New-York tribune., 1912-03-06
Bound to Have a squabb'e.


When accused Of having accepted money
for political speech he wrote frankly 70
a correspondent who mace inquiry, stat
ing exactly what had happened. but add
ing, Il have made this explanation to YOU
as friend but 7 wish no cEplauat' n
T,ade 70 o,ir enemies What they want Is
q squabble and fuss ard that they can
have il we explain. and they cannot nave
Il if we don't.
he SAYS in a general letter signed b.
Nicoley answering them a !a1ge hunlntT
of letters asking that he declare MS 0plh-
ions on certain political points and a large
number Of letters beseeching him 10 write
nothing upon those political pUlnts; and
10 all alike he answered that MS p sl,l n
had already been taken ana th5t nc hsd
nothing 10 add 90 or take from IL. AEdlN,
when ne was asked TO deny the statements
that he had been IN q knQW-nothlnS io9
he wrotc coulidentialy to his correSpond nj
saving that the allegation was faise' Du'
Vow. a word Of caution. Our adyer-
series think they would gain point II
they could force me openly 10 deny t.v
charge. by witch some offence would D.
given 20 the Americans. For this rea o"
y must not. plFlliciy aPPeac, ,rte tnat am pay
Again and again he thus answers letters
pTivatcly and rouAdentially. stating MS p'-
sitien. but requesting that u % @ @noI Pu9 P;,St
given. in one Of his letters he SaNs' IA
reference 10 the suggestion that he MAKE
public some disclaimer That nc ,gt'.,,,'' c9es %
interd 10 do so, because, in his iudgmenI
II would 10 no good. adding: Those VINO
will not read or heed what | have airea"y
puhlIciv said would not read or need ?
repetition Of IT, If they heed not MOSES
ard the prophets. neither would ey e
persuaded though ore rose from tire deao.
And again. when asked to make anotnf1T
rublic statement which il was hcped would
have good effect uron certain good men;
he responded that as reGatd5 Auch 20 ~
men he could have no, objection 70 repCa, repN,st,,
f.D1
Vines and then added y condense): Tut
] have fad men 10 deal with, both Nortl
and South, who are eager TOT some mig
sentatiors They would seize upon almost
env letter I could wvite az being an awtul
coming down. ] intend to not unnec,esssar
jlv put any wea pons in their HANDS. -.
Vow my dear sir II seems 10 me that
the bornelv common sense with which Ian
coin smoke In those letters which ! nave
ce','d saw nc statement or explanation by
me would avail to prevent deliberate mis-
Representation by bad men, desisHe9 " "
Nc nat,,,,e OF the case, could not he ex-
recte6 10 have fret hand iniormauon'
They now mifrepresent my Lositlon its oe
signs6 era pesp4Sefuty even morS mT effect
ively Il ] should al this time make tNe
statement YOU desire. ,,, ~
n NAV be that in the end II will be nee
essary 70 make such statement or soulee
other public statement, but the tlme IS Iloe 5
T,cVv ] auo we'll aware of the dlsadVantass :
of rot making such ststeLI1ent ir., {, 1yo,,Id DC
he greater Tho position Is hard one. ~ ~
g. hard FOR me- II IS IN some ways haI ~ y; :
FOR disinterested men IKE youIsen' 'rrssi, %sC
dept. and who naturally feel inolsnant that
I do not come forward in way whlch' @ az
they think, would enable them to MAKE me
President (and. of course, the fact that :, f,
"a not make II amply warrants You. and an
who think as YOU do. in at any ume sup
porting any other man instead Of mel
Eve sinaIe to Public Veal, He Says
II my position were only a pose should
certainly act diaerenuy rom ny enE tbe may ysy ~
] am acting - not the way ~ Wmen 10 - -
Il ] desire 20 be made President But my
attitude is aot pose. / am Sctlng as uo
beceuse. according 10 my lights, / am en-
d4avoring in a not too easy posluoh 90 ~ do
what : believe the interests OF the peoPIs
demand From this standpoint | am con-
xinced that, although II 10 entireiy proper
for other men TO seek the Presidency, IL ls
reithsr wise nor proper for me 10 90 sU'
The conditions being what they actually are.
nave been President l was President lot
ntarly eight years: / am well known to
the American people; l am TO be }udgeo
ysot by words but by my acts; and whether
NE people like me or dislike me. they have
these acts all before them Tor thelr de-
eisiop; and nobody, my dear sir mas
helped more than you nave neipeu 10 pu'
fbeee acts clearly before them.
Nv usefulness In the Presidency as con-
aifions now are would depend Lot merely
upon the people Wishing me 10 be Presl-
dent but upon their having GOOD reason 70
Relieve that / was President because OF
their wishes. because OF their desire tnat
should do a given JOB. which they feit l
could &c better than any one else, ana not
because OF any personal ambition on tny
mart Under these circumstances / must
Yot put myself IN position which Wonld
look as II / were seeking the oifice-.as II
u,ero trying 20 get II for my own sake.
know well that this means In all proDa-
bility some one else will be nominated ana
elected for where others actively seek the
nomination. their friends. as is natural
actively work for them and give the ski
IN direction and leadership. without whicn
even q strongly aroused PUBIC opinion gen
erally fails 20 hnd expression. IhereIore
/ have all along felt that even II there
fhoud be a strong popular oeinand Tor me
az 10 which ! can pass no JudgmenD, YET
that unless this demand were hteraHy over
whelning II could hardly make itself ef-
fectige. ... -. .
Sg shotfld rot make itself effective Tath9r
fhan that by any action Of mine ! should
Tsake II seem that 7 desire the PRESIDENCY
fer nv own sake, or unwilling TO accept ~
s,Slees IN comes 10 me as the result Of a
reaI popular movement. giving expression
~ 4 demand from AZ least slDstanUai
norston of the plain people that shoull
s,ndertake q given task In the interest OF
tbS neoole as r. whole Pefore I spesk
there should be some tangible evidence that