The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-08-23

several members of the New York
state Republican committee who vot-
| ed for Vice President Sherman over
| ex-President Roosevelt as nominee for
| temporary chairman of the state con-
vention were Influenced by statements
| that the vice presidents name was
| presented to defeat Colonel Roose
welt in accordance with your wish. A
member of the state committee de-
| clared to me before the meeting that
| Sherman's candidacy had been ar
| ranged with you by telephone the pre-
vious day. Efforts have been made
to create an impression that you
| favor a particular candidate for cleo
ton as state chairman. 1 want you
to know that the injection of the name
of a high member of your admins
| tration into a factional conflict has
produced a most complicated situa
| ton, and the absence of any authori
| tative information as to your attitude
is seriously misleading many Repub-
| licans and impairing a movement for
| progressive leadership and clean gov
| ernment in this state.
I know you desire us to have
fair field and hope that this may be
made clear to the public
THE suggestion that I have ever
| expressed a wish to defeat Mr.. Roose-
Welt for the temporary Craftsmanship
of the convention or have ever taken
4
untrue.
IT never heard Mr. Sherman's name
suggested as temporary chairman of
the state convention until 1 saw in
the newspaper of August 16 that he
had been selected at the meeting of
the committee. When you called at
my house Saturday evening. August
g, you told me that Mr.. Roosevelt in
tended to go to the convention as a
delegate, and you suggested Incl
dentally his being made temporary
chairman-a suggestion in which I
acquiesced. 1t did not occur to me
that any one would oppose it. This
was the first time the subject of the
temporary Craftsmanship was men
toned to me by any one. You did not
ask me to take any action what
ever with respect to 1t. After a full
discussion of the New York state stu
alton, 1 drafted in your presence the
following telegram and sent it to Mr.
Sherman:
Telegram to Sherman.
Beverly, Mass, Aug. IA. 1910.
Hon. James S. Sherman, Vice Presi-
dent, Utica, N. Y:
| Please say to Ward and Wood
run that L have had a long confer
ence with Griscom. He confirms my
1udgment already expressed to you
that the whole situation in New York
may be saved without humiliation to
any one and that with victory for the
party by full conference with Mr..
Roosevelt and reasonable concessions
with reference to platform and candi-
dates.
s. The thing of all others that ought
to be avoided is a controversy in the
convention. 1 am told by Mr. Griscom
that such conference with Mr..
Roosevelt might conveniently be had
ana would be welcomed by him be-
Iore the state committee meets on
Tuesday. Hope you will be able To
report satisfactory solution when Won
come on Wednesday,
WILLIAM H. TAFT"
. Message From sherman.
ON the afternoon of Monday. All
gust IS, Mr.. Sherman telephoned me
from New York and for the first time
: apprlsed me of the fact that there was
a proposal to oppose Mr. Roosevelt for
the temporary Craftsmanship. and thar
: with Mr.. Roots name. No other name
: th2n MI Roots was mentioned I pro-
tested against the idea of a contest or
SUCH matter, peremptorily declined tc
) De drawn into a fight against Mr.
Roosevelt; and again renewed nv mr.
l gent advice that there be prompt and
} full personal conference with Mr.
Roosevelt before the committee meet.
ing with view to securing harmony
and victory for the party.
Mr.. Sherman called upon me her;
t on the 18th instant to meet an engage
ment of a weeks standing made will
g him and Mr.. Loudenslager to discus.
r the congressional campaign text book
\ Mr.. Loudenslager was prevented from
s coming by an Illness. During the con
t ference with Mr.. Sherman 1 told hin
d that I deplored the result of the meet
t ing of the New York state committe
e because unless the break were repaire
: it meant division among New Yorl
n Republicans and probable defeat.
y Upon leaving me Mr.. Sherman
agreed to go into conference with MI
o Roosevelt provided he were invited t.
: do so. with a view to adjusting tn
q situation if possible even at that lat
l. date. Mr.. Nicholas Longworth wa
i present and said he would send a tele
e gram to brin.; about a conferences
: What the result has been l do no
e know.
: Finally. in your telegram receive
n this morning you state that effort
u have been made to create the impress
n sion that I favor a particular candl
II date for election as state chairman
!. This is absolutely untrue 1 have eS
le pressed no opinion on the subject sine
an effort was made last winter by til
New York congressional delegation ;
It secure Mr.. Woodruffs retiremen
If which failed.
" Il am very sorry, indeed to obserx
" columns of unfounded assertions in tt
newspapers concerning my attitude
respect 10 tne new 1oEk situatlon-
u, | know, how ever. as well as other Ne
York leaders, that whenever my adviS
i, or assistance in reaching satisfaction
= adjustment of the difficulties arisin
= has been sought have urged tn
- necessity for the fullest conferenc
= with Mr.. Roosevelt by the members =
q the organization and with due defer
l. ence to honest differences of opinio
= have expressed the view which / sti
st entertain that the solution of the direc
n primary issue can be found in pre-
visions similar to those of the Cob