The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-27
Watterson Explains Himself

''Washington, D. C., January 26, 1912
 My Dear Sir: 1 have never pretended to be a groomer of presidential candi- dates, expert or otherwise, but I desire your good opinion. and wrote with that as we'll as the truth of this matter, in mind
 T am with you, senator, in wishing a democrat and not a pseudo-republican for our presidential nominee. It was no less from a sense of party duty than of justice as between man and man that l made the statement to which, upon a total misapprehension of the facts, you take exception.
 'I have been aware for nearly a week that recognized spokesmen for Governor Wilson were industriously circulating the story that the reason why Governor Will son broke with Colonel Harvey was that Colonel Harvey had tried to bring MT. Thomas F. Ryan into the governor $ campaign. But, until you gave credenee to the story, 1t could not be invested with any responsible authority Its origin was mysterious, it's circulation surreptitious Consequently there has been up to this time nothing either to deny or recog- nize.
 Story Is Baseless
 Now senator, l know of my own knowledge, that that story is lie made out of whole cloth. If any person ven
 
 in my possession proof conclusive which I hold myself ready to place before your honest and truth seeking mind.
 ..I do not accuse Governor Wilson of originating or circulating this invention, manufactured to make a hero of him at the expense of the friend who has most effectively served him. I do not assume that he is aware of the dastardly work be- ing done by his alleged agents, but the fact remains that Governor Wilson knows as well as I do that the story is false. He may. or may not, feel that he owes any obligation to Colonel Harvey. That Is matter of which he must be the judge. But do insist that he owes 1t to his honor to repudate that story and to dsavow those who are striving to inject the calumny into the public mind.
 The Real Reason
 At Governor Wilson's instance. I had undertaken to assist his accredited man asers in raising the considerable sums of money needful to the prosecution of his campaign and in this my efforts were not wholly unfrutful. As the business pro- ceeded, the name of Thomas F. Ryan not unnaturally came into my mind. He is a democrat. He is Virginan. He is my friend Knowing him to be a dsnterested man, having no axe to grind, hoped that I might induce him to help out what believed worthy cause. 6oNernor w IT. sons managers were delighted with the suggestion. Colonel Harvey had nothing whatever to do with it, and. as far as l ~5n aware, knew nothing whatever abou. t.
 Through this unhappy affair I have been an unwilling witness in its conse- quences, somewhat of an innocent by stander having been up to the hour of the Harvey incident, a sincere believer in Governor Wilson. He is man of ability. In some ways he might prove candidate of availability. but I fear that if he be- came our President we might discover all too late. that he possesses personal pe- culiarities which would prove disastrous. We want in the White House man of broad mind. as well as polished intellect. pf heart grateful and kind, no less than
 
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