The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-08-23
TAFT DID NOT PLOT AGAINST ROOSEVELT
In Letter to Lloyd Grscom the President Says He Had
Nothing to Do With "Od Guards" Action.

Success has rewarded the efforts OF
Lloyd C. Griscom. chairman of the
New York county republican commit
tee. to clear up the maze OF conflict
ing statements regarding the recent
overthrow" of former President The
odore Roosevelt in his defeat for the
ONCE of temporary chairman OF the
New York state republican conven-
ton. President Taft upon whose
shoulders certain leaders placed re-
sponsibility for success Of the "old
guards" maneuvers which resulted in
the election of Vice President James
s. Sherman as temporary chairman,
has written Mr.. Griscom denying par
ticipating in any plan to humiliate
Mr.. Roosevelt. Mr.. Griscom has made
public the presidents letter. adding a
few remarks Of his own. Mr.. Roose-
welt after reading the presidents let
ter. has expressed satisfaction with
the explanation from Beverly. Vice
President Sherman has made no
statement and at his home in Utica,
refused absolutely to discuss the mat
ter in any way
The Presidents Letter.
Beverly, Mass. Aug. 20. 1910-My
dear Mr.. Griscom: As you know from
your telephone conversations with my
ONCE. have steadfastly refused to
admit the propriety 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.
II am entirely willing, however. to
reply categorically to your telegram
of August 10, which has Just arrived
and which il az follows:
""I am informed and believe that
several members of the New York re-
publican state committee who voted
for Vice President Sherman over for
mer President Roosevelt as nominee
for temporary chairman of the state
convention. were. Influenced by state
ments that the vice presidents name
was presented to defeat Colonel
Roosevelt in accordance with your
wish. A member of the state commit
tee declared to me before the meeting
that Mr.. Sherman's candidacy had
been arranged with you by telephone
the previous day Efforts have been
made to create an impression that you
favor a particular candidate for cleo
ton as state chairman. I want you
to know that the injection Of the
name of high member of your ad-
ministration into a factional conflict
ton. and the absence of any authorita-
tive information an to your attitude Is
seriously misleading many republic
ais and impairing a movement for
progressive party leadership and
clean government in this state l
know you desire us to have fair
field and hope that this may be made
clear to the public
Not Against Roosevelt.
"The suggestion that l have ever
expressed a wish to defeat Mr.. Roose.
welt for the temporary Craftsmanship
of the convention or have ever taken
the slightest step to do 30 is wholly
untrue.
II never heard Mr.. Sherman's name
suggested as Temporary chairman OF
the state convention until l saw in
the newspapers of August 16 that he
had been selected at the meeting Of
the committee.
when you called at my house on
Saturday evening. August Is, you told
me that Mr.. Roosevelt intended to
go. to the convention as a delegate,
and you suggested incidentally his
being made temporary chairman
suggestion in which / acquiesced. 1t
did not occur to me that any one
would object to 1t. This was the first
time the subject of the Temporary
Craftsmanship was mentioned to me
by any one.
Telegram TO Sherman.
After q full discussion of the New
York state situation I drafted in your