The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-12-18
.CORTELyOU FEELS
CRITICISM .KEENLY
His illness Believed to be
Nervous Breakdown
Due Thereto.
ISSUES LETTER
DENYING RUMORS
Secretary OF Treasury Refutes
Charges That He and His
Friends, or Either, Have
Been Politically Active.
Rumor OF Future
Resignation.
Times Dispatch Bureau,
Aiunsey RufiGinp q
washing.on, o. G.. pec. 17


Secretary cortel, ou is more seriously
Ill than the statement OF his physician
would Indicate, according to a reliable
report tonight. DR.. Hazen, his physi-
clan, says the secretarys absence from
the department to-day was due to an
attack OF grip, and that he will not be
able to be out for some days. II is re-
liably stated that the secretary Is on
the verge of a collapse which may con-
ines him to his home many days
1t is said that accusations OF treaci,-
cry to the administration in seeking to
uge tho prestige of the President to
further his own aspirations to that
high Office are responsible for the
threatened breakdown--that and the
course OF the administration In causing
him to pursue the policy he did to re-
lieve the panic by letting Wall Street
have all the money 1t wanted, and then
denouncing him for having played into
the hands OF the stock gamblers and
bankers.
Rumor of Reslgnntion.
II the secretary has grip. the attack
has come at a bad time for him. owing
to his weakened and overwrought con-
dition.
Runiors OF the resignation OF Secre-
tary Cortelyou occurring soon are de-
MED, chiefly on the ground that to
make a change In the position of head
| OF the Treasury Department. would
cause a complication in financial con-
ditions which would be most harmful.
But when conditions In the money
market have become normal again, ii
would not be surprising to see Post
master-General Meyer made Secretary
| of the Treasury.
Cortclyou issues Denial.
! Secretary Cortelyou. in signed
statement given out Tonight. pro-
1 :.ouHces 3 asaunaualifiedly false the cur.
rent runors of undue political activity
of his friends in forwarding a move
ment in his interest. The Secretary
declares that neither he nor his friends
| have used their influence in behalf of
any candidate for the presidency, and
| that he has not been candidate for
4 anything but the confidence of the
| people. He adds that II he should
! hereafter decide to be n candidate for
any. office. he will say so frankly. The
| statement follows:
December II, 1907
/ II do not know that am called
1 upon to make statement at this
| time. but in view of the various
rumors in circulation as to the al
| legged political activity OF friends
| OF mine in my interest ] Will say
| that ! have not been n candidate
for anything but the confidence OF
| the people in the discharge of my
duties as Secretary OF the Treas
ury. l have not in person sought,
nor have the friends whose names
have been mentioned in this con-
nection sought. to influence po-
litical movements In my interest:
/ have not nor have they used any
j influence. directly or indirectly. to
secure political support for or
i against any candidate for the pres
4 idency. and accusations that such
4 has been done are unqualifedly
4 false.
l May BE Candidate.
4 "In no office. in no one OF the
i three departments with which I
Il have been connected. have ! au-
! thorlzed or permitted officials or
4 employees to attempt to influence
i any such movements, nor shall l
Il do SO. In common with many
i other citizens have decided views
i as to policies and as to candidates,
! hut shall refrain from EXPRESS
ing them until I believe it Is
II proper for me to do so. Upon
!; this statement I am entirely con-
tent to leave the people to draw
] their own conclusions regarding
: such rumors as those to which T
have referred. II In the future
shall decide to be a candidate
for any office ! shall be prepared
!. to say SO frankly. aud state the
grounds upon which I ask for sup
port. In the meantime shall try
as have tried In the past, to con-
duct the Treasury Department for
.. the benefit OF the people OF the
whole country. and absolutely
without regard to whether any ac-
tlon may take in the limo OF my
duty may adversely affect my per-
sonal or political welfare.
(signcd) GEORGE q. CORTELYOU.'
Secretary Of the Navy Metcalf also
Is detained at his home with an attack
. of the grip. When he returned from
: Norfolk today, whittier he went With
!, the Presidents party, he was compelled
to take to his bed. The secretary was
unable. according. to the reports from
Norfolk, to leave the cabin OF the May
flower to review the fleet. having beer
, indisposed before he left Washington
FOIL EFFORT To ROB TRAIN