The Washington herald., 1907-04-03

Mr- Roosevelt of having asked Mr.. Har-
rimap TO raise S25e.000 for campaign ex-
Eenses in 1904, the President got out his
letter-press book for October. 1866. and
had copies made Of the letter which he
had written at that time TO Representa-
tive James s. Sherman. chairman Of the
Republican Congress Campaign Commit
tee.
The copies were given to the newspa-
pers. In that letter reference is made TO
the accusation about the $250e00. which
Mr.. sherman said he had heard from
Mr.. Hartman. The President denounces
Mr- Harrimans statement as "a deliber-
ate and willful untruth. and declares
that he never requested Mir. Hartman to
raise q dollar. lie also denOunces as I'M
true statement made to Mr.. Sherman
by Mr. Hartman and contained IN Mr..
Harriman's letter 10 Mr. Webster. that
the President had agreed to appoint SEN
ator Chauneey NJ. Depew as Ambassador
TO France.
Il feel particularly fortunate that have
been attacked within the past few days by
both ex-senator Burton. of Kansas. and
Mr. F. II. Hartman. said Mr. Roosevelt,
to Mr.. sherman be given to the press.
And he smiled a teeth-showing smile as he
said it, Mr.. Burton has just been released
from a term in prison.
Sensational Statements Made.
However interesting is Mr.. Harrimans
letter to Mr.. Webster. the letter Of Presi-
dent Roosevelt to Congressman Sherman
is much more so. Il is fun of sensational
statements in regard TO Mr. Hartman.
The sherman letter was written by Mr..
Roosevelt october s. when Hughes and
Hearst were candidates for governor of
New York. and Mr.. Sherman was engaged
in conducting the campaign to secure
Republican majority in the National
House Of Representatives.
II is shown by the letter that on the
morning of the day il was written. Mr..
Sherman had told the President that the
week before he had asked Mr.. Hartman
for a contribution 10 the campaign, and
Mr.. Hartman had refused because he did
not like President Roosevelt and was an
CRY with the President for having failed
10 carry out a promise TO appoint Senator
Depew 10 the French Embassy as a return
for Mr., HaTrimans action in raising sZ50.-
go at the Presidents request to help bring
about the election of Mr.. Roosevelt IN 1904
Mr.. Roosevelt told Mr. Sherman that he
might show the letter To Mr. Hartman.
and then proceeded 10 give his version OF
his conferences with Mr.. Hartman in the
campaign of 1904 which was entirely dif-
ferent from the account Mr.. Sherman said
he had received from ME- Hartman. and
the account given BY Mr.. Hartman in his
communication TO Mr. Webster. The let
ter concludes with a resume of Mr.. Sher-
mans narrative Of his conversation with
Mr.. Hartman, and some pointed com
ments by the President on Mr., HarTi
mans attitude in the Hughes-Hearst
campaign.
Calls Them Crooks.
According to what Mr.. Sherman told
the President Mr.. Hartman said 10 the
Congressman that he did not care IN the
least if Hesrstlsm was triumphant 'be-
cause. 10 quote the Presidents resume Of
Dir. Sherman's account. those people
,Hearsts) We're crooks. and he could buy
them: that whenever he wanted legisla-
tion from State legislature he could
buy #; that he could buy Congress- and
that IL necessary, he could buy the judi
ciary.'
In commenting on this statement the
and a deep-seated corruption which made
the man uttering such sentiments and
bOasting. no matter how falsely, Of this
power 10 perform such crimes, at least
as undesirable a citizen as Debs or Meyer
or Haywood. 1t is because we have cap
Halists- capable OF such sentiments" con-
tinued the President, "and capable of
acting on them. that there is strength be
hind sinister agitators of the Hearst
type"
Intimate views behind the scenes. OF the
great political and industrial drama are
afforded by the Presidents letter TO Mr.
Sherman and a brief note which he sent
10 Mr Sherman four days later, and
which w2s made public also. Hartman
wanted Depew appointed Ambassador 10
France, and Odell and Hartman were
trying 10 defeat Depew for the Senate.
After DepeW won, Hartman and Odell
switched TO James Hazen Hyde. When
Secretary Root and Secretary Corteiyou
heard Of this they protested against
Hyde's appointment. Hartman told Con-
gresham Sherman that he didn't care
whether Hearst or Hughes was elected,
or if the Democrats carried Congress.
and would not support the Republican
party as long as Roosevelt dominated it,
In his letter TO MIR. Sherman, the Pres
ident declares that HaTriman's only in
terest in the campaign of 1904. when Mr.
Roosevelt was candidate for the Presi-
dency. was to secure the election of F.
". Higgins as governor of New York,
because he regarded the attack on Hig-
gins as an attack on him. Mr. Hartman,
and on his friend, Gov. Odell."
Asked to Ala Higgins.
At Mr.. Harrimans request the Presi.
dent asked Mr. Cortelyou. then chairman
OF the Republican National Committee,
to aid Mr.. Higgins as far as he could.
Hartman, the President told Congress
man Sherman. also urged the appoint
ment Of Senator Depew as Ambassador,
giving me in detail the reasons why this
would help Gov. Odel by pleasing GER
tain big financial interests"
The President told Mr.. Hartman that
the big financial interests had asked that
the ambassadorship be given 10 Mr..
Hyde
This. the President said. produced a
quick change in Mr.. Harriman's attitude.
Dir. Hartman said he did not wish to be
understood as anita agonizing Mr.. Hyde and
would be quite willing to support him.
Correspondence between the PRESIDENT
ana Hartman over the railroad policy Of
the administration is included in the
Presidents letter to Mr.. Sherman.
AS far as the Depew matter" said the
President to Mr.. Sherman. he professed Z
throughout to be acting in the interests /
OF Gov. Odell. and though Gov Odell 4
had been anxious that Mr. Depew should {
be nominated as Ambassador to France I
at a time when be was supporting Gov !
Black for Senator. He had changed his /
mind after the last letter to me from
Mr. Hartman, and December 10 wrote me
the letter I inclose."