The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1912-01-24
WILSON'S REBUFF
OF RYAN CAUSED
\ ROW, SAYS GOSSIP
Governors Refusal to Ac-
cept Magnate's Support
Earned Leaders Wrath.
Bv 1upsoN c. WELL1vER.

DIV JUDSON v. WhLLA EN-.
More developments I'm connection with
the wilson Harvey Watterson affair are
expected to become public within tn.
next few days. Public Ten in Wash
ington, who believe their information Is
accurate. have received some illumin1-
ton Of the affair that is just now Civ
ing Democrats their choicest Inorsel of
political gossip.
Supporters of Governor Wilson protest
that the complete facts will shortly be
made public, and that when they are
known they wilt put an end tn the ef-
forts to convict Wilson of irsine Gritty
or ingratitude On the contrary, they
insist that Wilson will be placed before
the country In n better light than ever
before, and tina. the last uncertainty
about his affiliations, and his position.
as between the conflicting elements In
his party, will hav. been removed
The whole story Of Wilson's relations
to the big business element in his
party goes back, as 1t is now being mar
rated In Washington, to his campaign
Tor the governorship. It is said that at
the beginning. before entering the rncs
Tor governor, Wilson eXucted from for
ner Senator James Suith, jr.. the
come a candidate for the Senate il VIII
son should win and the Democrats
lature.
This promise. 1t is seid. was given
and accepted in good faith. Notwith-
stnndfng, Smith did afterwa~d become a
Candidate for the Senate. did attempt to
organize himself into the election de-
sritc that MARITIME had carried the state
primary and was in the end cemolishei
by Governor Wilson.
Accused of Ingratitude. 80.
For this Wilson was accused Of in
gratitude to Smith, and the anti Wilson
people have protested that a man
capable Of such treatment of a powerful
supporter is an undesirable public man.
The new element now introduced into
the story is that Wilson. in fact de-
manded Smiths promise not to run for
the Senate, that Smith gave 1t, and that,
In fact, It was Smith, not Wilson, who
violated faith.
During the State campaign the VIII
son people raised campaign funds, and,
according to the story, an important
contribution was made to the war chest
BY Smith and his friends; 1t is alleged
turned in and used by the campaign
managers. Later, when the Smith can
didacy for the Senate developed, Gov
ernor Wilson, learning of this big con-
tribution: took the position that it must
be repaid
He did not have private means suf-
hcient to return the money!. but. call
gether, he told them of the situation.
Insisted that the Smith fund must be
reimbursed TO its donors, and appealed
to his friends to help him do this,
The story further AYERS that this was
actually done, and that the fund, or
whatever part Of it had been actually
used In the, campaign, was returned.
Al this was done without noise or. pub
NJ ms
displaysof virtue about it,
Ryan on Horizon.
Thus the relations between Wilson
and Smith are disposed Of Now comes
the explanation Of the Harvey Waiter
son-Ryan affair The story in this
connection, as the Wilson supporters
are telling 1t, is that the Wilson Presi-
dental movement being in need Of
money, 1t was suggested to Wilson
that Thomas F. Ryan was a persistent
Democrat, of somewhat elaborate solv-
ency and considerable amiability in
the matter of separating himself from
his substance; in fact, that he was an
ideal angel for a promising Democratic
campaign, provided of course that he
approved the campaign to which he was
asked to contribute.
so-the narrative proceeds-it was
suggested that Governor Wilson and
Ryan ought to meet up" to talk over
matters political: to give Ryan a
chance for close inspection of the Will
son set Of political and economic views,
with the thought that II the samples
looked good, Ryan might be given q
chance to contribute toward their prop-
agation.
This suggestion. 1t is alleged, de-
veloped in conferences of Wilson, Wat
terson and Harvey. 1t was cody re-
ceived by the governor. He didn't
think he wanted any Of Mr.. Ryan's
money, or Mr.. Ryan's kind of money,
In his campaign.
Gets Chilly Reception.
This rather chilly reception of the
Ryan proposition, 1t is said, moved
support of Harper's Weekly might be
embarrassing to Governor Wilson. The
question was put, and d perfectly frank
answer asked. 1t was forthcoming, and
was that Governor Wilson leaned to
the opinion that the Weekly was doing
him more harm than good.
Thereupon the Weekly pulled down
the Wilson flag from the masthead,
and the sensation followed.
Such Is, In brief. the story now cir
.culating In Washington among people
who have uniformly been best informed
about the progress of the Wilson cam
paign. A Senator who has repeatedly
declared himself for Wilson said today
1t was the story that had been told to
him, and he believed 1t was accurate.
Whether 1t was designed to be made
public soon, or at all, he was not in
formed. He added. however that he
thought Wilson had come out stronger
for these efforts to injure him. and
doubted II the Wilson managers would
deem it necessary to make any formal
statement of the alleged facts as they
are now being circulated.