Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1907-12-06
CynsTcssman Hask.ns
Explains.
T.t.- EIitor OF The PbeniI :

rapyrs created by reason OF reported
interview alleged 10 have been had
With m- 10y representatives OF Washing
,.r. New York aud Boston papers as
tn The presidential preferences Of Oh,
Republicans Of Vermont, it is now M,
taru to SAY a word of explanation.
By reason of the uncertainty of being
r.portrd correctly ! have always avoid
60 interviews for publication.
Sitting ia the lobby of the New Willard
hotel, Washington. ID. C., the evening Of
Oct. -. WAS approached by gentle.
utu whom ! recognized as having seen
before, hut did not know his maine or
yrrupation. lie addressed me hy name
nai as one of the representatives from
Vermont, aud for 10 or IL mi nutes We
cuuverNed OF various matters including
the presidential outlook for next wear.
During this conversation he informed
me he was connected with the Washing
ton Post, and then said to him that
could not talk for publication and at the
couclu sion requested him not to make
public anything had said. He replied
that he desired to make an item for the
Pest and that whatever he wrote would
not he at all to my detriment.
The next morning read in the Post
what purported to be au interview with
me- aud on my way home saw the same,
substantially, in two New York news
papers-one the Tribune. Some things
did say were correctly reported, some
incorrectly, and some things did say
were not reported 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,
unquestionably, send a delegation to the
convention favorable to his renomina-
ton, but in view of his published state
ment made the evening of the last pres
dental election that he should not he
candidate again nor would he accept an.
other nomination. believed he would
stand by that declaration and therefore.
his name could I've safely eliminated
from among possible candidates. stated
that was opposed to third term and
thot 50 far as my knowledge extended
tine strong, thinking men of the country
We're also opposed to the third term idea.
He then inquired of me with reference
to Secretary Taft. replied that liked
Secretary Taft, that | considered hi IN "A
strong man with excellent Vermont
blood in his veins, having known his pa
tnrnal grandfather, who when living re-
sided about II miles from my home I;
that he had shown great executive
ability was an excellent lawyer as every
president ought to be, and that while a
limited circuit Judge had displayed firm
hess and determination in the admins
tr1tiou of the law in labor disputes,
that in my opinion he was handicapped
Ny the fact that it was understood and
we'll known that he was the candidate
OF the president, that the people of my
state did not like to have their candi.
dates for any office made to order for
them by any one man or small coterie
OF men, aud that feeling was quite preva-
lent everywhere as / had observed.
felt then and still feel fully justified in
1hat statement. further stated that
bad selions doubts az to his availability
al candidate by reason of the we'll.
known opposition to him on the part of
tine labor unions aud the opposition he
would encounter from the colored voters
VITO hold the balance of power in several
Of our northern Republican states.
lie inquired who thought Vernon;
won}d support in the convention. re
Piled that had been busy man aad
Iai heard but very little 1T home as to
presidential candidates; that was
present aud heard Gov. Hughes at the
meeting Of the Fish and Game league
which had in its membership some OF
tie most influential men of our tate and
Thought every one was fayorably i'm
pressed with his address as | certainly
was that While could support almost
any one Of the probable candidates
mentioned my first choice was Uncle
doe Cannon, and for the reasons correct
ly given in the published interview;
hu' tot for the reasons imputed to me
bi the Randolph Herald, viz: to secure
good committee assignments in the next
Congress, for have always been more
tran we'll favored in that respect. The
Speaker is an excellent Judge of men,
he studies the membership of the House
aal Tor responsible positions he wants
men of honesty, ability and courage.
have often heard him say that man
without good back bone had no bust.
tess IN Congress. One who knows him
We'll would make serious mistake III
u llLllLM MIN ho L.,nl- u,if Ia IN.