Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-02-18
PRESIDENT DOWNS
. PREJUDICE CHARGE
Denies TumuIty Keeps Letters
About Roman Catholic Church
Activity from Him.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1s.-President
Wilson has written letter warmly
defending Joseph p. Tumulty. his Sec
rotary, against reports that have been
circulated in some Protestant quar-
ters to the effect that it Is impossible
to get communications relating to the
activities of the Roman Catholic
Church by Mr.. Tumulty to the Presi-
dents own desk. The President
brands any such impression as "ab-
surd and absolutely false" and pays
Mr.. Tumulty a high compliment for
his efficiency and impartiality in all
matters.
Men who have been daily thrown
into contact with White House af-
fairs have never given a thought to
these reports from prejudiced quar-
tiers, because it has been apparent
that access to the President both in
the matter of correspondence and in
| personal interviews has been as free
If not more free under this admins
| tration than under any other
The Protestant Magazine, however,
which is published in this city, sent
| the President the following letter
Slgneu Dy us eulJOTs
"Sir-I learn from personal inter-
views and-- correspondence that there
| is a widespread feeling among Prot
estants that it is practically impos-
sible for any communication relating
! to the activities of the Roman Cath
Ollie Church to reach you personally
| for the reason that all such letters
are withheld from you by your pri-
vate secretary, Mr., Tumulty. 1t Is
| unfortunate both for you and for the
| country that such an impression pre-
walls and that it seems to have some
foundation.
Requests a Statement.
Before dealing with this subject
| in this magazine | am writing to ask
| for a statement from you which
might be of service in restoring con-
| fidence among some of the best citi-
zens of this republic. Any reply, how
ever brief, showing that this letter
actually reached you would be a
source of satisfaction.
when you were governor of New
Jersey | wrote you concerning some
criticisms of your course in which
you were charged with showing ia
voritism to the Roman Catholic
Church, and your reply placed the
matter in such a light that l did not
erence to the subject. My desire is
to deal fairly with public men and
| hence this letter.
Thanking you for any attention
which you may give to my request,
l am, yours very truly.
wv. w. PRESCOTT"
The President Immediately sent this
reply to Mr.. Prescott:
Wilson's Prompt Reply.
my Dear Sir-Allow me to ac-
knowledge the receipt of your letter
of January Is and to thank you for
! your candor in writing me.
81 beg leave to assure you that the
| impression that any part of my cor
respondence is withheld from me in
any circumstances by my secretary
l,on account of religious predictions
on his part is absurdly and utterly
false. / venture to say that no Presi-
| dent ever had more frank and salts
! factory relations with his secretary
| than / have>with mine. The whole of
my correspondence Is constantly open
to me- Mr.. Tumulty is more prompt
| perhaps to call my attention to mat
| posed to be engaged than to other
matters of relative Indifference.
"Of course / need hardly add that
am not speaking from an impression,
but from knowledge of just how my
correspondence is handled. Sincerely
| yours,
| WOODROW WILSON"
Editorial Expression.
| In commenting on this the Prot
estant Magazine adds:
I'VE give full credit to the frank
statement made by the President,
and that we hope that the publica-
ton of this correspondence will have
a reassuring effect upon the minds
of those who have felt that the priv
! lege of expressing their minds freely
| to the chief executive concerning
Roman CATHOLIC matters was denied
them by a too officious Roman Cath
olic eanratarv