New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-27
ROOSEVELT LETTERS
REGARDING HUGHES
Wrote Barnes and Parsons lie
Disliked TO Support Gov
ernOr's denomination.

ernor'S denomination.
from stan Correspondent Of Tbs Tribune
Syracuse, April 26.-One chapter OF
Republican history in this state was
remade to-day, when, with Colonel
Roosevelt on the witness stand, there
was read to the jury correspondence
between the political leaders prior to
the denomination of Governor Hughes
in Saratoga in 1908
il was well known that william
Barnes did what he could to prevent
that denomination. But until to-day
history had it that Herbert Parsons
then chairman OF the New York County
Committee, was one Of those who sue
ceeded in rcnominating the Governor
In letter written b. Parsons to
President Roosevelt on August "a
1905. the former declared II was q seri-
GUS situation, and that the men who
wanted Hughes did so because they
wanted to destroy the party organiza-
ton. lie said Hughes would be weaker
in New York County than two years
before. and presented secret polls TO
prove his assertion.
"Not only will / not be responsible
for Governor Hughes's nomination,
Parsons wrote TO Roosevelt, "but if he
is repominated decline to be response
bic for the result TO Taft in New York
County"
The correspondence follows in full,
with the exception OF the second letter
written by Mr.. Barnes TO the President.
In il he said he believed many indie
pendents were opposed to Hughes and
that the Republican newspapers would
suport any good candidate.
81 am convinced" he wrote, that this
matter should be thrashed out on the
floor of the convention, and the bigger
q row there is the more votes there
will be on Election Day. Let the fight
go on and may the best man win. If
II is Hughes, all right. | will do the
best | can. There rs nothing like q
free fight to clear the atmosphere. or
course. if Hughes is renominated, he
will probably ignore the state com
mittee.'
Only Hughes in Sight.
The first Roosevelt letter read, on
the stationery Of the White House, but
written at Oyster Bay, was addressed
TO MY dear Mr.. Barnes and read:
yesterday saw sherman, Bennet,
George Smith. Mike Dady. Cocks and
Hitchcock, chairman Of the National
Committee, here.
g. d n he
Hughes matter since ! saw you. ap-
prcciate to the full the force Of the
arguments you urged against his re
nomination. il is not pleasant for me
10 support a man who has wantonly
behaved badly to the very men who
did most in securing his selection.
/ would approve his turning them down
in the public interest, but l object
TO its being done wautonly. More
over. appreciate that he has allenated
cutie ucedlessly very many voters, and
IF we had the right man to put in his
place the right man from the stand
po.u. OF getting vOtes), l should say
that DO was certainly wise 70 nominate
such a man. But no such man is IN
sight. and there does not seem TO be
the slightest chance Of his arising.
"Uuder the conditions 1t seems 10
me that while it viii do damage TO
rcuomnate Hughes, il will do more
damage not TO renOmlnate HIM, and
that this damage will extend outside
Of the state. While, therefore, J want
most emphj tically to dIsclaim any IN
tent.on Of seeming 90 dictate the nomi-
nation, | think | ought 10 tell you that
my Judgment is that the convention
ought to renominate him. | am sure
that the delegates from this district
will be for him. Bennett, Sherman and
T Daddy insist that there is no alterna-
tive 30 his denomination Hitchcock
SAYS that not TO renominate him would
be a harm TO the canvass outside Of
New York as well as, in his judgment,
i'm New York. Even Smith finally an
nounced that he was inclined to take
the same view.
II may add that every one present
agreed to keep absolutely quiet IN this
. matter and to consult with you, among
others, before any kind of conclusion
was announced; but from the papers
4 | should Judge some one had talked
II was nos ], for no newspaper man
/ communicated with me directly or indI-
rectlv, and l was as much surpried as
any one when | saw the statements IN
. llt Ddb'Ao'
A copy Of this letter was sent to
Parsons.
On August "a. 1908, Colonel Roosc-
Welt wrote to Barnes from Washington
as follows:
"Most emphatically, whatever my
friends do up In Albany, / shall stand
10y them. ! have given them, incIud-
ing You, my best judgment. It is not
q judgment based on newspapers; IL Is
q judgment based on what Congress
man Bennett has found from his per.
sonal canvass; what Sol Strassburgel
finds on the East Side Of New York;
what Prendergast and Mide Dady fnC
in Brooklyn; what cocks finds here il
my own district; what Jim Sherman
finds 20 bc the overwhelming senti
meut right near you in Central New
York; what Hitchcock said as 10 tn,
effect outside.
"Now, if you and those like you fear
that ! shall ask YOU 10 cut your throat,
your fear is Eroundless. But my iudg