Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-01-16
ROOSEVELT DENIES
PLATT STATEMENTS
MADE IN MEMOIRS
Thinks Senator PIatt'S Mind
Was Failing When He Wrote
Intimate Details of Ro0Se-
VeIt'S Political Career

ALBANY. N. Y, Jan. 1S.-Letters
which have passed between Col. Theo
OF the Autobiography of Senator
Platt." was given out here today. Col
Roosevelt wrote the author on December
10, last as follows:
1T have been interested In reading the
autobiography OF Senator Platt,' which
you sent have no question that the
senator meant to relate things accurate
ly and I have no quarrel whatever with
the statements he makes about my con-
duct as governor. But among the erro-
neous assertions are the following:
''The statements as TO the nomination
for the vice presidency are erroneous.
For instance. after the senator told me.
that could not be renominated as gov
ernor, said very well, we viii Tight.
told him should absolutely refuse to
accept the nomination as vice president
and that If the New York delegation
tried to force It upon me, should get
up and say that Senator PIatt had an
nounced that I should be refused a re-
nomination for governor and would have
to be nominated for vice president and
that should then ana there announce
that would moi take the nomination
for the vice presidency and would be a
candidate for the nornruation for COVER
nor.
'eThe senator evidently did not believe
that I would do this, but announced
my intention to dozen of the delegates
stating what Senator Plat had said.
Immediately there was great commotion,
message was sent up TO Senator Platt
and two minutes later was Summoned
TO his room, where he explaine- that I
must have misunderstood him. that he
had no intention Of saying that I should
not be renominated as governor, that
the New York delegation to put me in
nomination for the vice presidency and
that no opposition would be made TO
my nomination as Igol ernor.
Accordingly the effort ceased and the
New York delegation put Woodruff in
nomination. Later it developed that the
convention as a whole was bound to
have me and Senator Hanna, who had
violently opposed my nomination, made
up, his mind that the feeling was so
strong that he coIld, not AFFORD to an-
tagonize Il. After Considerable hesita-
tion I then concluded to accept. In 9TH
er words. while 1 did not intend to per-
nit myself to be forced into the vice
presidency, in order 70 get me out of
the governorship. did not feel at liberty
to refuse the nomination when it became
evident that the earnest desire of the
Republican party as q. whole was to have
me take the position for the benefit of
the party.
"Again. the statements about my COM
ing to Senator Pla for his Endorsement
as secretary OF the navy are absolutely
without foundation. The whole story
about my calling upon him on March
/ IT or any other day, whether with John
\ Jacob Aston or anybody else, is pure
/ invention. AS soon as 1 saw the book
wrote to Astor and have now received
/ his letter. In it ne says that I never
saw Senator Plat with him about my
/ appointment as assistant, secretary of
the navy
at is rather singular that Senator
Plat should have imagined such an
1 Interview and II shows how much his
mind was falling when the reminis-
cenc were written.
"By the way the whole statement
about contributions, is equally without
foundation. never called upon Senator
/ Plat with Governor Odeu on any such
1 errand nor had any such conversation
with Senator Plat.
IT do not desire to have this letter
published because IT is not worth while
! going into the public press on such a
4 81, f,1r - H1rk hot
should know the facts in the case.
Sincerely yours.
(Signed) Theodore Roosevelt"
Mr.. Lang wrote to Albert H. Howe,
for II ears secretary to the senator,
stating the Roosevelt denial and ask
| ing for statement.
Mr. Howe's letter follows:
1T have read your photographed
sketch of Senator Platt's life and partic-
ularly that portion of the addenda re-
/ lating to the appointment of Colonel
/ Roosevelt TO the assistant secretaryship
4 of the navy and in response to your spe-
1 cific inquiry have to say that the story
as you have told 1t accords with the
facts Colonel Aston did accompany
| Colonel Roosevelt to Seantor P1att's par
lor to solicit the latter's Endorsement of
Colonel Roosevelt for that position. The
\ circumstances are most clearly impressed
upon my mind"
Later Mr.. Lang asked the privilege of
publishing Colonel Roosevelts letter to
which Colonel Roosevelt replied unuder
date of December a. 1910:
81 desire that my letter should not
! be published at present simply because
| il is not worth while to get into a pub
! lie controversy. AS I have told you, /
! have a letter from Colonel Astor stating
that he never saw Senator Platt about
my being assistant secretary of the ma
W. None of the Incidents to which 1
referred in my first letter are related
accurately or truthfully by Senator
PIatt but / think his mind was failing
and do not accuse him of intentional
i untruth.