The San Francisco call., 1908-10-27
SHERMAN MAKES REPLY
Courts Fullest Investigation and
Denies Any Attempt at Fraud

UTICA. \. Y. Oct. 2e.-Before leaving
here this afternoon to resume his speak
ing tour through the state James s.
sherman. republican vice presidential
candidate gave out 2 statement dealing
with the charges made public TODAY 10
the effect that sherman had been in
VOWED IN an attempted deal in govern =
lnent timber lands i'm New Mexico with
Edmond Burke and others, the company
winch they had formed seeking to OBJ
ram possession through sharp practice
Al a low figure Of millions of acres of
valuable timber Sherman's statement
follows:
Ny attention has been called Ia sensational
article in foiay's New York World making
ckerges against me in connection with fbo New
eco timber and development company a cor
poTaton which has not beeen in existence for
gears careful reading shows that the
charges. 50 Tar ] aa concerned have no
substance whatever and as 10 my connection
with the enterprise the fullest possible investi-
CATION and publicity are courted
The fact about it briefly is that some wears
since Mr. Burke presented a proposition involving
the purchase Of timberlands in New Mexico.
which were not United States property and
the construction Of railroad. There were 10
gentlemen, think. who gave $500 each to
form a company and investigate the project
Experts were employed 10 inspect the proDertv
Some Of us Investigated tho lands SO there
was no secret about II, and on the other hand.
the local papers had much to say OF it at the
After looking into the matter carefully and at
length NE decided that the lands available
would not yield a profit on the railroad con
Ffrucfion and dropped it, The plan was sbau-
doned. the company dissolved. about half the
sun invested paid hack 10 each Of US and
our prospective connection with the enterprise
ended.
Not one foot or one dollars worth of United
States property Was concerned with il in any
way There secrecy about IL and no
need for any ] never urged the passage Of any
such bill as IS referred to- and the World ar
ficlc does not say that did. What Mr.. Burke
or any one else did before after our investi-
cation of the proposition ] do not know and II
be or anybody else attempted any bribery bust
ness ii was without the knowledge. consent or
approval Of myself or any of my associates in
the Investigation
Ny secretary acknowledged the receipt OF Mr..
BurSe's letter of August 3, signing my name as
he had the right 10 do in my absence He
showed me Mr.. Burse's letter my return and
knowing there SSas nothing in the transaction on
my part 10 apologize for ] paid attention
70 IT,
The whole affair was purely legitimate
private enterprise which, as businessmen we
investigated and turned down half a dozen
years ago
IN may be of interest in this connection 10
Esv that later Burke wrote saying he was
being pressed 10 make statements which would
bc calculated 10 iHjure me, and asked TO see
him in Chicago date when ] was billed to
speak there. That letter not even ack-
rorledeed. because I had nothing TO pay or
promise 70 prevent the disclosure of any public
or private act Of mine. If he has found mar
kct for the wares the incident must go along
with what I suppose is 10 be expected in the
last week Of the campaign.