New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-08-14
Senate Committee Declares o.
flee Was Not Given as Price
of Vote for Taft.
CATRON AND FALL DENY IT
New Mexico Senators Call the
Charges Made by Democrats
and Representative Curry
"Unmitigated Lies"
From The Tribune Bureau

Washington, Aug. 13.-The charges OF
Representative Ferguson and other DEM
ocrats from New Mexico and OF Repre-
sentative Curry that Secundino Romero
appointment as United States Marshal OF
New Mexico was a political reward for
the switching OF the vote OF his cousin
FREDERICK Chavrez from Roosevelt TO
Taft at the Republican National ConVen-
ton we're emphatically denied at the
White House to-day.
The charges set forth that Romero was
a notorious ruffian. whom the President
twice refused to appoint; that his ap-
pointment resulted from deal at chi
cago by which Romero's cousin a dele
gate instructed for Roosevelt switched 70
Taft, making his flop conditional on
Romero's appointment that the Presi-
dent, with papers before him last Janu-
airy getting forth reasons why Romero
should not be appointed. had acted &C
cordingly, and that Romero had assaulted
Judge Long, seventy-slx years old, when
the former was Sheriff OF San Miguel
County.
A thorough investigation Of these
charges by the Senate Judiciary Com
mittee has shown them TO be baseless,
and the committee has ordered favorable
action on the nomination. The conclusion
reached by the committee was that It WAS
a political move promoted by Representa-
tive Curry, a Roosevelt supporter and the
only delegate from New Mexico in
structed for Roosevelt. the delegation
standing seven for Taft and one for
Roosevelt Chavrez, cousin Of Romero,
had always been a Taft man, was chosen
a delegate to the Chicago convention and
Instructed for Taft. and. acting according
10 his instructions, voted for the Presl-
dent
Confer with President.
A conference was held at the White
House to-day in which the President aud
Senators Catron and Fall took part. The
two New Mexican Senators hotly de-
nounced those responsible for the charges
and were not sparing in their criticism OF
Representative Curry.
This whole thing is the worst arranged
lot Oh uIliIliIlhAAcu lNs NHNA hNNAN'
Senator Catron. In the first place. Rep
resentative Curry and everybody knows
that there never was any agreement to
divide the New Mexico delegation be-
tween Taft and Roosevelt. Taft Garfield
the state and had all the delegates but
one-Representative Curry. The vote
stood to for Taft from the time the
state convention was held until the Chi
cago convention ended.
About the worst lie OF all Is that
Romero's cousin, FREDERICK Chavrez,
shifted his vote at Chicago from Roose-
Welt to Taft on condition that Romero
should be made marshal. Chavrsz was
an open Taft man from the start in New
Mexico and defeated a Roosevelt man for
delegate. do not care what Repre-
sentative Curry has said as TO an agree
ment TO divide the delegation four and
four, and that Chavrez was TO have been
one Of the men voting for Roosevelt
Mr.. Curry kept talking that sort OF thing
In the hope there would be an agree
ment. but no such arrangement was ever
made by anybody.
"As 70 Romero. he is an educated
gentleman. honest. capable and standing
high in New Mexico. He is. however.
pretty firm, and not liable TO permit HIM
self TO be imposed upon. He was clerk Of
the United States District Court there for
thirteen years and Sheriff OF San Miguel
County year and half.
Put Judge Out Of Jail.
AS Sheriff he found Judge Long, a
Democrat In the jail taking n list. OF
prisoners. the Democrats having charged
that men were in the jail on trumped up
charges. This was on Election Day in
1911. Romero asked Judge Longs busl-
ness and invited him 10 leave the jail
Romero objected TO Judge Long being
there, taking the position that he was In
truding.
When Long refused TO leave Romero
put him out on the sidewalk. Romero