The Washington herald., 1907-04-03

New York. April 2.-The following
statement was given out late tonight by
E. H. Hartman;
For many years / have maintained an
intimate confidential correspondence with
my friend, Mr. Sidney Webster. What I
wrote him and what he wrote me was, OF
course, intended for our eyes alone. In
the course OF letter which he wrote
me in December. 1905 he warned me
against being drawn into politics and
questioned whether I had any political
or party instinct united 20 what he was
pleased TO call my business instinct. This
drew from me the reply to Mr.. Webster's
inquiry, which, in substantially correct
form, has been stolen and published. This
letter was written on January . 1906 al
time when no one could doubt cor
diaiity OF my relations witlf the Presl-
dent
About ten days ago 1 was told that
discharged stenographer was trying TO
sell 10 some newspaper reproduction
from his notes of one of my private let
ters. / could hardly believe that any
matter SO obtained would be accepted or
published. yet / made every effort to pre-
q
afternoon that a New York newspaper
had transcript Of these notes 1 notified
the publisher at once of the facts and
urged upon his attention the gross out
rage that the publication of it under such
circumstances would involve While de-
ploring, of course, that the saeredness Of
private correspondence should thus be
violated, 1 cannot Withdraw anything in
the letter
Reads Presidents Statement.
7 have read the Presidents statement.
] am most anxious TO treat him and his
other UsseTances with consideration due
to the high Office which he holds. Never
theless, 1 feel bound TO call attention TO
certain things IN regard to which he does
me injustice.
In his letter TO Mr.. Sherman. he
clearly seeks to convey the impression
that the personal interview with him in
the fall of 1904 was of my seeking and
not his He says:
" His (Harriman's1 and my letters. now
before me. in the fall of 1894. run as fol-
lows: "On his return from spending the
summer in Europe on September 20. he
wrote me. stating that if I thought It
desirable he would come to see me at
any time. then or later" (He had been.
as you remember, a delegate 20 the Re
publican national convention, having
voted for my nOminatiOn) On September
. / answered this letter, saying: AT
present there is nothing for me to see
you about. though there were one or two
points in my letter of acceptance which
l would like to discuss with you"
Gets Letter in Europe
Let me present the facts: On June
Q, 1904. the President wrote me the fol-
lowing letter. which ne does not include
in the correspondence published to-day
It reached me in Europe:
white House.
Washington. June %, 1894
90 Personal
" My Dear Mr.. Hartman. 1 thank you
Tor your letter. As soon as you come
home 1 shall want TO see You. The fight
viii doubtless be hot then. It has been
real pleasure to see you this year.
Truly yours THE EXECUTIVE
In reply TO this. ] wrote him Gn my
return from Europe the letter of septem-
Der %. the opening sentences Of which
he eliminated in his publication.
new AOIks september -. IS4.
" Dear Mr.. President: was very glad
to receive your note of June 2s last while
I was In Europe. I am now getting mat
ters that accumulated during my absence
somewhat cleared up. and if you think 1t
desirable, viii so to see YOU at any time,
either now or later. II seems to me that
the situation could not be in better shape
Yours sincerely. f. H. HARTMAN.
To the President, Washington, D. c.
Invitation from President.
"Then followed series of invitations
from the White House, both from the
President and his secretary, urging me to
go to Washington. On October 10, the
President wrote: In view of the trouble
over the State ticket in New York, l
should much like 10 have a few words
with you. Do you think you can get
down here within a few days. and take
either lunch or dinner with me-?
''On October IA he wrote. My Dear Mr.
Hartman: A suggestion has come to me
iu a roundabout way that you do not
think it wise TO come to see me in these
closing weeks of the campaign, but that
you are reluctant TO refuse, inasmuch as
have asked you.
"A funeral In my family prevented a
prompt response TO the Presidents re-
peated invitation. but finally. about Octo-
ber %, I was able TO so to Washington
and see him.
There is some difference Of recollec-
tion as to what transpired at that inter
view
Fortunately, the President himself in
his strictly personal letter TO me OF No
vember 80 throws some light upon what
did take place. He says
If you remember. when you were
down here. both sou and I were so inter
ested in certain of the New York politi-
cal developments that I hardly, if at all
touched on governmental matters
Again, in the same letter, he says;
As matter of fact, as you viii re-
member when you did come down to see
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