Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-04-03
Hartman Hurls Back Inc Lie ot President Roosevelt With
 Letters 10 Back u Up
QUANDRY
Politicians Are Very Reluctant 10 Dis- cuss the Nasty Mess and a Sug- gestion is Made 10 Open Up
 Campaign Books.


 tion of the letter from R. H. Harri- man to Sidney Webster and the cor respondence between President Roosevelt and Congressman Sher- man and the president and MT Har- riman was given the widest discus sion in financial and political circles to-day. The statement given out by MT Hartman last night in reply to the Roosevelt-Sherman correspond ence was eagerly read, especially in Wall street where MT Hartman s position as leader in the railroad world has given him such great prominence. MT Hartman himself was not at his office as early as usual to-day. It was said that he was in consultation with several of his friends as to the present aspects of the situation presumably with a view to defining his future attitude and course of procedure should the pres ident make rejoinder to his state ment of last night.
 Not the least interesting portion of MT Harriman's presentation of his side of the controversy was his state- ment that he could not withdraw anything said in the letter to Sidney Webster. in which he declared that it was at the presidents solicitation that he raised $200,0O0 for use in New York state in the campaign of 1904 and that the president agreed If found necessary" to appoint Sen ator Depew to the ambassadorship to France. It was declared in bank ing circles that light could be shed on the question of campaign con tributions in 1904 if the books of the national republican committee were thrown open. Harry s. New, of In- diana Is now acting chairman of the committee.
 .- While the, controversy is attracting wide spread attention politicians and others who were closely connected with the campaign do not show dis position at this time to discuss the subject.
 senator Chauncey M. Depew is the only one who would add anything to the letters and statements made by the president and MT Hartman. He is quoted as saying:
 My knowledge of the $200,000 campaign fund was all gained after the occurrence to which Mir Harri- man refers. I knew nothing about it at the time and it would be i'm proper for me to mention names in any way. may say, however. that the money did not come from corpor- ations, neither from individuals whose corporation affiliations were such that they had anything to ex- pect from the administration in re- turn. They were men of wealth, who necessarily had certain corpora tion connections, but these did not move them in contributing the money.
 So far as the mention of my name for the post of ambassador to France is concerned. I will say positively that the matter was not broached to me until December. after the opposi- ton to my reelection as senator had crystallized. heard nothing at all about it back at election time.
 T will not say through what source the suggestion came that l should take the post except that was asked if I would not accept such an appointment and withdraw from the senatorial contest. replied that would not consider it. that my whole straining and inclination impelled me to continue my service as sena- tor. and that so far as I was con- cerned it was the senatorship or nothing. Not long after that the opposition was withdrawn"
 Cornelius N. Bliss was asked if he had anything to say about the situation developed by the exchange of statement between Mir Hartman and President Roosevelt.
 You can't galvanize ancient history -or ancient fiction" said MT Bliss. I have kept still for two years and do not see any profit in saying any thing now. What has passed is of the past. and that's an end to it."
 Senator Platt could not be seen at his office. and his secretary brought out word that the senator would not discuss anything which may ap- pear in the newspapers" and that nothing could induce him to change his position in that regard.
 Former Governor Odell. in New burg, declined to discuss the Harri- man letter and the presidents reply. He also refused to talk on the moneys received by the republican state committee while he was at its head.
 Ex-Governor Black. who was a candidate for the senatorship with Mir Depev. also declined to talk.
 Whatever my inclinations might be- he told reporters who asked him about his withdrawal from the race against Depew In 1904. the properties will allow me to say