The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-10-27
SHERMAN EXPLAINS
CHARGES PUBLISHED IN
 NEW YORK WORLD.
Says He Wns Not Involved In Any Attempted Deal In 6overnmeht
 Lands In New Mext-

Utica, N. Y, Oct. 2e.--Before leaving here this afternoon to resume his speaking tour throughout the state, James & sherman, Republican vice presidential candidate. gave out a statement dealing with the charges made public today to the effect that Mir. sherman had been involved in an attempted deal in government timber lands in New Mexico, with one Ed- mund Burke and others. the company which they formed seeking to obtain possession through sharp practice at a low hgure. of millions of acres or valuable timber. Mr. Sherman's state- mont ia as follows:
 My attention has been called to sensational article in today's New York World making charges against me Tn connection with the new Mexico Lum- her and Development Company, a cor poration which has not been in exts- tence for some years, A careful read ing shows that the charges, so far as I am concerned, have no substance whatever, and as to my connection with the enterprise the fullest possible in- vestigation and publicity are courtsd. "The fact about 1t briefly is that some years since MT. Burke presented a business proposition involving the purchase of timherlands in New Mexi- co which were not United states prop erty and the construction of railroad. There were ten gentlemen, I think. who gave $500 each to form com peny and investigate the project. Ex- perts were employed to Inspect the property, Some of us investigated the | lands so there was no secret about tt and on the other hand, the local pa- pers had much to say of if at the | time
 "After looking into the matter care fully and at length, we decided that the lands available would not yield q profit on the railroad construction and development. The plan was abandoned. the company dissolved, about half the sum invested was paid back 10 each of us, and our prospective connection with the enterprise was ended.
 l Not one foot or one dollars worth of United States property was concern ed with 1t In any way. There was nQ secrecy aboutpit and no need for any. never urged the passage of any such | bill as Is referred to, and The World article does not say that I did What Mir. Burke or anyone else did before
 or after our investigation of the prepo- sition. I do not know. and if he or
 anybody else attempted any bribery Ibusiness 1t was without the knowledge consent or approval of myself or any of my associates in the investigation | My secretary acknowledged the re- ceipt of Mir. Burke's letter of August 9, singing my name as he had the right 10 do in my absence. He show ed me MT. Burkes letter on my re- turn, and. knowing there was nothing in the transaction on my part to con-
 ceal or apologize for, paid no more
 attention to 1t. The whole affair wal
 purely a legitimate private enterprise
 which as business men, we investigat'
 ed and turned down half dozen year'
 ago.
 Ii may be of interest In this con
 nection to say that later Mir, Burke
 wrote me, saying he was being pressed
 to make statements which would b'
 calculated to injure me. and asked me tI
 see him in Chicago on a date when
 was billed to speak there. That let
 ter was not even acknowledged be
 cause I had nothing to say or promise
 to prevent the disclosure of any public
 or prlvate act of mine. If he hat
 found a market for the wares, the in
 cident must go along with what
 suppose is to be expected in the las
 week of a campaign"