The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-09-21
Roosevelt Denies That He Went to See President
 to Seek His Aid
CONFERENCE WAS NOT
 OF GREAT IMPORTANCE
at Saratoga By Roosevelt, Who Will Not Discuss the New
 York Situation

New York. September 2o.-Theodors
 Roosevelt denied today that he had
 gone to New Haven, Conn.,, yesterday
 to seek the help of President Taft In
 the New York state fight, and that the President had refused his request. It was pointed out to Colonel Roose- welt that the impression has been given
 that 1t was he who sought an inter- view with the President for the pur- pose of gaining the latter's aid and that
 MT. Taft had let him know that he
 would add nothing to what he had
 done In support of the Roosevelt-
 Hughes element In It's fight for direct nominations. Colonel Roosevelt denied
 this emphaticslly and said tht Lloyd C.. Griscom, president of the New York county republican committee, had arr
 ranged the interview between the Pres
 ident and himself.
 | MT. Griscom confirmed MT. Roosevelt in this. Colonel Roosevelt gave out
 this statement regarding the inter- view:
 "Without any suggestion from me, MT. Griscom asked me If I would be willing to meet the President and I said that of course I would. He had at first mentioned New York as the place of meeting, but wired me at Syracuse on Saturday that 1t would be New Haven and thither l went &C., cordingly.
 T sought no help from the Presi-
 dent and made no request of the Pres ident directly or indirectly, and had no | request to make. Our interview was most cordial and pleasant. and with | out any question or request from me l the President stated to me that fe hoped we would win-at Saratoga and that he so told MT. Griscom his remarks in substance those attributed to him
 in the dispatches from the correspond-
 ents on the Presidents train.
 "Our trip was enjoyable in every way, | and I am glad I went | Just before Colonel Roosevelt started
 to Oyster Bay late this afternoon he and Mr. Griscom talked for some time and | later MT. Griscom issued a statement in
 which he corroborated Colonel Roosevelt | as to the arrangements for the latter's meeting with President Taft. | MT. Griscoms statement follows: q suggested to MT. Roosevelt that he meet and talk with the President. MT. Roosevelt said he would be delighted to do so. There was no mention made by either of us of any purpose in the meet Ing. MT. Roosevelt aSkeu nothing ol tho
 President.
 ',rhe President volunteered to me that
 he was glad to reiterate his views ex- pressed in his letter to me of August 20, regarding the situation of the republican party in New York.
 ''Colonel Roosevelt refuses to add any thing to his statement except to repeat
 that his meeting with the President had been very pleasant and that President
 Taft had been entirely cordial in man. ner." | Colonel Roosevelt has established head | quarters at Saratoga. He said today that c. V. Collins, state superintendent of prisons, who he has announced would be his right-hand man. has engaged quarters there The colonel will leave New York for Saratoga at 12:45 p. no. on Monday.
 There were a number of visitors to his office today with whom he talked pol- ties but the colonel had nothing to say
 on the New York situation. It was learned that the fight of the | Roosevelt forces at Saratoga is to be an
 open one, and that no candidate has been
 agreed upon for governor or any other office.