The Washington times., 1915-01-07
BRITISH. REPORTERS
PUT IN ANAN|AS CLUB
Major BeIcher, Ret, lnducted by
Col. Roosevelt With Appro.
! pirate Remarks.

NEW YORK. Jan. THE New York
Times today publishes the following:
American newspapers, according to
Colonel Roosevelt. are more conscien-
tious than some foreign papers. The
one American who has been inter-
viewed more often in more different
parts Of the world than any other, de-
clard yesterday:
THE experiences I have had with
come foreign newspapers have been
worse than any have had will. Amer
lean newspapers.'
The colonel SAID this in the course OF
m interview concerning publication
in the London Morning Fost. That
journal published on January 1 long
alleged interview with Colonel Roose.
welt, purporting to have been obtained
at oyster Bay by its special correspon-
dent, Ernest A. Belcher. The interview
NeSv York Times. 1t contained q NUM-
ber of rathcr lurid statements. 10 the
Times reporter yesterday, Colonel
Roosevelt gave the following account
Of the matter:
Didn't Mention Paper.
my attention has been called to an
aileged interview with, as is an
nounced, Major Ernest A. Belcher,
special correspondent Of the London
Morning Post Mr.. Belcher called upon
mo at Oyster Bay with q letter OF IN
PRODUCTION from q member Of Congress,
q personal friend of mine. The letter
Of the Congressman began as follows:
Major Ernest A. Belcher, OF the re-
serve of officers British, Is returning
to England from New Zealand to re-
port to the war office Mr.. Belcher
also had sent me a letter IN which he
major II. z. t.
"He made no mention whatever that
he was the correspondent OF any paper
and in the brief conversation which we
explicitly stated by me and acquiesced
in by him that nothing that said
should be for publication.
'.He took no notes. Some Of the state
ments he quotes from me are substan-
TALLY, but not verbally, correct. Others
are entirely false.
''His opening statement, for example.
is that l said., I can say anything 1 like
away. Obviously this language is at
tributed to me by Mr.. Belcher under the
impression that 1t sounds like what he
would call American
''It is an expression 7 never used to
any reporter, and certainly not to him,
AMI expresses sentiment which is alb
solutely untrue and on which 1 nave
never acted. On the contrary. as every
uOuS VINO 1lle hHo"S, ohu
have announced again and again. as for
example in my autobiography, the fact
that l have been President has pre-
vented my speaking on great many
different subjects and prevents me now
fror, SC speaking.
Again he quotes me as saying. The
Democratic party is so afraid OF the
labor vote that it SLOWS the unions OF
California to insult Japan l not only
nevcr said this, bit 1 never said any
Ytihng that could be twisted into it; nor
unions or any labor union during ou:
conversation.
Had Refused Interviews.
81 have refused to give intervie ws
OF any kind, even to American papers.
L should certainly not choose foreign
paper as my medium Of communication
In this matter.
~Much has been said by the foreign
papers about American yellow journal.
Ing instance of all that Is Objectionable
5n what is called yellow journalism
than to fake an interview with a for.
nner President by obtaining access to
him as Major Belcher obtained accese
to Ine by means of q letter in which the
WRITER signed himself a. a retired army
N4bcer, explained that he had been in
haew Zealand and Australia studying
the Asiatic question. and asked to see
me without giving a hint of any kind
tAat he was connected with any news
paper whatsoever.
Ut regret to say that the experience
Z have had with some foreign news.
Skpers have been worse than any
fsa1e had with American ncW1pa pers"