Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-08-03
PRESIDENT REFUSES
To TAKE A HAND IN
SENATORSH|P FIGHT
Makes His Attitude Known in the
Case Of Senator Chiffon OF
West Virginia.
WOULD HURT HIS FRIENDS

Washington, Aug. 3.-President VIII
ron has written letter declaring that
any effort by him to pick or prefer n
candidate in the coming primary and
election contests would be met by
iustifablc resentment on the part of the
constituency concerned which would DO
more harm to my friend than my pre-
ference would do good
Tho letter was addressed TO former
Senator Chiffon, of West Virginia, VINO
had written to the President asking nus
endorsement of Chlton's candidacy ior
the senatorship nomination Tor when ne
is competing with former Senator
Clarence W Watson. The letter was
nanifcstlv written as a confidential COM
muncatiOn, but, in his seeming despera-
ton, Chiffon made IT public
Now it is being used in the primary
campairn in West Virginia by both Demo
cratic caa lldatcs, Chiffon claiming that
it docs indorsc his candidacy, and Wat
son that il is "A flat refusal to give such
Endorsement.
The voters must Judge for themselves
what tbe letter means The President con
fessos that he has been driven into a
"blind alley" by Chilton's request that he
indorsc HIM
INTERVENTION EMBARRASSING,
He saws that the issue, presented 10
him again and again, had aroused hlm
10 consciousness that intervention OF
any sort in such political contests
would produce the most embarrassing
iupression. Revelation of the President $
letter to Chiffon has caused constcrna-
ton among political leaders here, who
are wondering about the President s
embarrassment over political contents
In some other states.
Comment on the letter referred to the
fact that the President had not been
checked by embarrassment last spring
during the Wisconsin senatorial fight, that
he RECENTLY escaped from the blind alley
Of political eNpcdicrcy long enough to IN
ducr Henry Ford 10 abandon war con
tracts. in order to mako Michigan safe
for the Democratic party, that nc was
moved a few DAYS ago to urge senator
James Hamilton Lewis, Of lllinos. IN"
Democratic whp of the Senate. TO cease
wavering in his aspirations Tor Fc-eIcction
and also that the PresldCn; could sec
no reason for resentment OF conSutu-
encv against his vcnturing the public as
sertion on the evc of the recent Texas
primary election that Representative Hlay-
den had rot been a support Of adminlstra-
tion Toilcics
CALLS Chiffon TRUE FRIEND
The Presidents letter 70 former senator
Chiffon is as follows.
II need hardly tell you with what gen
uinc interest ] read your letter 81 June ~
You were, indeed, true TREND, gen
erous supporter. throughout your term IN
the Senate, and want 10 express most
warmly my scrsc Of gratitude Tor your
friendship and support.
.'Your letter made me think very hard
upon the question whether there was
any avenue open 10 me through which !
could express my personal interest," ~
YOUR candidacy, but | am blocked by
circumstances which ! am sure, you Will
not have 10 have expoundcd 10 YOU
.ra;n nd ac,in. this question has pre-
sented itself & me, and always ! have
bcen checkrd by the CONSCIOUSNESS that
Intervention Of any sort on my part,
oven 40 much as the appearance OF an
effort 10 pick and prefer candidate,
would produce the most embarrassing
impression, and be met by a lustIilabc
resentment on the part OF constituency
concerned. which would do more harm
to nv friend than my preference would
do good. II IS in this blind alley that
I find myself, and ! am sure you Will
appreciate the situation with your usua
intuition
The Presidents assertion that any m
terference by hum in state elections
would be net by justifable resentment
upon the part of the voters Will un-
doubtedly be used extensively IN tht
campaign from now on as supporting
the general contention that the presl
dent has no right To interfere IN pol
itics at a time when nc has announcef
that politics is adjourned