Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-10-24

Continued From Page One.)
cratic national committee that he had
entered into secret agreement with
the American Independent conference,
H. which Jeremiah A. O'Leary is said
to be the central figure.
His denial was in reply to state
ment issued from democratic head
quarters in this city, containing what
purported to be report made by Mr..
OLeary at the session OF the confer.
ence in Chicago, In this alleged re-
port O'Leary was quoted as having
said "Mk Hughes promised that his
future conduct in the speech-making
line should be entirely satisfactory to
the interests of the committee"
Charges Made in Statement.
The democratic statement charged
that O'Leary and his committee were
delegated to meet Mr.. Hughes and
ascertain his attitude with reference
to "Mr. Roosevelt's pro-British and
anti-American utterances in particular
and his (Mr.. Hughes) policies in gen.
eral."
The republican reply was issued at
Montclair at midnight after three
hour conference between National
Chairman W. X. Wilcox and Mr.,
Hughes. The former called early in
the evening, took dinner with the
nominee and afterward went into con-
ference with him over the nominees
recent trip, While they were con-
ferring the democratic statement was
read to them over the telephone. A
few minutes before midnight Chair.
man Wilcox issued this statement:
Mr.. Hughes Reply.
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.. Hughes replied:
"I saw the persons mentioned al
their request about the middle Of Sep
TENDER, just as have seen all persons
and delegations so far as possible who
have asked me to receive them.
81 have said nothing in private that
have not said in public. At the very
beginning, in my speech Of acceptance
| declared my position in favor Of the
absolute protection of American lives
American property and American
commerce. This l reiterated to these
persons and have stated it to al
others who have asked interviews, al
well as in my public speeches.
Made No Agreements.
ITO this maintenance of all Ameri
can rights | adhere and shall continue
to adhere. | have declared over ant
over again that ! have made no pri
vate agreements and have engaged ir
no intrigues and l repeat that state
ment.'
After quoting Mr.. Hughes as above
Chairman Wilcox statement con
tinues:
chairman Wilcox further sale
that the national committee has no
had and has not now any agreement
or understanding with anybody or
such a matter"
| Apparently neither Mr.. Hughe,
nor Mr.. Wilcox knew that the state
ment was to be forthcoming until aft
er dinner tonight. Mr.. Wilcox, OF
his arrival at Montclair, announced
that he had called to confer with Mr.
Hughes concerning the last trip and
the itinerary for the next one. Earl,
in the evening Colonel George Har
vey called and paid his respects Il
Mr.. Hughes. Colonel Harvey wa.
not present, however, at the confer
ence between Mr.. Hughes and Mr.
Wilcox.
Read Over Telephone.
The statement issued by the demo
cratic committee was read over tn,
telephone to Mr.. Hughes and Mr.
Wilcox by an employee Of the repub
lican national committee at New
York, into whose hands a copy hat
fallen, about 9 o'clock tonight. /
was then taken down by a stenog
rapher, over the telephone, and tran
scribed. With the transcription be
fore them, Messrs. Hughes and Will
cox prepared the statement, which
Mr.. Wilcox issued.
The committee which saw Mr.
Hughes included, besides Mr.
O'Leary, Will r. Mcdonald Of New
York, Carl Schmidt of Detroit, chair
man Of the national committee Of tn,
American Independent conference
and Frank .Seibcrlich of Boston. /
was appointed at meeting in De
troit on September ~.
The alleged disclosures, for which
the democratic national committe,
announced it assumes full RESPONSE
bilty, purport to have been takei
from "the official minutes and au
thenticated stenographic transcript
of certain proceedings OF the Ameri
can Independent conference - tn
high-sounding title of the secre,
racial organization under which Jere
miah A. O'Leary and his associate
have been making their furtive an
nationwide campaign in the interes
of Charles Evans Hughes
At a conference held September 8
last, it is asserted, O'Leary made hi
report, which, in substance, was tina
Mr.. Hughes had assured the "spe
cial committee" (O'Leary and his as
sociates) that he had sent a con
gratulatory telegram to Colone
Roosevelt on the occasion of tn
colonies Lewiston. Me-, speech, be
fore he tMr. Hughes) had actuall
read the address. According t.