Hagerman was accused of
deciding public lands to the Pennsylva-
mia Development Company and infiu-
encing the territorial Senate by public
appointments over which he had con-
troll. When Governor Hagerman's res
ignatiCn was requested, his father
wrote to Secretary of State Root de-
nying the charges in behalf of his son
and pleading with the secretary to in
tercede with the President.
The first announcement concerning
President Roosevelts letter requesting
Governor Hagerman's resignation ap-
peared exclusively in the Denver Post
yesterday. In the letter the admins
to as unsatisfactory and his conduct in
the Pennsylvania Development Com
pany transaction is characterized as
illegal and blameworthy." The Pres
ident says but for the former gov
ernor's previous good record he would
have been removed instead of being
allowed to resign. The letter goes at
length into the Pennsylvania Develop
ment Company questions and quotes
an opinion of Assistant Attorney Cen
eral Cooley, which severely criticizes
Hagerman's delivery of the deed to the
land in question.
In conclusion the President sa~s:
IF l permit such an act by the high
est officer in the territory to go unpun-
ished, l cannot hold to account any
subordinate official for any infraction
of his duty. 1t was a grave question
in my mind whether | ought not to re-
move you instead of merely asking
your resignation. l resolved the doubt
in your favor and requested your resig-
nation. Under no circumstances
would / reconsider this action.
Secretary Root has handed me a
long telegram from your father, in
which he states that he wishes me to
delay my action on your resignation
until you have had time to answer the
charges made against you, which he
further states are well known to be
unfounded, and made by party free
hooters to restore themselves to
power. Apparently your father does
not know, or disregards, the fact that
these charges are contained in the
statement above referred to from the
Department of Justice and in the rec
ords of the Interior Department; that
there is not the slightest question as
to the facts which were admitted by
you in your interview with me as we'll
as in your interview with Secretary
Garfield, and that you had full hear
ing before Secretary Garfield and be-
fore me.
Under these circumstances what
your father means by saying that the
charges are unfounded l am unable to
imagine. If any party freebooter or
any one else is guilty of conduct such
as yours l will treat him just as
have treated you.
with the gossip that your father re-
peats and the inferences that he draws
therefrom have no concern. AS to the
charges he by inference makes against
others, l can only say that any facts
that he will give me against anyone
will consider If have power to do so.
Charges of very gave character were
made to me against your father him
self in connection with his land trans
actions in the past. Whether they
were true or not / cannot say, be-
cause preliminary investigation
showed that action on them would be
barred by the statute of limitations.
No one suggested to me the ap-
pointment of Captain Curry as your