Albuquerque citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1907-1909, 1907-12-21
MAKES STATEMENT
FROM SICK BED
Il Have Not in Person Sought Nor
Have the Friends Whose Names
Have Been Mentioned Sought
to Influence Political Move
mentS in NY Interest"

Washington, d. c., Dec, 21.-From
a sick bed in his home here Secre-
tary Cortelyou issued a statement
in which he denounced as false and
malicious reports circulated recently
in regard to his alleged candidacy for
the republican presidential no./>ns-
tfon. The statement is clear, eXplicu
aud comprehensive.
Mr.. Cortelyou denies that he was
or is a candidate for any Office. II
he should decide to be candidate
he will say SO, he asserts. he gives
a sweeping refutation to the allega-
tions that he had influenced federal
office holders to work for his poll
teal promotion. and declares that
he will not do so.
Declaration Follows Rumor.
Mr.. Cortelyous public declaration
Is an echo of the food of rumor
which followed President Roosevelfs s
announcement of December IL that
he would adhere to his previously ex-
pressed determination not to be a
candidate for a third term.
Circumstantial accounts, alleged TO
be accurate, were put forth to show
that the president has ascertained
that Mr.. Cortelyou was furthering
the third-term idea In the hope OF
presidency and hurting those of Sec
retary Taft, and that the president
issued his new renunciation to put a
stop TO the reported work of Mr.
Cortelyou and his ooliIical agents.
= IudiaaeS Ito May Be in Race.
1t win be observed that the state
ment from the secretary of the treas
ury does not in any way eliminate
him from the presidential equation.
On the contrary he indicates pretty
clearly that at some future time he
may decide to announce himself. Eff
forts TO secure an expression from
the white house or some one repre-
senting the president were unavail-
ing
There is a strong feeling, however,
that the statement given out by Mr..
Cortelyou was prepared without con-
sultation with the white house and
that 1t puts the whole Corte.you
proposition squarely up to the presi-
dent. The morrow is expected 10
bring forth important developments.
There is little question but that
the president has been led to believe
that the conduct of Mr.. Cortelyou
was not in accord with his own wish
that the administration officials CO.
operate With him in putting forward
the Taft interests or refrain for par
ticipation in the campaign in any
connection
Opinions are about evenly divided
as to the course the president VIII
pursue Some believe the president
viii make 1t impossible for Mr.. Cor
telyou to remain in his cabinet,
while others think the president will
remain silent in the hope that the
tempest which has blown so desper-
ately In the days since the meetings
of the national committee will now
cease. There is no question about
the disciplining of Messrs. Hitchcock
and Capers by the president. The
Cortelyou statement now puts the
acts and attitude of Mr.. Cortelyou
squarely before the president for
him to either approve or disap-
prove,
Mr.. CorteIyou's Statement.
The statement follows:
st do not know that I am called
upon to make a statement at this
time but in view of the various ru-
mors In circulation as to the al
legged political activity Of friends OF
mine in my interest 1 will say that
| have not been a candidate for any
Pile In the discharge of my duties as
secretary of the treasury.
L have not In person sought, nor
have the friends whose names have
been mentioned in this connection
sought. TO influence political move
ments In my interest; l have not
nor have they. used any influence,
directly or indirectly TO secure poll
tical support for or against any can
didate for the presidency and accu-
sations that such has been done are
unqualifedly false. In no office, in
no one of the three departments
with which / have been connected
have l authorized or permitted of
ficials or employees to attempt TO in
fiuence any such movements, nor
shall I do so.
Says He Has Decided Views.
''In common with many other citl-
zens I have decided views as TO poll
tics and candidates, but shall refrain
from expressing them until | believe
1t Is proper for me to do so. Upon
this statement I am entirely content
to leave the people to draw their
own conclusions regarding such ru-
mors as those TO which ] have re-
ferred.
N in the future I shall decide "a
Fl. he candidate for any Office i shall
be prepared to say so frankly and
state the grounds upon which / ash
for support. In the meantime
shall try, as I have tried In the past
to conduct the treasury department
for the benefit OF the people Of the
whole country and absolutely with
out regard to whether any action
may take in the line OF my duty may
adversely affect my personal or pO-
lltical welfare
"(S'nueda
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