New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-23
Democrats Insist He
Promised Attack
on Britain
CHARGE APOLOGY
FORINDORSINGT.R.
Candidate Declares He
Made No Private
Promises


thrilling disclosures promised by the
Democratic National Committee in
daily instalments until further notice
that organization yesterday charged
tween Charles e. Hughes and the
American Independence Conference.
generally considered q German-Ameri-
can organization. OF which jeremiah
A. OLeary Is the head.
The charge was made In q colorful
statement that revealed feetins
gimpses OF stenographic report Of
proceedings Of the conferences two
recent meetings in Detroit and Chi
csgo. Much plotting and secret ac-
tivity is darkly hinted at by the Demo
cratic leaders, who issued the docu-
ment, but withheld ali except the main
facts Of the charge.
II Is promised. however. that sue
ceeding instalments Of the serial will
contain all that is left TO the imagins-
ton in yesterdays chapter.
To whet the Appetite
This paragraph, attached 10 the last
page Of the statement, was considered
sufficient to whet the appetite for more
disclosures:
"The second installment Of this re-
msrkable revelation Of political In
trigue will be made public tomorrow
by the Democratic National Committee.
II will give the facts in convincing de-
tail. likewise disclosed by the official
records. Of the FULFILLMENT by Can
didate Hughes Of his promise, the
WORKING AGREEMENT between the
American independence Conference and
the Republican National Committee
the REWARD reaped by Mr.. Hughes
and his campaign managers and the
CONCEALMENT by them Of their deal
ings with the OLesry aggregation"
Hughes Concealed Nothing
Mr.. Hughes robbed the situation OF
much Of it's dramatic value when he
frankly admitted that he had received
the committee when it called upon
him. He was surprised TO learn that
Democratic cash had been spent for
stenographic reports that contained no
facts not readily obtainable else
whefe.
Mr.. Hughes said he had told the
delegation Just what his views, on
American rights were, as he had done
in his speech acceptance and in many
other public utterances.
As for statements concerning Mr..
Hughes's congratulstory telegram 70
Colonel Roosevelt, following the Pro-
gressive LEADERS, speech at Lewiston,
Ne, it happened that there was much
other evidence bearing on the sub
ject. The Democratic campaign com
mittee's statement charged that Mr
Hughes had apologized TO the visiting
delegation for his Roosevelt Telegram,
saying that he sent 1t before he had
read the speech, having seen only the
headlines.
II happened, however, that the group
Of newspaper men who were with The
Republican candidate when he sent the
message from his special train In Kan
sas knew that this portion Of the
charge was untrue. They had asked
for statement from Mr.. Hughes on
the Roosevelt speech early in the morn
ing of the day following its delivery.
Mr.. Hughes then refused TO make any
comment on II because he had not
read it.
During the afternoon, however. he
obtained copies of the newspaper con
tanning the speech and read them care
fully. When he had completed his
reading he answered his interyiewers.
and, having completed his talks with
them, he sent his telegram to the Colo
mel.
Shorn Of its picturesque phraseology.
the statement charges that the Ameri-
can Independence Conference dele
gated committee to call on M.
Hughes and obtain . statement OF his
views on questions Of interest TO that
body after its meeting in Detroit, on
September z. The committee was com
posed of Carl F.. Schmidt, Of Detroit,
national chairman of the committee:
OLeary, Will r. Macdonald, chairman
of the American Embargo Conference.
and Frank Seiberlich. OF Boston.
Committee Sees Hughes
This committee, according to yester-
DAYS statement, called on Mr.. Hughes
some time between the adjournment OF
the Detroit meeting and another one
held in Chicago on September 80, and
obtained from him q satisfactory state
ment Of his position on national issues.
Incidentally, they are credited with dis
cussing with him his telegram Of con
graduation to Colonel Roosevelt fol-
lowing his Lewiston, Me-. speech de-
nouncing diluted Americanism." The
minutes are said to show that Mr.
Hughes sssured the committee that he
sent the message before reading the
speech in full.
That the report Of this interview was
made at the later meeting of the con-
ference in Chicago is shown by this
paragraph, quoted from the steno-
graphic report:
-. A. O'Leary then reported to the
National Committee the meeting that
the special committee had with the
Republican Presidential candidate and
gave the gathering q detailed report OF
the interview" -, a..
The document concludes with the
names of those credited with psrtiei-
pating In the Chicago meeting OF the
rorS.r.nc. Ons OF the features of