The Washington herald., 1907-04-03
MAKES DENIAL.
ooNFINUEp FRoM FIRsr PAaE.

me. YOU and I were both so engaged in
the New York political situation that We
talked Of little else.
Talked ON New York Matters.
"The invitation of October 10 bade me
to the White House to have a few words
with the President, In view of the trou-
bic over the State ticket in New York.
had replied on October Y:
I am giving a very large part Of my
time to correcting the trouble here, and
intend TO do so If any efrort on my part
can accomplish il. ! will take occasion
the first of next week to run down 70 see
you. and / think By that time the con-
dtions viii be very much improved
Whether I was seeking his aid to se-
cure the adherence Of the State of New
York to the State ticket OF he was seek
ing mine. Is proved or dsproved by this
correspondence, and / eheerfully 5ubmit to
the public whether the Inference clearly
suggested by the President is the proper
one did not so understand il from the
invitation, nor from the interview.
The President dwells at length on the
assertion that he did not ask me 70 con-
tribute for the Presidential campaign nor
for his personal benefit do not deny
this statement. nor Is IL at all incon-
sistent with the assertions ] made in the
Webster letter respecting the interview.
Therein l distinctly said
The President sent me a request TO
90 70 Washington to CONFER upon the
political conditions Of New York State.
complied and he told me he understood
the' campaign could not be successfully
carried on without sufficient money, and
asked If l would help In raising the
necessary funds, as the national commit
tee. under Chairman CortelyOu, had utter
iy failed Of obtaining them and there was
a large amount due from them TO the
New York State committee
If this means anything whatever, II
must be that he was urging me 10 help
the New York state committee and not
the national committee or the Presidential
campaign, except SO far as the success Of
the State ticket in New York would con-
tribute 10 the national ticket
Committee Needed Money.
What the condition of the finances Of
the New York State committee and of
the Republican National Committee at
that time was is well known TO every
one. That the national committee did
owe the State committee. and that the
state committee was Ia financial straits,
is notorious. ! was not a political man
ager. / was asked TO go 20 Washington
by the President in the interests of the
State ticket. 7 could help TO raise money.
That / did help in this regard; that
did raise funds immediately upon my re-
turn from the interview with the Presi-
dent. is undeniable, and 20 this fund /
contributed $4,000. My interview with the
President covered "a wide range Of sub
jects connected with the New York State
campaign, and ! did not pretend To 60
over the whole matter IN the Webster
letter
The Presidents letter Of October u. and
his comment thereon. are interesting In
that letter. he suggested that ! might
think there was some danger in nay visit
ing him during the closing weeks of the
campaign, and suggested that il I thought
so, the visit be postponed until after cleo
tiOn. when he would ask me 20 discuss
certain government matters not connected
with the campaign"
Discussed Two Topics.
Here were two distinct invitations. to
discuss TWO different subjects. / could see
no danger in visiting him 10 discuss New
York politics before the election. and.
therefore. went. and discussed that sub
ject alone. and after the election took
up the other subject for consideration with
him.
Il think that Il what concerns me as
the object OF the visit had been the gov
ernments relation TO the railroads, the
interview would certainly not have been
entirely confined 10 politics.
Il ann not responsible for what Mr..
Sherman may have said 10 the President,
as to the reference 20 the conversation
he had with me. All that 1 have % say
is that ] did not meet his urgent re-
quests that I contribute 10 his campaign
fund, and that the statements alleged TO
have been attributed 10 me by him were
false The President was assured of this
fact by "a mutual friend. who was present
at the interview.