The Marietta journal and courier., 1918-07-05

ABOUT the mlQQlo OF April COnSF0SS-
man VIM Schley Howard sought an in
terview with President Wilson to talk
over the matter of his entering the
race for Senator from Georgia. In
that interview, sought by Mr.. Howard,
the President stated that his choice of
a candidate for that race was Hon.
VIM. ]. Harris, and he hoped that the
loyal vote against Senator Hardwick
would not be divided.
Thereupon Mr.. Howard voluntarily
promised the President that he would
not run, but would support Mr.. Harris
because he was the Presidents choice.
A few days later Mr.. Howard broke
his promise to the President and be-
came a candidate. Nobody could ex-
press the Presidents feelings at Mr..
Howard's conduct as the President did
in his pointed two line letter of April
18th, saying only:
Your letter just received. disap-
points me very seriously indeed and
very much regret it."
Presidents Choice For Harris
A little while later the Washington
correspondent of the Atlanta Constltu-
ton sent an article to his paper about
that interview, and, instead of stating
therein that the President expressed
his choice for Hon. VIM. ]. Harris as
the candidate for Senator in Georgia,
stated that the President said he would
be neutral as between any two loyal
candidates against Thos. w. Hard
wick. Nobody but the President and
Mr.. Howard could have known what
took place in the conference between
them, as no one else was present. Mr.
Howard saw the article sent out by
the newspaper correspondent, and
made no attempt to correct the false
version of the interview. He approved
it as "the Gods truth" The Presl-
dent also saw the newspaper article,
and on April goth he wrote Mr.. Howard
to the effect that he, Mr.. Howard,
knew the version of the interview con-
veyed by the article was false, and in
very emphatic terms the President
asked Mr.. Howard whether or not he
intended to correct the false impress
sions left among the people of Geor-
gia by the article appearing in the
Constitution. In reply to the Presl-
dent Mr. Howard admitted that the
Presidents letter very greatly dis
tressed him." admitted that the news
paper article conveyed false account
of the Presidents attitude and admit
ted that he and his friends knew that
the President thought Mr.. Harris
should make the race against the jun
ior senator from Georgia in preference
to any one else"
These Tell The Story
The statements of Mr.. Howard and
the President speak for themselves:
Committee on Appropriations,
House of Representatives,
Washington, D. c.,
April, 1918.
my Dear MIR. President:
"You may recall that I stated to
you that if you wished it, / would
not become a candidate for the SEN
ate, but would do all l could to help
elect the candidate whom you select
ed to carry our cause to the people
of Georgia This is written with the
hope that you will permit me to with
draw this promise to you.
with great respect, / am,
Faithfully your friend,
'WM. SCHLEY HOWARD"
THE White House,
Washington,
april IL, 1918.
"My Dear Mr.. Howard:
"Your letter just received disap-
points me very seriously indeed, and
/ very much regret it.
Sincerely yours,
WOODROW WILSON.
"To Hon. William S. Howard,
"House of Representatives.
"The White House,
Washington,
go April, 1918.
My Dear Sir:
My attention has been called to a
recent communication by Mr.. Hollo-
man to the Atlanta Constitution con-
cerning our recent conversation at