New-York tribune., 1912-01-30
Sole Issue One of veracltX
Colonel SAYS in Last State
ment of Controversy
with Candidate.
DOES NOT PUBLISH PROOFS
Regrets Ever Meeting New
Jersey Man, and Fears for
Democracy Should 1t
Stand by Such
Leader"
rFrom The Tribune, Bureau.l

side aimed 10 crumble the feet or clay
If the New Jersey candidate which he
and Colonel Harvey idolized. was oeiiV-
cred bv Colonel Watterson tonight In
the form Of a long statement in which
"Marse Henry" makes a virulent attack
on Governor Wilson and incidentally
paws his respects to two other Democrats
Colonel Bryan and Senator MARITIME.
of New Jersey.
The colonel reiterates his declaration
that the sole issue was whether he mas
lied, as Governor Wilson says he has, or
whether Governor Wilson has lied, as
Colonel watterson engages to show. He
adds. however, that the New Jersey
Governor dares not face the facts.
In explanation of his attitude, Colonel
Watterson relates the history of the part
he has played in the advancement or
Governor Wilson-a history with dole
full ending. 1t begins with meeting
at the home Of Colonel Harvey. at Deal
Beach, where the three looked out on
the roseate future Of Democracy with
Governor Wilson bearing the banner. IL
will end so far as Colonel Watterson IS
concerned at his winter home I'm Florida,
to which he will retire disappointed
but by no means a crushed political I'M
presario. turning his back tomorrow on
the turbulence of Democratic politics at
the capital and leaving vacant the niche
in which his quondam idol was en-
shrined.
Colonel watterson expresses the opin-
ion that IL was misfortune that ne
ever made Governor Wilson's acquaint-
ance. and. after seeking to justify him
self in the eyes of his Democratic coll
leagues, utters the fervent hope: May
God protect Democracy from such
leader!" The susceptible MIR. Bryan"
he says, may be persuaded to pardon
the New Jersey Governor, but he AYERS
ttat he never will.
He asserts that the story Of the So
Letting of the Ryan contribution was
put out by the Wilson literary bureau 10
becloud the issue, and intimates that
such lofty virtue as moved the Gov
ernor to reject a contribution from
RYAN which was never offered Ill be-
comes a person who asks for Carnegie
money in the form of pension. He alsD
refers to Senator MARITIME as "a person
of the name OF MARITIME. represented As
wholly unfit" etc.
Does Not Make Proofs Public.
Colonel Watterson, however,. declined
to make public any proofs in his pos
session.
,o,o,oI ua,terSop's etatep1apt ad-
dressed TO the Democrats of the United
States follows:
The time limit set on my stay in the
national capital being about 10 expire.
and Governor Wilson having refused my
offer as to the issue Of veracity he has
raised between us to submit proof OF
the truth of my averment TO party as
sociates competent 10 judge both Of its
character and the expediency Of its pub
lication. | shall bring this most distaste-
full episode to a close, as far as I am
concerned.
The claim that must rush into print
with this proof emanates either from
the perverse or the malignant. | have
II. am ready under proper supervision
to produce il. and can be asked in rea-
son to do no more. If | should publish
il the very men who are demanding that
| shall would be first TO accuse me or
reckless disregard of what they would
call party prudence and private rights.
The sole issue is whether have lied,
as Governor Wilson says ! have, or he
has lied which I have engaged conclu.
sively to show. He dare not face the
facts
Misfortune to Make Acquaintance.
With as brief a review as may be Of
the circumstances TO which l owe the
misfortune of having made Governor
Wilson's acquaintance, not TO mention
my Endorsement Of his plausible but
specious pretensons, | shall cease to
trouble the public with controversy
nowise of my seeking.
During the early summer OF 1910 1 was
pa ssing week end with Colonel George
Harvey. an old friend, at Deal Beach. his
home i'm New Jersey. There arrived for
dinner Or. Woodrow Wilson, then presl-
dent Of Princeton. and the Hon. James
Smith, ir, late a Senator in Congress.
DR.. Wilson | had never met before. The
talk at table was mainly about the pro-
spective nomination of Democratic
candidate for Governor Of New Jersey.
Drawn into the conv, sation | vent
,ired the opinion that II nothing more
than a Governorship was in sight IL
would be a sacrifice for DR.. Wilson TO
quit his exalted station at the head OF
great university and get down into the
bullring of politics TO struggle for pre-
ferment so ephemeral and uncertain.
That was probably what Colonel Har-
vey, who seemed under some spell
by Or. Wilson. had planned
Mr.. Smith declared that he wanted nCth-
ing for himself: only TO see the state re-
deemed that no one but Dr. Wilson
could redeem it. and the like. In due
season Or. Wilson was nominated AMI
elected.
Uphods Wilson Against Smith.
Not long after | was called to New
York The situation in New Jersey was
explained 10 me. | was told that Mr..
Smith wished 10 return TO the Senate
despite his declaration that he wanted
nothing for himself; that there had been
a primary election which had gone by
default i'm which a person of the mama
OF MARITIME, represented as wholly unfit.
had obtained a rather meagre vote; that
Governor Wilson held Senator Smith to
his bond and stood by the party pledge
touching primary elections. In this hs
was clearly right
The Presidential campaign. to which
the gubernatorial election had served as
prelude began. In manner I had been
draeooned, will not say deccyed, into
the service of Governor Wilson and
Colonel Harvey. The succeedino ten
months brought me into confidential re.
lations with Governor Wilson. Letters
passed between us. Upon his invitatio,
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--Adyt 80