New-York tribune., 1911-12-28
NO END TO PEACE ROW
SquabbIe Over Making Public
Roosevelt Letter Days Feature.
PERSISTS IN DECLINATl0N
Says He Will See Press Gets It
at Proper Time-Mayor May
Not Attend Dinner.

The day did not pass yesterday at the
headquarters of the citizens peace dinner
without new rumors of war. The trouble
this timo chiefly concerned the proper time
for making public the contents Of the
seven-pago letter Theodore Roosevelt ad-
dressed TO Millard J. Bloomer, executive
secretary OF the committee, when he de-
cIined his invitation 20 attend the dinner.
The letter was said 10 contain scathing
criticism OF the peace treaties proposed by
Mr.. Taft, and Il was feared that the publi-
cation of the letter before the dinner might
keep the guest OF honor away.
"My LOYALTY 10 the success Of tho dinner
makes me determined TO keep that letter
private till after the dinner" Mr.. Bloomer
said "It is a document OF international
importance and will be history making in
its effect But Il will not be made public
I'LL after the dinner for fear of any posi-
blhty of keeping the President away
II was locked in his private safe, he said,
and he was strenuous in his assertions that
no power could get him to reveal its con-
tents till after the dinner
Mr.. Roosevelt, when seen in The Out
look Offices. was OF a different opinion as
10 when the letter should be made public
property BY agreement with Mr.. Bloomer,
he said, It was distinctly understood that
the letter would be given to the press for
publicity on Saturday afternoon, before the
dinner.
But Mr.. Bloomer says that IL shall not
he made public till after the dinner for
fear of keeping President Taft away" he
was told.
Il don't know what Mr.. Bloomer says"
he declared. "but If that letter IS not given
10 YOU Saturday in time for the afternoon
rapers, come here to The outlook and /
shall see that YOU have il. The only reason
] don't want II published before IL that
have an article along similar lines coming
out IN The Outlook this week, and | do
not want the letter 70 appear before that
Did YOU ever receive your official invita-
ton 10 the dnner?" he was asked.
Il don't know" he replied, with a laugh
.T received several" Then he bent over
and satd in lower voice: You know, II
was understood at my conversation with
Mr.. Blo.omer and number Of reporters
this morning that tho reason | am not
going to that dinner is because | am not
hungry" And he laughed again, as if en-
toying the whole situation.
1t came out that hopes were sull enter
tanned at tho headquarters OF the dinner
that Mr.. Roosevelt might yet he led TO re
consser his declinaton 10 attend the dinner
Without waiting for Mr.. Bloomer 20
send an official invitation said stephen NJ.
Ciriswold. Il sat down last night and wrote
a personal letter urging Colonel Roosevelt
to come, bat have not heard yet ! hope
he will be there.
When IL was suggested 10 him that the
real reason Mr. Roosevelt would not ac-
cent was that he would not care to attend
r dinner where he WAS simply assed 20
oine without speaking, Mr Griswold sud:
DON'T YOU think that the people would
call him 70 his feet and he would have 10
speak J think So and | hope he comes
IL was announced, however. by the sec
tatary thar = met letter had been received
from Mr. Roosevelt stating that nc was
not accepting any dinner Invitations and
therefore could not come 10 the peace din
nor When Mir. Roosevolts emphatic as
str5ion that the letter should be made
nuhlic the afternoon before the dinner was
mentioned 10 Mr.. BlcOmcr. he agreed tnat
such was the understanding.
"B,y4 its publication At that time won't
make any difference he said None Of
the diners viii have read it,"
II Was rumorod yesterday that Mayor
Gavnor had also declined 10 attend the
dinner When Mr Bl0omer was asked
about this he said committee would call
on AIr. Gaynor to-day 10 ask him 70 act
as chairman Of the reception committee.
There was no record, he said, of the
Mayors refusing to accept his invitation TO
the dinner.
Although it war said yesterday that the
dinner was not held to boom the peace
treaties, IL was freely hnte6 that the chief
addresses would be in support Of them. 1t
Was said that Mr.. CarneSlc's address would
probably be confined TO this phase of the
subject
II ives also learned that this question had
caused severe differences Of opinion in the
committee and the subject of peace treaties
was finally voted of the programme, leav-
iug the subject entirely open TO the indi-
vidual speakers II was also said by a
member OF the executive committee that a
faction of the committee had one day met
and attempted TO keep Roosevelts name If
the list Of invited guests, but had not sue
ceeded in doing II.
The telephone in the committee rooms
was kept busy Yesterday by anxious ticket
holders ringing up 10 ask whether the
dinner was TO be abandoned. II was en-
phatically announced that the dinner would
be carried through, despite all the obstacles
and squabbles that had come its way