The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1914-02-05
NAME CLEARED OF
CHARGES. PINDELL
TURNS DOWN POST

Washington, Feb. 3.-Henry M. Pin
dell, of Peoria, ILL.,, who was recently
dominated and confirmed as ambassa-
Tor to st. Petersburg, has declined the
appointment, according to a letter to
kae president made public at the White
House today.
MI. Pindell wrote President Wilson
that although the Senate had investi-
gated accusations in connection with
his appointment, he felt, nevertheless
hat no controvelSy OF any kind should
mrround the appointment OF any am
| bassador as It was likely to be mis-
understood abroad. .
The president in a letter Of regret
accepted Mr.. Pindelrs declination.
Mr.. PindeIPs Letter.
The correspondence. made public at
the White House follows:
Peoria, In.,-Dear Mr.. President: I
deeply appreciate the honor YOU have
none me in nominating me ambassador 70
paid me by the Senate In confirming the
Nomination by unanimous vote. l q
hoped and confidently expected when you
asked me to accept the post that l eou 10
q very early date. I am therefore, the
more embarrassed to find that circum.
stances have arisen which will render II
Impossible for me to undertake the mis-
sion.
I have, as you know, been put in a very
false light by certain gross mtsrepresen-
kations In the public press and while IL ID
true that these have been cleared away
and the nomination accepted In It's true
light by the Senate after a thorough and
| dispassionate Investigation, I feel that II
would be more delicate TO decline the APP
pointment than to accept 1t. No contro-
versy Of this kin should surround the
appointment of an ambassador to q. coun-
Imiliar with the real circumstances as they
are known at home. There should be
nothing personal to. oak about or ex-
plain there as far as the ambassadors him
I beg. therefore, that. trusting me to be
guided by my own instinct In this matter.
you will accent my. assurance OF deep
gratitude for the honor you ave sought
to do me and permit me with genuine re-
greet, hut with no hesitation OF Judgment,
to decline the appointment.
with sentiments OF distinguished consid-
~eration. believe me to be, Mr.. President,
~" Henry NJ. Pindell.
Presidents Reply.
The presidents letter to Mr.. Pindell
follows:
Your letter does credit to your delicate
sense of propriety and serves to increase,
If that were possible today, admiration
for you and my confidence in your emil
nent fitness for the mission which you
now decline.
7 can but yield TO your Judgment In the
| matter; because 1t Is clear to me that
| feeling as you do. whether you are fully
Justified In that feeling, or not: you would
| not be comfortable or happy in the post.
I therefore cannot insist. You will allow
| me-, however, I hope, to express my deep
regret. I know your quality so well and
am so anxious to see you at st. Peters
burg, that I feel a keen disappointment.
It is only q very imperfect consolation
that I may now again express my un-
qualified confidence In your ability; your
tire suitability for such a post.
Cordially and sincerely yours,
Woodrow Wilson.
The controversy over Mr.. Pindelrs
| nomination grew out OF publication OF
what purported to be a letter from
| Senator Lewis, OF Illinois, to Mr.. Pin
dell. urging the latter to accept the post
| of ambassador to Russia for a year, and
saying he would he relieved Of respon-
| sibility for important negotiations and
could travel freely in Europe. Senator
| Lewis charged hat the letter was a
forgery and Secretary Bryan later in
q public statement revealed that the
| circumstances were that Mr.. Pindel
had said that he could only accept the
post for a year, because he did not feel
/ that he could be absent from his bust
ness for any longer period. No men
ton, 1t was said. was made Of any
diplomatic task or duties.
A Senate committee investigated the
correspondence and recommended the
confirmation OF Mr.. Pindell.
With the Russian ambassadorship
again open, there was gossip in Of
hcial circles about the likelihood OF
| Charles r. Crane, of Chicago, being
named. Mr.. Crane was uppermost In
the presidents mind early last yea foT
the post, but is understood to have
declined because OF his business inter,
ests in this country.
Mt. Crane took a luncheon with the
president q few days ago. but 1t could
not be learned whether the ambassa-
dorship was discussed.