The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1912-02-01

! didates must have known II at the
time your statement was published
very properly concluded that yor
knew the reasons for the rupture. and
Wnen you made public the manner IN
which 1t occurred without giving the
causes you We're unquestionabIy con
cealing the material facts.
Very respectfully yours,
"B. r. TILLMAN.
Colonel Henry Watterson, wash.
watterson 90 Tnlman.
Washington. ID. c., Jan. 26, 1912.
My Dear Sir,-I have never pre-
tended TO be a groomer of presiden-
tial candidates, expert or otherwise
put desire your good opinion and
wrote with that, as well as the truth
Of this matter, in mind.
am with you, Senator, in wish
ing q Democrat and not q pseudo Re-
publican for our presidential nomi-
nee: IL was no less from a sense OF
party duty than of justice as between
man and man that 1 made the state
ment TO which-upon a total misap-
prehension Of the facts--you take ex-
ception.
I have been aware for nearly a
week that recognized spokesmen for
Governor Wilson were fndustriouslv
circulating the story that the real
reason why Governor Wilson broke
with Colonel Harvey was that Colonel
Harvey had tried to bring Mr.. Thomas
r Ryan into the Governors Campaign
But' until you gave credence to the
story, II could not be invested with
any responsible authority. It's oriein
was mysterious, its circulation snr-
repttious. Consequently there has
been up to this time nothing either
to deny or recognize
NOW. Senator, 1 know, OF my own
knowledge, that that story IS n lie
made out Of whole cloth. III any pero
son ventures to question this asser-
uon 1 have in my possession proof
conclusive which 1 hold myself
ready to place before your honest and
truth-seeking mind.
Il do not accuse Governor Wilson
Oh originating or circulating this in
Vention, manufactured to make a hero
Oh MIN at the expense of the friend
VINO mas most effectually served him.
DO not assume that he is aware of
ene ,, uastaroly work being done by his
alleged agents, but the fact remains
that Governor Wilson knows as we'll
as L do that the story is false. He
may. or may not feel that he owes
any obligation to Colonel Harvey
Ihat is a matter of which he must be
the judge. But 1 do insist that he
owes 1t TO his own honor to repudiafe
that story and to disavow those who
are striving TO inject the calumny
into the public mind
AT Governor Wilson's instance I
had undertaken to assist his accredi-
ted managers in raising the consider
able sums OF money needful TO the
prosecution OF his campaign, and in
this my efforts were not wholly un-
fruitful As the business proceeded
the name OF Thomas +. Ran, not un-
naturally. came into my mind He is
a Democrat He is a Virginian. He
is my friend. Knowing him to be a
dtsinterested man. having no axe to
grind. 1 hoped that I might induce
him to help out what 1 believed a
worthy cause. Governor Wilson's
managers were delighted with the
suggestion Colonel Harvey had moth
ing whatever to do with 1t, and, as
Tar as am aware. knew nothing
whatever about It. s--l. 49,.
. Throughout this unhappy AFFAIR I
have been an unwilling witness-In its
consequences, somewhat OF an inno-
cent by-stander-having been up 10
the hour OF the Harvey incident a sin
cere believer in Governor Wilson. He
is man of ability. In some ways he
might prove candidate OF available
ity, but I fear that II he became our
President we might discover all too
late that he possesses physical pecu-
liarities which would prove disas-
trous. We want in the White House
man Of broad mind, as we'll as poll
ished intellect, of heart grateful and
kind, no less than daring.
Il remain, with great respect
Your obedient servant,
HENRY WATTERSON."
Hon. B. r. Tillman."