Evening journal., 1912-05-23
ROOSEVELT BRANDS
THAT DRINKING lie
Colonel Never Drank hiGhball
or Cocktail In his
Life

LllI
NEW YORK. May 2s-In response
to a request from one Of is local sup
porters. Colonel Roosevelt has writ
ten a letter denounoing as "an infam-
Gus lie' the report, which is alleged
TO have been circulated throughout
the Middle West and in other parts of
teh country. to the effect tha he tbs
addiced to intemperae drinking.
The report has occasioned some Of
Colonel Roosevelt's friends consider
able anxiety, especially since the pub
lication in a Salina (Ksnsas) news
paper Of an editorial entitled, "The
Colonels Habits" in which the state
ment was made that MIR. Roosevelt
had been intoxicated during his visit
to that city.
As a result of that editorial the fol-
lowing letter was written to Colonel
Roosevelt by William II Hatfield, an
attorney who was active in Mr.
Roosevelts behalf during the ante
primary campaign in this city:
Hon Thereodore Roosevelt.
Dear Sir: As you are aware. a
story Of Cleveland's intemperance was
circulated throughout the country
during his second term. Even today
there is still discussion on the sub
ject
A somewhat similar slander is now
being told from coast to coast by
political enemies regarding you, and
II is doing harm to your cause among
a certain class of voters. DO you not
think that a denial should be made
by your campaign managers without
delay? Personally, Of course, I take
no stock In the story.
Il call your attention to the re-
port at this time so that YOU might
take some action, II deemed necessary
or advisable by you.
During the recent primaries In
New Work city ! acted as vice-chair.
man OF the a committee OF attorneys
OF which Hugh Gordon Miller. ESQ.
was chairman, who we're selected Il
protect your interests I'm the courts
We took care OF all such court mat
ters.
Respectfully yours.
WILLIAM II. HATFIELD. JR."
The following reply was received
by Mr. Hatfield the other day:
MY dear Mr.. HATFIELD: First let
me thank you for all you have done
for me- AS for that intemperance
story, / hardly know whether to
notice 1t or not II happens that |
am, as regards liquor, an exceedingly
temperate man. l drink about as
much as Or. Lyman Abbott-and !
say this with his permission. never
touch whisky at all. and | have never
drunk a hignball or a cocktail in my
life. l DOUBT il l drink a dozen tea
spoonfuls OF brandy a year. II is
such an infamous lie that il is a
litude doubtful to know wnat to do
regarding Il.
"FoithIully yours,
"T. ROOSEVELT"
Il hope that this statement from
Colonel Roosevelt will be sufficient
to discredit any repition OF the Sian
der in the future said MIR .Hatheld
Il am sure that every man who has
the honor of a personal acquaintance
/
unjustitied report concerning him
When Dr, Lyman Abbott was inter
viewed at his home upon the sub
iect OF Colonel kOoseveits letter he
threw an Interesting hgnt upon the
latter's indulgence IN sumulants and
incidentally disclosed the extent oi
his own drinking. Dr. Abbott said:
Colonel Roosevelt has my permis-
sion to say tnat he drinks as much
and more than / do / usually take
a glass or two or light wines with my
luncheon or my dinner. l never drinh
whisky or branN except at the direc-
ton OF a physician, and tnen only foI
medicinal purposes. Beer l never
drink in THIS country. but | drink il
when / am IN Germany EThe beer
In this country is interior ana does
not agree with me.
/, "Mnen Colonel Roosevelt is In tow
! he takes luncheon with me az leas
: once a week. ana he frequently hd
! been my guest at my home. / hav
! visited min at Oyster bay, and aisl
az the White House. ana have nat
: every opportunity TO know and stud.
, his personal habits.
The only thing which Colono
Roosevelt drinks to excess is milk
He sometimes takes as many as lou
; or five glasses of milk az a singl
$ meal. The story OF his intemperanc
2 is a peculiarly preposterous and ma
ilcious slander, and l would be gla
to have you say so o my authority.