New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-07-05
Assistant SeCretary's Resigna-
tion Repeatedly Requested by
< President and Head of
Department.
PLEADED TO BE RETAINED
Was Inefficient and Disobe6ient,
the Secretary Says-Went to
Chicago Convention in
Direct Defiance of =
49,. Orders.

peatedly requested by both Mr. Mac
veagh and President Taft. The Secre-
tary said that Mr.. Andrew pleaded to be
retained in the service and brought
every possible influence to bear to Nave
the request for his resignation with
drawn.
Mr. MacVeagh received many mes
sages from officials and friends express
ing confidence in his administration of
the Treasury Department. His state
ment follows:
regret that it seems necessary to refer
70 the letters published by NJ. \. Piatt
Andrew and addressed TO the President
and 10 me. The VirulenCe of the attack
has probably limited its effect. but apart
from the attack upon me, he strangely
misrepresents a number Of the chief men
Of the Treasury Department 10 whom at
tribute a large measure of the success Of
the department work, and seems to deny
that anything has been accomplished either
by them or anybody else. | am obliged,
therefore, 20 restore MI Andrews resigna-
ton 10 its proper light
Mr. Andrews SAYS he resigned because of
the conditions i'm the Treasury Department
Of which he disapproVes. \ comparison of
this statement with the facts Is probably
the simplest way to test the animus and
the veracity of his letters.
He did not resign voluntarily, but was
asked to resign-and asked repeatedly
and he used every effort and influence
possible to get the request for his resie-
nation withdrawn. and pleaded to be al
lowed to continue in his place. And il
was when he had failed to have the re-
quest for his resignation withdrawn. and
because of this. that he made his attack
--and chose to give the impression that
his resignation was a matter CT his own
choice and determined upon for public
reasons.
Details Of Resignation.
The details Of Mr. Andrews resigna-
ton. Mr. MacVeagh says, were as fol-
lows
On June Il. when Mr.. Andrew returned
from Chicago ! formally asked in note
for his resignation. He called on ME at
once 10 urge me 10 change my mind and
allow him to stay. At his wish | explained
ar length my reasons and listened to all
his arguments and wishes. felt, however,
Obliged 20 tell him the request FOR his
resignation could not be Withdrawn. | sup
posed MI Andrew would send his resigra-
ton promptly and as a matter Of course,
as had never known Of case where sucn
aiisq = ifsqaes' had not been promptly 'o"pN'u
waited however. without reoly until
June g. l then wrote again, repeating the
request on the 9th Mr.. Andrew sent me
a brief note treating the matter with
Nagueness ! replied Immediately SAYING
Il could not accept Vagueness. but Wlshed
70 have that day either his resignation or
his refusal 10 resign. To this he ala not
Ieply at all. And, therefore, on July = !
wrote a fourth time renewing the request
and communicating a copy OF a letter ad-
.dressed 10 me by the President "authorlZ-
ing and directing" me 10 ask for the resig-
nation. ! asked for a PROMPT reply stating
that J was going out of town.
/ left Washington on the midnlght traln
without learning from Mr. Andrew, ana
saw I'm the next afternoons papers long
extracts from two scurriOus letters. one
10 the President and one to me, Whlch at
last conveyed his unwilling resignation.
Meanwhile-as ! only learned after a
week-Mr. Andrew had diligently used the
interval while was waiting to secure all
the influence he could to aid him in
keepine his place. Besides arguing the
case himself with me and with certain
Senators, and besides having his case
areued beth at the White House and be-
fore me. he argued his case himself at
the White House.
Says Andrew Made No Complaint.
Mr.. Andrew did not at any time mention
10 me any objection TO his treatment IN
the Treasury Department that he thought
that | did not give him as much OF my
time as | ought, and that mad sometimes
allowed other callers 70 be received when
he was IN my room. On the other manu.
Some OF those connected with my office
and who were impartial-thought Mr.. An
drew had had at certain periods 100 much
Of my time. Certainly his curious cdlcHid- Gi
ton Of the amount Of the time given MN
Will strike every one in my office with Won
celment.
No other complaint or criticism did Mr..
Andrew ever offer. And il is hardly nee
sssary to point out that a man whose
grip on his place ! could hardly shake
loose could scarcely have found his place
Undesirable or his associations unendur'
able.
II Nir Andrew could represent himself as
fesiRning voluntarily when ne was WIN WIN
Unusual difficulty forced 10 resign, IL causes
no wonder that he should without warrant
call as witnesses "A group or important mn my
Of the department who nearly all iminedi-
steiy contradictcd him ana whose inlIleui
etc assurances 10 me by telegraph ana
telephone are among the pleasahtfSt nap
genlngs Of my official me no on III I,ork orE
apartment who has done successLul worn
would I believe. indorse any of Mr.. An
crews statements
"Disobedent and Inefficient
mere lS nOtnlnE Out OF lHe uSNai III ~,
An6yews case. The work OF the treasury
department has been and still Is strenuous,
owing 10 the programme adopteh ~ uie
Deginning OF the administration, ana IL IL
necessary TO have all three OK the az
sstant secretaries not only able Dut eur
Gent. II was a great disappointment 10
me that Mr. Andrew was not eIilCiSII.
enough to meet the requirements ana tna' t
WAS necessary 10 get some one eIac
aual is all there was TO II when ths cl,niSt c5at
xas decided upon. Subsequently IN lito ore,
eisooedience 20 my instructions. WIi,I1b,,
shd then repeated IN two interviews soub!n1i
nin. and without my knowledge uHtl t
ne re mad left Washington, he went 10 o tiio
sMeago convention when the other W.
assistant secretaries had already gone ~
"eNous arrangement
This irresponsible conduct must have
'eo IN any event to his prompt sePara-
.'on from the department. Mr.. Andrew
see, has made the statement that he
,''a me he wished to 90 to Chicago TO
'aTner monetary legislation. THIS -
yearly an ofterthought. He made no
nention whatever Of the monetary cues
"on' he save only ono reason for wish
ing TO 90. He said he intended to 90
'"'o politics, and the convention afforded
splendid opportunity to make political
scquaintanees.
secretary MacVeagh is visitor at the
''''nued on second page. Hfth column