The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-10-27
Sherman Replies to
n. Y. World; Land Deal
Was Purely Business

UTICA, N. Y. Oct. 27.-Congress-
man James s. Sherman. Republican
vice presidential nominee, unperturb-
ed by the charges in the New York
World, which seek to involve him In
alleged fraudulent land deals In New
Mexico, left for Rochester to inaugur-
ate the concluding week OF hts spell.
binding In the present campaign.
In connection with the matter OF
the charges, Mr.. Sherman made this
statement:
my attention has been called to
sensational article In the New York
World making charges against me In
connection with the New Mexico Lum-
Der & Development company, a cor
poration which has not been In exist.
cnce for some years.
"A careful reading shows that the
charges. SO far as l am concerned,
have no substance whatever. and as
to my connection with the enterprise,
the fullest possible investigation and
publicity are courted. The fact about
It briefly Is that some years since Mr..
Burke presented q business PROPOSE
ton involving the purchase or timber
lands In New Mexico. which were not
United States property, and con-
u
10 gentlemen. think. who gave $6Oe
gate the project. Experts were en-
ployed to inspect the property.
Matter Not Kept Quiet 81
Some of us visited the lands. so
there was no secret about IL and on
tao other huut the local papers haa
much to say OF 1t at the time. After
locking into the matter carefully and
ct length we decided that the lands
available would not yield a profit on
the railroad construction and develop
ment. The plan was abandoned, the
company dissolved, about half the
sum invested was paid back to each
OF us and our prospective connection
with the enterprise was ended.
mot one foot nor one dollars worth
Of United States property was con-
cerned with 1t In any way. There
was no secrecy about 1t 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 ]
did.
what Mr.. Burke or any ono else
did before or after our investigation
OF the proposition I do not know and
IL he or anybody else attempted any
bribery business 1t was without the
knowledge. consent or approval OF
myself or any Of my associates In the
investigation.
My secretary acknowledged the
receipt of Mr.. Burkes letter. OF Au-
gust 9th, signing my name. as he has
the right to do In my absence. He
showed me Mr.. Burkes letter on my
return and knowing there was nothing
In the transaction on my part to con-
ceal or apologize for l paid no more
attention to It. The whole affair was
purely a legitimate private enterprise
which as business men we invcsugat-
ed and turned down half a dozen
years ago.
1T may be of interest In this con-
neetion to say that later Mr.. Burke
wrote me saying he was being press
ed to make statements which would
be calculated to injure me and asked
me TO zee him In Chicago on date
when l was billed to speak there. That
letter was not even acknowledged. be-
cause l have nothing to pay Or prom
Use to prevent the disclosure OF any
public or private act Of mine. II he
has found market for the wares. the
incident must go along with what i
suppose is to be expected In the last
week OF a campaign"