The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-30

c T shall not issue statement = c tonight = Socoos,0ooSoc<,ooo0o0oCooooo Washington, January 29.-In a statement issued tonight intended to bring dis- tasteful episode to an end, so far as he was concerned, Col. Henry Watterson de- olared that the issue with Wilson was solely as to who had Tied" Watterson said he had evidence conciusively to show that Governor Wilson had lied, and charged that the New Jersey executive dared not face the facts.'
 Colonel Watterson declined ao make pub-i lie any proofs in his possession. He de- nied that Thomas F. Ryan had ever been approached for campaign contributions for Governor Wilson, but stated that the matter had been talked over with Gov ernor Wilson and the latter had "ex- nressod the fear,ssthat if tho knowledge of "a contribution from Mr Ryan got abroad it might do more harm than good.
 Watterson's Statement Colonel Watterson's statement. ad- dressed ITO the Democrats of the United States,p follows
 ..The time limit set upon my stay in the national capital being about to expire. and Governor Wilson having refused my offer as to the issue of yeracity he has raised between us, to submit proof of the jtruth of my ayerment to party associates competent to judge both of it's character and the expediency of it's publication, l shall bring this most dstasteful episode to a close as far as 1 am concerned.
 ",rhe claim that I must rush into print with this proof emanates either from the perverse or the malignant. l have it, am ready under proper supervision to produce it and cannot be asked in reason to do more. If l should publish 1t the very men who are demanding that l shall will be the first to accuse me of reckless disre- gard of what they would call party pru- dence and private rights. The sole issue is whether I have lied, as Governor Will son says l have, or he has lied, which l have engaged conclusivey to show. He dare not face the facts.
 How He Met Wilson
 with as brief review as may be of the circumstances to which 1 owe the misfortune of having made Governor Will sons acquaintance not to mention my in- XUOrSenlenI OI HIS put SpeclOuS pretensions, l shall cease to trouble the public with a controversy no wise of my seeking.
 During the early summer of 1910 I was rassing a week end with Col. George liar Ney, an old friend at Dealbeach, his home in New Jersey. There arrived for dinner '5r. woodrow Wilson, then president O. Princeton, and the Hon. James Smith, Jr. hate a senator in Congress. Wilson I had never met before. The talk at table was hnalnly abcu. the prospective nomination bf a democratic candidate for governor pf New Jersey. Drawn into the conserva- tion I ven.nred the opinion that if noth- 6nC more than a governorship was ia Eight it would be a sacrifice for Dr. Will son to quit his exalted station at the head cf d great university and get down into the bull ring of politics to struggle for preferment so ephemtral and uncertain.
 That was probably what Colonel liar key who seemed under some spell wrought by pr. Wilson, had planned. MT. Smith declai ed that he wanted nothing for himself: only to see the state re- Je emed; usat no one but Dr. Wilson could redeem it aud the like In due season Dr. Wilson was named and elected.
 New Jersey Situation
 f.tNot long after 1 was called to New hork The situation in New Jersey was xplained to me. l was told that MT. smith wished to return to the Senate .espite his declaration that he wanted jothing for Himself: that there had been
 primary election which had gone by de- sult. in which a person of the name of Maritime, represented as wholly unfit, had obtained rather mcagre vote; that Gov inor Wilson held Senator Smith to his ond and stood by the party pledge toucE- ng primary elections. In this he was iearly right,
 The presidential campaign to which he gubernatorial election had served as prelude began. In a manner l had been ragooned, will not say decoyed. into he seryiee Of Governor Wilson and Col rei k1Efuez. The succeeding ten months tougHt S},f into confidential relations sith G5o81snor Wilson Letters pass l twe<1zt1f Upon his invitation and on
 s blsfneAs I visited his home in Prince
 7s, s.4 F MS good enough last winter 10
 1< x1b <Ihe steamer 10 see me off for 5utuIks Ne were even caught by the !<xI&X8f So6ak fiend and pictorialize II press side by side, making
 5f1 X lDlching gronp.
 #y 1ound him man of polished man. <fz. .ocholarly attachments and unde-
 4(t4r rtslents.
 M Cordial Intimacy
 kf my return from abroad the gov X. .e<|U met ne in New York Again in