The Washington herald., 1910-08-26

man was TO be presented as the choice Of
the committee for temporary chairman.
Mr.. Griscom has stated that he had not
the least idea that resolution naming
sherman was to be presented until he
was told of the scheme a few minutes
before the meeting, and that when he
heard Of It and protested against the
contemplated action he was told that
the resolution would be put through be-
cause It had been sanctioned by the
President
Statement I'm Full.
Here IS Chairman woodrufrs state
ment.
Nothing that has transpired since the
meeting of the Republican State commit
tee. nor anything that has beer said
since then should mislead any one as to
the conditions or the situation which
then existed.
IN accordance with the precedent es-
tablished two years ago in the selection
Of Senator Root as temporary chairman
Of the State convention. I and some
others who have been associated with
party through the last two political cam
paigns met the night before the meeting
of the State committee. and after the
consideration Of several names, decided
To present TO the committee the name OF
Vice President Sherman as temporary
chairman-a selection which we had
every reason 20 believe would be highly
satisfactory 10 the Republicans Of the
State.
Much to my surprise and entirely
without warning, Mr.. Griscom. who sat
IN the committee as a proxy and who
had been in the state committee rooms
for nearly an hour before the meeting
without saying a word to me about II.
moved 10 substitute the name OF Mr..
Roosevelt for that Of Mr.. Sherman. with
full knowledge which every one had had
all the morning that a majority OF the
committee was committed 10 Vice Presl-
dest Sherman's selection. What Mr..
Griscoms motive was In placing Mr..
Roosevelt in the position Of being de-
feated I could not then comprehend, nor
is il important 10 discuss It now.
Letter TO Roosevelt.
President Taft was in no way in
volved in this matter, as the members
Of the State committee acted entirely
within their authority in selecting a
temporary chairman without as far as I
know, a single one of them consulting
with him about Il: but In view Of the
apparent afTront 20 Mr. Roosevelt caused
by the action of Mr. Griscom. I felt
called upon. as chairman OF the COM
mittee, TO send the following letter to the
former President:
August II, 1910.
"Col. Theodore Roosevelt. Oyster Bay,
Long Island.
My Dear Roosevelt: 1T can
not be possible that it Is necessary for
me TO tell you that the action Of the
State committee yesterday. in which
I participated, was in no sense IN
tended as an act of hostility toward
you or one Of reflection upon YOU
L saw Ward and Barnes after their
talk with on, and they told me what
you anC they had said about this
whole natter. and I hope you know,
despit" so'ne thirgs to the contrary
which tre neWpapsers contained this
morning, that they told you the exact
facts. Not one Of US supposed that
your name would be presented with
out your notifying Ward, the national
committeeman. or me, the chairman
of the State committee. that you wish
ed it done, and l never was so sur
prised In my life as when Griscom
made the motion which he did Not a
word had been said TO me before the
meeting by anybody that indicated
this course was to be taken, and / I'M
derstand that neither Griscom nor any
one else told Ward. OF Barnes. or any
Of the other men OF the committee
that this was their purpose.
Believing that you must appreciate
the position in which, under these cir