The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1910-09-21
7. R. DID NOT SEEK
INTERVIEW WITH
PRESIDENT
Meeting at New Haven Ar
ranged by GriscOm
TAFT'S POSITION UNCHANGED
Refused to Add Anything to Previous
Statement Relative to New York
Politics

New York, Sept. 21.-Theodere
Roosevelt denied yesterday that he
had gone to New Haven. Ct, Monday
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 Col. Roosevelt
that the impression had been given
that 1t was he who sought an inter
view with the president for the pur-
pose of obtaining the latter's aid and
that Mr.. Taft had let him know that
he would add nothing to what he hao
done in support of the Roosevelt
Hughes element In its fight for direct
nominations. Col. Roosevelt denied
this emphatically, and said that Lloyd
C. Griscom, president OF the New
York county republican committee had
arranged the interviews between the
president and himself. Mr. Griscom
confirmed Col Roosevelt in this. Col.
Roosevelt gave out this statement re
garding the interview
Without any suggestion from me.
Mr.. Griscom asked me II | 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 Sy-
racuse on Saturday that II would be
New Haven. and thither I went &c.
cordlngly. I sought no help from the
president and made no request OF the
president, directly or indirectly and
had no request to make. Our inter
view was most cordial and pleasant,
and without any question or request
from me the president stated to me
that he hoped we would win at Sara
toga and that he had so informed Mr..
Griscom his remarks being in sub
stance those attributed TO him In the
dispatches from the correspondents
from the presidential train. Our
meeting was enjoyable In every way
and | was glad I went"
Just before Col Roosevelt started
back from his editorial Office to Oys-
ter Bay by automobile late yesterday
afternoon, Mr.. Griscom appeared. He
talked for some time with the colonel
and then issued this statement:
II suggested to Mr. Roosevelt that
he meet and talk with the president
Mr.. Roosevelt said that he would he
delighted to do so. There was nc
mention made by either OF us OF any
purpose In the meeting. Mr.. Roose
welt asked nothing OF the president
The president volunteered to me that
he was glad to relterate his views ex
pressed In his letter to me OF August
20. regarding the situation OF the re-
publican party In New York and stat
ed to me substantially what has ap
neared In the newspapers as tele
eraphed from the presidential train
The meeting was most cordial in ev
erv resnect"
Col. Roosevelt refused to add any
thing 10 his statement exceDt TO rc
Deat that his meeting with the presl
dent had been very pleasant and tina
President Taft had been entirely cor
dial In manner Col. Roosevelt ha'
established headquarters at Saratoga
He said yesterday that c. V. Collins
state superintendent OF prisons. who
he has announced. will be his right
hand man. has engaged the first foo
or n cottage. The colonel VIII leave
New York for Saratoga Monday
There were number of visitors 4
his Office Yesterday with whom h,
talked politics but the colonel hat
nothing to say on the New York stat
situation.
II was learned that the fight OF IN
Roosevelt forces nj Saratoga is TO b
an Omen one. ard that no canddat
has been agreed upon for governo
or any other office. II Is expecte
that the Roosevelt men will goto Sal
atoga without slate and that Their
viii be no indication which one Z
the dozen or more men who hav
been mentioned prominently for N
gubernaiorial nomination viii receiv
their support. There Is known 10 o.
list. however. n feeling that an nj
state man should be chosen n Y
possible 20 agree upon one.