The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-04-23
The Colonel's Reply

Colone Roosevelt's reply, dated Septem- Der F, 1898, in part was as follows:
 Your representation of what I said was substantially correct, that is 1t gave just the spirit But I don't like the wording of some of your sentences. Al first, on account of this. I hesitated how to reply, but finally came to the eonelu- sion that the last sentence of your re port covered the whole matter suffi- ciently. I shan't try to go over youl different sentences in detail and there are various verbal changes to which l think you would agree. Then I wish you could have brought out the fact that these statements were not in na- ture of bids for nomination or pledges by me, and that you made no effort to exact any pledges, but that they were statements which I freely made when you asked me what my position would be if nominated and elected.
 T know that you did not in any way wish to represent me as willing to con- sent to act otherwise than in accord ance with my conscience.
 "P. s. I want to make clear that there was no question of pledges or promises, least of all a question of bar gaining for the nomination., but that l promptly told you the position I would take if Ifwas elected governor. and sug- gested what thought would be best for DOln oendlOT fldll ana mySelI 10 uO sc as to prevent the chance of any smash up which would be disastrous to the well fare of the party and equally disastrous from the standpoint of good govern ment.'
 Colonel Roosevelts reply was that everything Quigg said to Platt was true. but that he did not like certain words Quigg used. Nor did it fail. He did not say he would "be faithful to IA orscy f,f1 for, vol A1 .-al4 said ne thought it wise to confer with MT. Platt from time to time to pre- vent "any smash-up.''
 Did you meet Senator Platt a few days after that letter was wrttenG' G' asked MT. Wins.
 Yes"
 When was the question of your eligibility for the governorship brought up?"
 My remembrance is that MT Root was present during the first discussion of that question:.
 Was MT. Root asked to advocate your nomination and asked to justify your eligibility?"
 q think he was.''
 Was MT. Choate asked to do the same thing?"
 that I was told MT. Choate had said l was not eligible
 Had you learned that Louis Payne and Governor Black had also said you were not eligible?"
 'I think I heard that"
 Do you remember discussion be- tween all these gentlemen about your eligibility?'
 T do; MT. Odell was there. too'
 Do you remember MT. Odell asking the lawyers there who could raise the question of your eligibility, if you were elected?"
 No, I do not remember that I be- 1ieve someone said the attorney general alone could"
 Did someone ask what difference that made if when you were elected the whole ticket, including an attor- ney general. would be elected?'
 Not just that. It was said no one CT my election"
 Gave Him Books
 Did you and MT. Root get. up the matter he presented at the coAvention regarding your eligibility"
 "I gave him my books of letters to look over"
 MT. Wins returned to the question oi taxes.
 Colonel Roosevelt said; After 1 returned in 1898 from the Spanish war I found that my taxes had not been paid My uncle James A Roosevelt. was supposed to pay then but he died before he had the oppor- tunity. When I got back from Cuba tho books had been closed, so l could not pay the taxes Do you remember writing to yocl