Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-27
Ryan Not the Cause.


Senator Tillman as follows:
Washington, D. c.. January g. 1912
MY Dear Sir: have never pretended
to be a groomer of presidential candi-
dates. expert or otherwise. but / know
your good opinion and wrote with that.
as well as the truth Of the matter, in
mind.
II am with you, senator, in wishing a
democrat and not pseudo-republican for
our presidential nominee. It was no less
from sense of party duty than Of JUS
tice as between man and man that made
the statement to which-upon a total mis-
apprehension of the facts-you take ex-
ception.
Il have been aware for nearly week
that recognized spokesman for Gov. Will
son were industriously circulating the
story that the real reason why Gov. Will
son broke with Col. Harvey was that Col.
Harvey had tried to bring Mr.. Thomas
F. Ryan into the governor campaign.
But, until you gave credence to the story,
it could not be Invested with any RESPONSE
BILE authority. Its origin was mysterious,
its circulation surreptitious. Consequently
there has been up to this time nothing
either to deny or recognize.
Now, senator, I know. OF my own
knowledge, that that story is a lie made
out Of whole cloth. II any person ven
lures to question this assertion have in
my possession proof conclusive which
hold myself ready to place before your
honest and truthseeking mind.
II do not accuse Gov. Wilson OF orig
mating or circulating this invention.
manufactured to make hero Of him at
effectually served him. do not assume
that he is aware Of the dastardly work
being done by his alleged agents. but
the fact remains that Gov. Wilson knows
as well as do that the story Is false. He
may or may not feel that he owes any
o1,1i uo tiov, IN Harvov That In a
matter OF which he must be the Judge.
But I do insist that he owes 1t to his
own honor to repudiate that story and
to disavow those who are striving to In
1ect the calumny into the public mind.
'.At Gov. Wilson's instance I had un-
dertaken to assist his accredited man
ayers in raising the considerable sums
Of money needful to the prosecution OF
his campaign, and In this my efforts
were not wholly unfruitful.
Watterson Suggested Ryan.
LAS the business proceeded. the name
Of Thomas F. Ryan not unnaturally
came into my mind. He is a democrat.
He il a virginian. He Is my friend.
Knowing him to be distinguished man.
having no ak to grind. hoped that I
might induce him to help that which
believed 2 worthy cause. Gov. Wilson's
gestion. Col. Harvey had nothing to
do with It, and, as Tar as I am aware,
knew nothing whatever about 1t.
Throughout this unhappy affair
have been an unwilling wttness-in its
consequence, somewhat OF an limo
cent misunderstanding been. up to
the hour Of the Harvey incident. q
sincere believer in Gov. Wilson. He Is
a man OF ability. In some ways he
might prove q candidate OF avail
ability, but I fear that II he became
our President we might discover all
too late that he possesses personal
peculiarities which would prove disas-
trous. We want In the White House
q man Of broad mind. as well as pol
ished intellect. Of heart grateful and
kind, no less than daring. remain.
with great respect
''Your obedient servant.
HENRY WATTERSON.
Zion. B. r. Tillman."