The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1912-01-30
HENRY WATTERSON ENGAGES
TO SHOW THAT WILSON LIED
IN REGARD TO RYAN, EPISODE
Kentucky Editor Issues State
ment to ''the Democrats Of
the Country" Wherein He
Declares He Intends to
Bring a "Distasteful Epi-
sode" to an End.

Washington, Jan. 29.--Colonel Henry
Watterson, In a statement issued to-
night and intended to bring dis
tasteful episode" TO an end, so far as
he was concerned, declared that the Is
sue between him and Governor Wood
row Wilson was soley as to which one
had lied" Colonel Watterson said
he had engaged conclusively to show
that Governor Wilson had lied" and
charged that the New Jersey executive
dared not face the facts"
Colonel Watterson declined to make
public any proofs I'm his possession
He denied that Thomas +. Ryan ever
had been approached for campaign con
tributions for Governor Wilson but
states that the matter had been talked
over with Governor Wilson and the lat
ter had expressed the fear" that If
the knowledge OF n contribution from
Mr.. Ryan got abroad 1t might do more
harm than good.
The Statement.
Colonel watterson's statement ad-
dressed ITO the democrats OF the
United States" In part follows.
THE time limit set upon my stay In
the national capital being about to ex-
pire, and Governor Wilson having re-
fused my offer as to the issue of ve-
racity he has raised between us. to SUBJ
nit proof OF the truth OF my aver
ment to party associates competent to
judge both of its character and the ex-
pediency of its publication, | shall
bring this most distasteful episode to
a close as far as am concerned.
"The claim that | must rush into
print with this proof emanates either
from the perverse or the malignant.
| / have II, all ready under proper sup
ervision, to produce 1t, and can be
asked i'm reason to do no more. II
should publish II. the very men who
are demanding that shall. would be
first to accuse me OF reckless disre-
gard OF what they would call party
prudence and private rights. The sole
issue Is whether have lied. as Gov
ornor Wilson says / have. or he has
llied, which / have engaged conclusvely
to show. He dare not face the facts
| I'm the early summer of 1910. l was
passing weekend with Colonel
George Harvey, an old friend. at Deal
Beach, his home in New Jersey There
arrived for dinner DR. Woodrow WILL
son, then president of Princeton. and
Honorable James Smith, Jr., late q
senator. DIR. Wilson, l had never met
before The talk at table was mainl,
about the prospective nomination OF a
democratic candidate for governor o
New Jersey. Drawn into the conver'
sation, l yentured the opinion that i
nothing more than a governorship wa,
In sight 1t would be a sacrifice for DIR
Wilson to quit his exalted station a
the head of great university and ge
down into the bull ring of politics I,
struggle for preferment so ephemerea
land uncertain.
THAT probably was what Colone
Harvey, who seemed under some spol
wrought by DR. Wilson, had planned
Mr.. Smith declared that he wante
nothing for himself; only to. see TIL
state redeemed: that noe ont but Df
Wilson could redeem II and the like
Inc due season DIR. Wilson was nomi
mated and elected.
"Dragooned Into Service"
"The presidential campaign, to whlc
the gubernatorial election had serve
as a preclude, began. In a manne