The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-08-23

New York, Aug. 22.-President
Taft not only had no hand in the
trickery at the meeting OF the Re-
publican State committee last Tues
day, whereby William L. Ward,
national committeeman; Timothy
L. Woodruff, State chairman3
William Barnes, jr., the Albany
County leader, and Speaker Wads-
worth succeeded in having a mo-
ton adopted naming Vice Presi-
dent Sherman as the temporary
chairman Of the Republican State
convention in place OF Col. ROOse-
velt, but in a letter which was re-
ceived to-day by Chairman Girls
com, Of the Republican county
committee, It was made plain that
Mr.. Taft insisted that before any
choice was made by the committee
Col Roosevelt should be consulted.
TYFTs LETTER ~ Full.
The lett,r is as follows
Beverly. Mass. Aug %. 1sl0
MY Dear Mr.. Griscom:
"As you know from your telephone
conversations with nay Office 7 have
steadily refused TO admit the propriety
or necessity OF the Presidents replying
! 10 newspaper statements which are not
based on any act or authorized word OF
his and have no sponsor. I am entirely
willing. however. TO reply categorically
to your telegram OF August 70. which
has just arrived. and which is as fol-
lows:
I am informed and believe that
several members Of the New York
/ Republican state committee who
voted for Vice President Sherman
! over ex-President Roosevelt as nomi-
I
/ State convention were Influenced by
statements that the Vice Presidents
name was presented to defeat Col.
! Roosevelt in accordance with your
I wish.
a member OF the State committee
/ declared to me before the meeting
that Mr.. Sherman's candidacy had
4 been arranged with you by telephone
the previous day Efforts have been
made 70 create an impression that
! you favor a particular candidate for
election as State chairman.
Il want you TO know that the injec-
ton OF the name OF a high member
of your administration into a factional
conflict has produced a most CompI-
Gated situation. and the absence Of
any authoritative information as to
your attitude IS seriously misleading
j many Republicans and impairinE a
movement for progressive party lead
ership and clean government In this
State. I know you desire US TO have
fair field and hope that this may
be made clear 20 the public.
Never Opposed Roosevelt.
The suggestion that I have ever en-
pressed a wish 10 defeat Mr Roosevelt
for the temporary craftsmanship of the
! convention or have ever taken the slight
est step to do so Is wholly untrue I
never heard Mr.. Sherman;s name sug-
/ gested as temporary chairman Of the
State convention until saw in the news
papers OF August Is that he had been se<
lected at the meeting OF the committee.
When you called at my house Saturday
evening, August 1S, you told me that NIr.
Roosevelt intended 10 go 20 the conven-
ton as a delegate, and you suggested. in
cidentally. his being made temporary
chairman-a suggestion in which I ac-
| quiesced.
1T did not occur 20 me that anv ons
would oppose II. This was the first Tina
the subject Of the temporary Chairman
ship was mentioned 10 me by any one.
4 You did not ask me % take any action
whatever with respect 10 H. After full
] discussion CT the New York State situa-
tion, I drafted in your presence the rol-
lowing telegram and sent IL to Mr.. Sher-
man:
Beverly Mass. Aug. Il. 1910
How James s sherman
/ Vice President. Utica, ~ Y:
Please say 20 Ward and Woodbury.
that I have had a long conference
with Griscom. He confirms my judg-
ment already expressed TO you. that
the whole situation in New York may
be saved without humiliation 70 any
one and with victory for the party by
a full conference with Mr.. Roosevelt
and reasonable concessions with ref
erence to platform and candidates
The thing Of all others that ought