The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-04-05

washington, ADT1l ~ ItSIu6Ht
Roosevelt today 'enphaticaliy denied
the statement contained in a letter
. published this morning ~purporting f.
have been written by f. II. Hartman
to Sydney Webster, of New FORK, II
the latter part Of December, 1903. IL
BIr. Harriman's Letter the statement is
made that at the request Of the presi-
. dent, he, Hartman, assisted in raising
a fund Of $3.50. 900 to be used in carry
ing New York for the republican party
at he election in 1904 This statement
the president characterizes as a "delib~
crate and willful untiuth--by right 1t
should be characterized by an even
shorter and more ugly word. | never
requested Mr.. Hartman to raise a dol
lar for the presidential campaign OF
1904"
The presidents denial was contained
in a brief statement and copies of let
ters written to Representative Sherman
of New York. The letters are dateG
October 9Th and October j, 1906, res
pectiVelI
The president, after furnishing ihC
letters to the press dictated The follow
ing statement:
After writing these letters 20 Con-
gresham Sherman, the president was
assured that MI. Hartman had made
statements which Mr.. Sherman credit
ed him with making. In as much as
the same statements appear in the
saajor. part in the letter Of Mr.. Harri.
deems it proper that the letters he sens
to Congressman Sherman last OctoEc,
shall now themselves be made public.
In the first letter reference is made
10 Il conversation between Mr.. Har:i-
man and Nh. Sherman which was re-
seated to the president, in which Mr..
Hartman is said to have given as a
reason for his personal dislike for
Roosevelt partly the latter 5
determination to have the railroads
Supervised and partly the alleged fact
that AFTER promising Mr.. Hartman to
appoint Senator .Depew ambassador TO
France, he, the president, fails 20 do lt, |
and, 'LGontinues the president, II uu-
derst0Od YOU to say hat he alleged !
that / made this promise, at 4 time
no had nOrS1o n NV -, roo ~, - !
Washington, when ! requested him 70 ,
raise sac, 900 for the republican pres
ldentlal campaign which was then on
1t appears O the conversation re-
peated to h president that Mr.. Sher-
had gone to Mr.. Hartman to ask
hIm for contribution for the CAM
The president says that Aarri~
also more than once, he thinks.
him to promise to make Mr.. De-
pew ambassador because this would
Governor Odell by pleasing GER
am big financial interests. The presi-
dent said he informed Nh. Hartman
hat he did not believe it world be Dos
Sible TO appoint Mr.. Depew and. fur
hermofe, expressed his surprise at his
saying that the men rep
'esGntiIlg the big financial interests OF
York wished the appointment
made, in as much is a number Of them
written asking that the glace be
TO Mr.. Hyde. Mr.. Hartman. on
earning Mir. Hyde was a candidate,
said that he did not wish 10 be
understood as antagonizing him and
would be quite willing 70 support him.
he president says that although he
Understood that he tIarrimanJ still
Preferred Mr.. DepeW. he left a strong
impression that he would be Almost as
veil satisfied with Mr.. HYDE. |,
some correspondence is then giveh ,
'et"een the president and Mr.. Harri- I
nan from which it appears that Oh ,
october 10th the president SAID 10 rfr. :
that in view Of the tronbie =
Yer the state ticket in New York he =
'Ould like to have a few words with =
i'm. Later. on October 18th, is a letter +
Mr.. Hartman. in which the presi- !,
ent says that a suggestion had COME .
} him in Z roundabout way that Mr.. 6
arri1Gan did no think it wise to come =
the closing weeks OF the campaign.
president told Mi. Hartman if 4
thought there was any danger Of a
s visit causing trouble then give it +
J. Here the president in his letter to G.
+. Sherman says: "
. You will See that this letter is alb n
incompatible with any theory
at ! was aeking Mr.. Hartman to "
me down to see me in my own in ~
rest" t i
The president enGloses another let n,
from Mr.. Hartman in his co.aunu. DC
'ation to Mr.. Sherman which he says in
oWs that Mr.. Hartman did not have T
his mind amy idea OF my asking or
u to collect money!" -.