Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-08-26
GR|SCOM IS BLAMED.
Woodruff Explains the Turning
Down of Roosevelt.
SAYS 1T WAS A SURPRISE
Withheld, He Declares, Until After
Sherman's Selection.
PRESIDENT HAD NO PART
State Chairman Acquits Taft Of Any
Responsibility for Action Of
State Committee.

New York. August J5-Chairman
Woodruff of the republican state COM
mittce came back yesterday from his
camp in the Adirondacks. and after con-
ferring with Mr.. Barnes and other old
guard republicans he was able to reach
he gave out a statement last night ex-
planning his side of the happening at
the meeting of the state committee when
Mr.. Roosevelt was turned down Tor
temporary chairman OF the state con-
vention and Vice President Sherman was
elected in his place.
Mr.. Woodruff in his statement follows
the example set in the statement made
by Mr. Barnes. and does not attempt to
answer the charge made by President
Taft that he used no idea Mr. Sher-
man was to be named, and that. on the
contrary, when 1t was suggested to him
that there might be some opposition to
the proposal to name Mr.. Roosevelt as
the chairman of the convention the
was done both Mr.. Roosevelt and Chair
man Griscom of the republican county
committee should be consulted.
Didn't Hear Whisperings.
Mr. Woodruff processes to have no
knowledge Of the whisperings which Mr..
Ward and Mr.. Barnes are alleged to
have set going among the members OF
the committee just before the meeting
was called to order that Mr.. Sherman
was to be named and that Mr.. Taft had
approved of the selection of Mr.. Sher-
man The statement Is made that Mr.
Woodruff, just after the meeting. said
to a group of reporters that Mr.. Sher-
man would not have been chosen had
Mr. Taft not stated over the long dis
lance telephone that the picking out OF
Mr.. Sherman for the temporary chair
manship Of the state convention was
thoroughly agreeable to him.
Mr. Woodruff has received copy OF
President Taft's recent letter to Mr.
Griscom THE President sent me
COPY" explained Mr.. Woodruff.
Did the President add any personal
comment to your was asked.
Now, boys" parted the state chair
man, you're going too far"
Mr.. Woodruff's Statement.
Mr.. woodrufrs statement follows:
Nothing that has transpired since the
meeting of the republican state commit
tee, nor anything that has been said since
then, should mislead any one as to the
conditions or the situation which then
existed.
In accordance with the precedent es-
tablished two years ago in the selection
OF Senator Root as temporary chairman
of the state convention l and some of
those who have been associated with me
in the management of the republican
party through the last two political cam
paigns met the night before the meeting
OF the state committee, and after the con-
sideration of several names decided to
present to the committee the name of
Vice President Sherman as temporary
chairman. a selection which we have
every reason to believe would be highly
satisfactory to the republicans Of the
state.
Griscom Sprung Surprise.
Much to my surprise. and entirely
without warning. Mr.. Griscom. who sat
in the committee as a proxy. and who
had been in the state committee rooms
for nearly an hour before the meeting
without saying word to me about 1t.
Roosevelt for that Of Mr.. Sherman, with
full knowledge which every one had had
all the morning that a majority OF the
committee We're committed to vice Presi-
dent Sherman's selection. What MI.
Griscom's motive was In placing Mr..
Roosevelt in the position of being defeat
ed i could not then comprehend, nor is IT
important to discuss II now.
President Taft was in no way involved
In this matter, as the members OF the
state committee acted entirely within
their authority in selecting temporary
chairman without, as far as / know,
single one of them consulting with him
about il; but in view of the apparent
Griscom. felt called upon as chairman
of the committee to send the following
letter to the ex-Prestdent:
Letter to Roosevelt.
August II, 1910.
"Col. Theodore Roosevelt, Oyster Bay.
L. /.
My Dear Col. Roosevelt: II cannot be
possible that 1t is necessary for me to tell
you that the action of the state commit
tee yesterday, in which 1 participated,
was in no sense intended as an act OF
hostility toward you or one of reflection
upon you.
"T saw Ward and Barnes after that
talk with you, and they told me what
you and they had said about this whole
matter. and i hope you know. despite
some things to the contrary which
newspapers contained this morning.
that they told you the exact facts. Not
one of US supposed that your name
would be presented without Syour mo-
tifying Ward. the national committee
man. or me- the chairman of the state
committee, that you wished IL done,
and / never was so much surprised in
my life as when Griscom made the mo-
ton which he did. Not q word had
been said TO me before the meeting by
anybody that indicated this course was
to be taken. and 1 understood that
neither Griscom nor any one else told
Ward, or Barnes. or any of the other
men OF the committee, that this was
their purpose.
Believing that you must appreciate
the position in which. under these cir
cumstances, we suddenly found our
selves. after having agreed upon the
selection of Sherman. in conformity
with the precedent established by the
selection OF Senator Root two years
ago az temporary chairman, 1 beg to
remain. with best wishes. yours re-
specially,
Timothy L. WOODRUFF
Necessary to Harmony.
such harmonious action at the Sara
toga convention as Is necessary to sue
cess at the polls can be secured only by
the cooperation Of all republicans. ]
know OF no party principle upon which
we are at present divided in this state
except that involved in the proposal to
abolish the convention system of max
| ing nominations and to substitute there
| for the direct nomination plan, which
has been characterized as the device Of
| the demagogue and the millionaire
Upon that question at the Saratoga
convention there will doubtless be a di-
vision. 1t is right and proper that the