Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-07-17
HENNESSY SAID
TO Be CANDIDATE
ROOSEVELT PICKS
New York Graft investigator
Makes Secret Visit to Colonel.
Whitman Answers.

OYSTER BAY. n. Y, July 17.--John
A. Hennessy, of New York, whose at
tacks on Tammany Hall made him a
commanding figure in the last munici-
pal campaign, made a secret visit, II
was learned last night, TO Sycamore
Hill few days ago. Colonel Roosevelt
has avoided mention of Mr.. Hennes-
sy's visit. and did not discuss it.
The few persons who were aware OF
the conference concealed their knowl-
edge. but it became known from an
authoritative source.
Mr.. Hennessy is a Democrat. and
was appointed by William Sulzer. then
governor, as special investigator Of
highway frauds. His visit to Colonel
Roosevelt started anew the discussion
which began when Mayor Mitchell, OF
New York, recently went TO Sycamore
HILL concerning the possibility or
united action in the State campaign
by the Progressives and independent
Democrats. 1t WAS said that an indie
pendent Democrat might be chosen
for candidate for governor. should
such plan be adopted, and Mr.. Hen
nessy's name was being talked OF here
in that connection.
Colonel Roosevelt and Mr.. Hennessy
talked for three hours. What passed
between them could not be learned,
further than that Colonel Roosevelt
was said to have spoken of the
strength which ne believed ex-Gov-
ernor Sulzer possessed in the upstate
counties. There was nothing to indi-
cate whether Mr.. Hennessy's possible
candidacy was discussed.
Colonel Roosevelt read the reply
made by District Attorney Charles s.
Whitman, OF New York, to his state
ment of yesterday, in which he as
sailed the district attorney.
II have nothing to say" said Colo
mel Roosevelt, after be had gone
through Mr.. Whitmans statement.
Not a word to say"
John A. Hennessey is the brother
of Senator Charles O'Connor Hen
nessey. of Bergen County, New Jer-
sey.
NEW YORK. July 17.-District At
tofney Charles r. Whitman last
night made reply to the attack upon
him by Theodore Roosevelt in a
statement yesterday in which 1t was
charged that Mr.. Whitman had
caused advances to be made looking
to the support of the district attor-
ney for the governorship, which failed,
according to Colonel Roosevelt, large
ly because Mr.. Whitman failed to
declare his opposition to William
Barnes, Republican State chairman.
as 1t had been represented he would
do.
Mr.. whitman in his statement de-
MES that he ever wrote or author
ized the draft of letter declaring
himself opposed to Mr.. Barnes as
mulch as to Charles F. Murphy. leader
of Tammany Hall. This draft, Colo
mel Roosevelt stated, had been sent to
him by Charles S. Duell. jr., who had
organized a Non partisan Whitman
League, with the declaration that the
draft had been shown to Mr.. Whit
man. and that Mr. Whitman had said
he would issue ii as a statement If
Colonel Roosevelt would indicate his
satisfaction with 1t or at least in
dictate that he did not intend to at
tack Mr. Whitman In view of his
making il.
MIR. whitman admits that. as Colo
mel Roosevelt declared. he had writ
ten a letter to Mr.. DUEL. jr., last
February. saying that he agreed with
Mr.. Duell that the time Is ripe for
an alliance of the progressive Repub-
Iicans and members of the National
Progressive party and Of others ito
rid the State Of the kind of party
control which in my opinion is mainly
responsible for the corrupt condition
which had been clearly shown in the
various examinations and investiga-
tons which have been had during the
last year"
Commenting on this letter and the
other circumstances Of the contro-
versy Mr.. Whitman in his statement
says:
"This is the only letter l have ever
written to Mr.. Duell. 1t was prompted
by the very apparent desire expressed
on the part of some who have been
prominent in the Progressive party
two years ago. to join with the Inde-
pendents, as well as Republicans, in
an effort to secure the very best can
didates to be voted for at the prima-
ries.
.'As to the alleged draft of letter
written in July, which was quoted In
full. neither wrote nor authorized
any such letter. I have, however,
often expressed. publicly and pri-
vately. my hostility to boss control
and corruption in all political par
ties.
81 have no desire to enter into a
personal quarrel with Colonel Roose-
welt. 1 have nothing to do with the
present or future political policies Of
the Progressive party, and do not at
this time wish to analyze the motive
which prompted the publication Of
this attack. l rely upon my public
record and consider that as the an
swer to the question as TO whether
il elected governor of the State
will wear any mans yoke, or recog-
nize any obligation other than that
of the people of the State. and my
duty to render honest and effective
service"