The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-10-23
HUGHES EXPLAINS
O'LEARY MEETING
Issues Statement Denying
Charges of Democratic
Headquarters

New York, October 22.-Charles e.
ident. denied today the charge of the
democratic national committee that he
had entered into a secret agreement
with the American Independent con-
ference in which jeremiah A. O'Leary
is said to be the central figure.
His denial was in reply to a state
ment issued from democratic headquar-
tiers in this city containing what pur-
ported to be report made by O'Leary
at the session of the conference in
Chicago of what occurred at a meet
ing between Mr.. Hughes and COM
mittee from the conference headed by
OLeary In this alleged report O'Leary
was quoted as having said MIR. Hughes
promised that his future conduct in
the speechmaking line should be en-
tirely satisfactory to the interests of
the committee"
The democratic statement charged
that O'Leary and his committee were
delegated to meet Mr.. Hughes and as
certain his attitude with reference to
Mr.. Roosevelt's pro-English and anti
American utterances in particular and
his (Mr. Hughes) policies in general"
The republican reply was issued at
Mont Clair at midnight after three
hour conference between National
Chairman w. r. Wilcox and Mr.
Hughes. The former called early in the
evening. took dinner with the norni-
nee and afterward went into confer
ence with him over the nominees re-
cent trip. While they were conferring
the democratic statement was read to
them over the telephone
A few minutes before midnight
Chairman Wilcox issued this state
ment:
ON THE TELEPHONE
Chairman Wilcox said this evening
that the matter referred to had been
brought to the attention of Mr.. Hughes
over the telephone and that Mr.. Hugh es
replied:
"T saw the persons mentioned at
their request about the middle of Sep
TENDER, just as l have seen all per-
sons and delegations SO far as pos
sible who have asked me to receive
them.
L have said nothing in private that
I have not said in public. At the very
beginning in my speech of acceptance
l declared my position in favor of the
absolute protection of American lives,
American property and American com
merce. This 1 reiterated to these per-
sons and I have stated it to all 9TH
ers who have asked interviews as we'll
as in my public speeches.
To this maintenance of all Amer
lean rights I adhere and shall con-
tinue to adhere. I have declared over
and over again that 1 have made no
private agreements and have engaged
in no intrigues and I repeat that state
ment."
After quoting Mr. Hughes IS above
Mr.. Wilcox added his defense of Mr.,
Hughes.
SECURED A COPY
Mr.. Wilcox on his arrival at Mont
Clair announced that he had called to
confer with Mr.. Hughes concerning the
last trip and the itinerary for the next
one
The statement issued by the demo-
cratic committee was read over the
telephone to Mr.. Hughes and Mr.. WILL
cox by an employe of the republican
national committee in New York In
whose hands copy had fallen about 8
o'clock tonight. 1t was then tax en-
down by stenographer over the tele-
phone and transcribed With the tran
scription before them Messrs. Hughes
and Wilcox prepared the statement
which Mr. Wilcox issued.
The committee which saw Mr.
Hughes included besides Mr. O'Leary
Will r. Macdonald of New York, Carl
e. Schmidt of Detroit. chairman of the
national American independent confer
ence, and Frank Seiberlich of Boston
1t was appointed in meeting in De-
frn