Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1910-09-03
TAFTs LETTER TO
PRESIDENT GRIsooM

hhS iouoWiuS ietIST from freSl-
dent Taft to Llyod Z. Griscom, pres
ident of the New York republican
county committee, was given out
here by Mr.. Griscom.
Beverly, Mass, Aug. 20, 1910
AS you know from your telephone
conversations with my office, l have
steadily refused to admit the pro-
priety or necessity of the presidents
replying to newspaper statements,
which are not based on any act or
authorized word of his, and have no
sponsor. am entirely willing, how
ever, to reply categorically to your
telegram Of August 10, which has
just arrived and which is as follows:
81 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 nominee for
temporary chairman Of the state con-
vention were informed by statements
that the vice presidents name was
presented to defeat Col. Roosevelt In
accordance with your wish. A mem
Der of the state committee declared
to me before the meeting that Mr..
Sherman's candidacy had been ar
ranged with you by telephone the
previous day. Arrangements have
been made to create an impression
that you favor particular candidate
for election as state chairman. want
you to know that the injection of the
name Of high member Of your ad-
ministration into the factional con-
flict has produced a most complicat-
ed situation and the absence Of au-
thoritative information as to your
attitude is seriously misleading many
republicans and impairing a move
ment for progressive party leader
ship and clean government in this
state. I know you desire us to have
a fair field and hope that this will
be made clear to the public"
Terms IL Falsehood.
The suggestion that I have ever
expressed wish to defeat Mr.. Roos-
evelt for the temporary chairman
ship Of the convention or have ever
taken the slightest step to do 80 is
wholly untrue. l never heard Mr..
Sherman's name suggested as tenn
porary chairman Of the state con-
vention until I saw in the newspa-
pers of August 16 that he had been
elected at the meeting of the COM
mittee. When you called at my
house Saturday evening, August 13,
you told me that Mr.. Roosevelt in
tended to go to the convention as a
delegate and you suggested inciden-
tally his being made temporary
chairman-a suggestion In which !
| acquiesced. 1t did not occur to me
that anyone would oppose It. This
was the first time the subject of the
temporary craftsmanship was men.
toned to me by anyone. You did not
ask me to take any action whatev-
er with respect to It.
After full discussion Of the New
York state situation drafted in
your presence the following tele.
gram and sent II to Mr.. Sherman:
Beverly, Mass, Aug. 10. 1910
Hon James s. Sherman Vice Presi
dent, Utica, NJ Y, Please say to Ware
and Wood ruff that I have had a Ions
conference with Griscom. He con
firms my 1udgmnet already express
ed to you that the whole situation
In New York may be saved without
humiliation to anyone, and that with
victory for the party by a full con
ference with Mr.. Roosevelt, and rea
sonable concessions with reference t.
platform and candidates.
THE thing Of all others that ough
to be avoided is controversy In tn,
convention. am told by Mr.. Girls
com that such conference with Mr.
Roosevelt might conveniently be hat
and would be welcomed by him be
fore the state comittee meets on Tue
day. Hope you will be able to re
port satisfactory solution when 70,
come en- Wednesday.
civilian H. Taft.
Opposed to Any Contest.
On the afternoon Of Monday, Aug
ust Is, Mr.. Sherman telephoned. m
from New York, and for the first tim
apprised me of the fact that ther
was a proposal to oppose Mr.. Roose
velt for the temporary chairman
ship and that with Mr.. Roots name
No other name than Mr.. Roots wa
mentioned. protested against tn
idea Of contest on such a matter
peremptorily declined to be drawn In
to fight against Mr.. Roosevelt an
again renewed my urgent advice tha
there be prompt and full persona
conference with Mr.. Roosevelt befor
the committee meeting with a view t
securing harmony and victory for tn
party.
Mr.. Sherman called upon me her
on the 18th inst, to meet an engage
ment Of weeks standing mad
with him, and Mr.. Loudenslager I