Los Angeles herald., 1910-08-23
CONFERENCE WITH
ROOSEVELT URGED
President Taft, in Letter to Girls
com, Denies He Opposed
the Colonel
MAKES A PLEA FOR HARMONY
Tells of Conferences About the
Craftsmanship of New York
State Convention
MAKES A PLEA FOR HARMONY
fcontInued from pnge onel

"The suggestion that I have ever ex-
pressed wish to defeat Mr.. Roose-
welt for the temporary chairmanship
of the convention or have ever taken
the slightest step to do so, is wholly
untrue. I never heard Mr. Sherman's
name suggested IS temporary chair
man of the state convention until
saw in the newspapers of August 16
that he had been selected at the meet
ing of the committee. When you called
at my house Saturday evening, Aug
ust 13, you told me that Mr.. Roosevelt
intended to go to the convention as
delegate and you suggested incidentally
his being made temporary chairman
a suggestion in which l acquiesced.
"It did not occur to D1e that anyone
would oppose 1t. This was the first
time the subject of the temporary
craftsmanship was mentioned to me by
anyone You did not ask me to take
any action whatever with respect to 1t.
After a full discussion of the New
York state situation L drafted IN your
presence the following telegram and
sent 1t to Mr.. Sherman:
TELEGRAM TO SHERMAN
''"Beverly, Mass, Aug. ia, 1910.
Hon. James Sherman, vice presi-
dent Utica, N. Y: Please say to Ward
and woodruff that have had a long
conference with Mr.. Grlscom. He con-
firms my judgment already expressed
to you that the whole situation in New
York may be saved without humilia-
tion to anyone and that with victory
for the party by full conference with
Mr.. Roosevelt and reasonable conces-
sons with reference to platform and
candidates
THE thing of all others that ought
10 no oNyni1pH &c q nnfrnUprSU I'm the
convention. I am told by Mr.. Griscom
that such a conference with Mr.. Roose-
welt might conveniently be held and
would be welcomed by him before the
state committee meets on Tuesday.
Hope you will be able to report salts
factory solution when you come on
Wednesday.
WILLIAM H. TAFT
OPPOSITION TO COLONEL
"On the afternoon of Monday, Au
gust Is, Mr. Sherman teephoned me
from New York and for the first time
apprised me of the fact that there was
a proposal to oppose Mr.. Roosevelt for
the temporary craftsmanship and that
with Mr.. Roots name. No other name
than Mr.. Roots was mentioned. I pro-
tested against the idea of a contest on
such a matter, purposely declined to be
drawn into a fight against Mr. Roose-
welt and again renewed my urgent ad-
vice that there be prompt and full per-
sonal conference with Mr.. Roosevelt
before the committee meeting with a
view to securing harmony and victory
for the party.
''Mr sherman called upon me here
on the 18th instant to meet an engage
ment of a weeks standing made with
him and Mr.. Loudenglager to discuss
the congressional campaign text book.
Mr., Loudenslager was prevented from
coming by Illness. In the conference
with Mr.. Sherman / told him that /
deplored the result of the meeting of
the New York state committee be-
cause unless the break were repaired IL
meant division between New York Re-
publicans and probable defeat.
LoNGwoRTTs MESSAGE
upon leaving me Mr. Sherman
agreed to go into a conference with
Mr.. Roosevelt. provided he were willing
to do so, with a view to adjusting the
situation. if possible. even at that late
date Mr.. Nicholas Longworth was
present and said he would send a tele-
gram to bring about a conference.
What the result has been 1 don't
know.
FINALLY, in your telegram received
this morning you state that efforts
have been made to create the impress
sion that I favor a particular candi-
This is absolutely untrue. I have ex-
pressed no opinion on the subject since
an effort was made last winter by the
New York congressional delegation to
further Mr. Woodruff's retirement,
which failed.
"I am very sorry indeed to observe
columns of unfounded assertions in
the newspapers concerning my attitude
in respect to the New York situation.
You know, however, as well as other
New York leaders, that whenever my
advice or assistance in reaching a sat
isfactory adjustment of the difficulties
arising has been sought, I have urged
the necessity for the fullest confer
ence with Mr.. Roosevelt by the mem
bers of the organization, and, with
due Difference to honest differences of
opinion, have expressed the view which
I still entertain, that the solution of
the direct primary issue can be found
in provisions similar to those Of the
Cobb bill as amended in accord with
the memorial signed by Mr.. Seth Low,
Mr. Joseph Choate and other promi-
nent Republicans of New York city.
Sincerely yours.
"WILLIAM II. TAFT"
GRIsCoM's STATEMENT
In commenting on President Tafts
letter and the situation which it dis
closes, Mr.. Griscom gave out the fol-
lowing statement:
"The methods used to accomplish the
defeat of Mr.. Roosevelt when his name
was before the state committee are
now clear and may be judged by the
public.
"Those personally acquainted with
Mr.. Tafts views were, of course, never
in doubt that his advice had been ig-
nored and that his attitude was mis-
represented that those who misprere-
sented him might appear as the de-
tenders of his administration.
"I have not the slightest doubt that
the action of the state committee will
be reversed and that Mr.. Roosevelt, if
his engagements will permit him to ac-
cept, will act as temporary chairman of
the convention, and make the prelim-
mary speech. AS chairman OF the
New York state committee, shall CO.
operate with Republicans throughout
the state who believed 1t the interest of
the party that this result be brought
about.
''Mr. Tafts reply to my telegram dis
closes that the reports industriously
circulated of a supposed conflict be
tween the president and the ex-presi-
dent on New York state matters are
"The way is now clear for the Re