The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-08-23
President Issues Statement Pos
itively Declaring He Never
Opposed Roosevelt.
FORMER PRESIDENT GLADLY
ACCEPTS THE EXPLANATION
Some New York Politicians
Come in for Scoring on Atti-
tude Assumed.

NEW YORK Aug. 22.-President
Taft and exPresidcnt Roosevelt are
again fellow workers in the same politi~
cal field. The threat that they might
pull apart has been forefended by full
explanation on one side and an unre-
served acceptance on the other.
The president made it plain in n let
ter given out here today by Lloyd G.
Griscom. chairman of the New York
Republican county committee, how the
misunderstanding arouse He explained
that he never took any part in a COM
mlttee cabal to defeat Colonel Roose-
Velt Tor temporary chairman of the
coming state convention On the con-
trary he explicitly deplores the result Of
the committee meeting which chose Vice
PRESIDENT Sherman; he rebukes the
party leaders who have permitted it to
go abroad uncontradicted that the
president of the United States was be-
hind their factional preference; he in
vised the fullest conference with Roose-
Velt and he explains he has been panied
by the columns of unfounded stories in
newspapers concerning my attitude in
respect to the New York situation -
Roosevelt Is Pleased.
For his part, Colonel Roosevelt. when
he read President Taft's letter as COM
municated to him at Oyster Bay. said
81 am very glad to see President
Taft IS letter and am pleased with it"
The presidents letter comes in reply
to Mr.. Griscom IS blunt assertion by
telegraph that "the absence of any
authoritative information as to your at.
titude is seriously misleading many Re-
publicans. He tells how, when he first
learned from Vice President Sherman of
the plan to oppose Roosevelt, he "per-
emptorily declined to be drawn into a
fioht with Mr.. Roosevelt and again re-
newed his urgent advice that there be
full personal conference with him. Fin
ally he asserted that the solution of the
direct primary issue can be found in pro.
visions similar to those Of the Cobb bill
defeated by the last legislature in dire
| rebuke to Mr.. Roosevelt and Governor
Hughes.
Taft Urged Harmony.
In the course of the correspondence
there comes out telegram from the
president to the vice president hitherto
withheld but Of which mention had
crept into print. In substance
the president informed Timothy
L. Woodruff, Republican state chairman,
Republican committee, Hthat the thing
OF all others that ought to be avoided
is any controversy in the convention.
The president g letter throughout is
temperate although positive. Mr., Girls
com IN his comment on 1t was much
more outspoken. He did not hesitate to
charge that the Republican organization
of the state had played ,politicis with
the president name and had misrep-
resented his attitude.
He asserted in so many words that
'Fsome Of the 'old guard are not seek
ing Republican success at the coming
election; they wish to perperuate their
control of the Republican organization
at any cost to the party"
Some Plain Speaking.
And he goes on to particularize that
in such event they would have been
glad 10 unload defeat on the shoulders
of the president on the ground that he
had ignored the policies OF Hughes and
snubbed Theodore Roosevelt, the very
men whom they had consistently OPP
posed at every turn; Lastly. be
there had been disGyaceful alliance be
tween Tammony Hall and some of the
fold guard leaders.
Roosevelt in his statement given out
at Oyster Bay explains what has been
the course OF his negotiations with the
organization and how after his success ,
sive rebuffs, he had felt the further -
ertures could not consistently cone<
him. His future attitude he d
define because he Is as yet
what effect on public sentiw
dent Taft IS letter will have
been read by the voters of
Statement of II
The following letter
Taft 10 Lloyd c. Griscon
the New York RepublicaI
mttoe. was given out hereV
Griscom:
Beverly, Mass. Aul
MY Dear Mr.. Grlscom-A
from your telephone convery
my office. / have steadily refCy
nit tho propricty or necessl
presidents replying to newspa
ments, which are not based ON
or authorized word OF his and
sponsor. l am entirely willing, !
TO reply cateeorically TO your
OF August 10, which has just arriy\
which Is follows;
Griscom' s Stand.
"I am informed and believe that
eral members OF the New York Repu
can state committee who voted for Ny
President Sherman over eN-Presldcny
Roosevelt as nominee for temporary
chairman of the state convention were In
huenced by statements that the vice
feat Colonel Roosevelt IN accordance
with your wish. A member OF the state
committee declared TO me before the
meeting that Mr.. Shermans candidacy
had been arranged with You by tele-
phone the previous day. Efforts have
been made TO create an impression that
you favor u particular candidate for
election state chairman I want you
to know that the injection Of the name
OF high member OF your administro-
tlon into Il factional conflict has pro-
duced q most complicated situation and
the absence of any authoritative ipforma-
ton as to your attitude Is seriously mis-
leading many Republicans and impairlnS
Il movement for progressive party
and clean government In this
state / know you desire us To have
C,o,+;nucd or pao, Elevcn