New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-04-03
REPLIES TO HARTMAN.
THE PRESIDENTS DENIAL.
Financier Not asked to did National
Campaign of 1904.

In this letter Mr.. Hartman said that his being
made at all prominent in the political situation
is entirely due to President Roosevelt and be-
cause of my taking an active part in the autumn
OF 1904 at his request and his taking advantage
of conditions then created to further his own
interests" Further along in the letter Mr. Har-
riman says, Il was brought forward by Roose-
welt in an attempt to help him at his request
The statement that at the request OF the
President Hartman assisted in raising fund
of S25O,O00 to be used in carrying New YORK
for the Republican Presidential candidate al
that election. the President characterizes as a
deliberate and wiful untruth-by right IT should
be characterized by an even shorter and more
ugly word"
The Presidents denial is contained in brief
statement and copies of two letters written TO
Representative Sherman, of New York. The
letters are dated October and October L, l9Oo'
respectively.
The Presidents letters show that all of Mr.
Harriman's efforts in the campaign of 1904 were
devoted to electing the New York state ticket
because Of his relations with Governor Odell.
The President felt that the attacks on Messrs.
Oden and Higgins were unjust, and consulted
with Mr. Hartman on this subject only
For the purpose of publishing the whole truth
of the story the President this afternoon au-
thorlzed the reprinting of the letters bearing on
the subject, and in doing so shows that but for
his magnanimity this would have been done
months before The President might have maze
the letters public. but until the letter OF MI
Hartman was published the President refrained
from setting forth the whole truth in cOntempo-
raneous documentary evidence.
Il feel particularly fortunate that have been
attacked within the last few days by both ex-
Senator Burton and Mr.. Hartman" said the
President in a conversation with representatives
Of he tha fiXy ont O
ters TO Representative sherman
THE PRESIDENTS STATEMENT.
The President. after furnishing the letters to
the press dictated the following statement:
After writing these letters to Congressman
Sherman the President was assured that Mr.
Hartman had made the statements which
Mr. sherman credited him with making. Inas-
much as the same statements appear In the
major part in the letter of Mr.. Hartman. now
published the President deems II proper that the
letters lie sent 10 Congressman Sherman last Oc-
tober shall now themselves be made public.
In the first letter reference is made to a
versation between Mr.. Hartman and Mr.. Sher-
man, which was repeated 20 the President. IN
which Mr. Hartman is said to have given as u
reason for his personal dislike of the President
partly the latter's determination TO have the rail-
roads supervised and partly tho alleged fact that.
after promising Mr.. Hartman 10 appoint Senator
Depew Ambassador TO France. he Ghe PTesi-
0euIl- vailed To 90 IL, ana GoHtilufS the AbtSi-
dent. Il understood you say that he alleged
that 1 made this promise a time when he had
come down to see me in washington. when re-
ouested him 90 raise $2JOOOO for the Republican
Presidential campaign which was then on"
II appears from the conversation repeated to
the President that Mr. Sherman had gone TO Nj.
Hartman 20 ask him for a contribution for the
| campaign.
The President says that Mr., Hartman also
ho fDlre I'm N
ise omafe Mr.. Depew ambassador because this
would help Governor Odell by pleasing certain
big financial interests. The President informed
Mr Hartman that he did not believe IT would
be possible TO appoint Mr. Depew. and further
more expressed his surprise at his (IIarriman's)
saying that the men representing the big flnan-
| ciaI interests OF New York wished the appoint
ment made. inasmuch a number of them had
written asking that the place be given 70 Mr..
| Hyde. Mr.. Hartman, on learning Mr. Hyde was
candidate, hastily said that he did not wish
| 20 be understood az antagonizing him. and
would be quite willing to support Mr.. Hyde The
| President says that although he understood that
he CHarriman) still preferred Mr.; Depew he left
a strong impression that he would be almost as
| well satisfied with Mr.. Hyde.
CONFERENCES ON NEW YORK.
Some correspondence is then given between
the President and Mr.. Hartman, from which 1t
Il
| TO Mr. Hartman that in view OF the trouble over
! the state ticket in New York he would like to
| have a few words with him. In a letter dated
october II. and sent to Mr.. Hartman. the Presi-
| dent says a suggestion had come 20 him in
roundabout way that Mr.. Hartman did not
think it wise TO come in the closing weeks OF tho
campaign. The President told Mr.. Hartman If
he thought there was any danger of his visit
causing trouble to give 1t up. Here the Presi-
dent in his letter 10 Mr.. Sherman says:
You win see that this letter is absolutely in
/ compatible with any theory that was asking
Mr.. Hartman 10 come down 70 see me In my
| own interest.
The President incloses another letter from
Mr.. Hartman in his communication 70 Mr..
Sherman, which ne says shows that Mr.. Harri
man did not have III his mind amy idea OF my
asking him 10 collect money"
Then follows some correspondence between
| Mr.. Hartman and the President touching,
among other things on the question Of railroad
matters and what the President might have TO
/ say TO Congress on the subject of the Inter
| state Commerce Commission. The President
| said he was unable 20 agree with Mr.. Harri-
mans views on the matter. and left his message
to Congress unchanged as regards the Inter-
| state Commerce law.
me personally" says the President in closing his
/ first letter 70 Mr. Sherman. Far more impor-
| tant the President regards the additional re-
| rnavlxs which Mr. Sherman said Mr.. Hartman
made 10 him when he asked him II ne thought II
was well 20 see "Hearstism and the like tr-
| umphant over the Republican party You"
says the President. Inform me that he told you
! that he did not care in the least because those
| people were crooks and he could buy Uhem, and
| other similar remarks. This, the President says.
was doubtless partly in boastful cynkciSm and
| partly in q burst of bad temper, but IL showed,
/ in the Presidents opinion, cynicism and deep
oh, ao