New-York tribune., 1920-06-16
General Asserts Charges
Against Supporters in
Campaign Are Vicious
and Malicious Untruths
'SeH.Seekingg and
Cowardly Attack
Declares New Yorker
Seeks to lngratiate Him
self With the Victors

CHICAGO. June 15.-Major General
Wood, in 8 signed statement, tonight
/ .saracterized as "a vicious and ma
r.;ous faisehood" declaration by
pr, Nicholas Murray Butler, of New
York that a motley group of stock
gamblers. oil and mining promoters,
munitions makers and other like per-
SONS" backed the Generals campaign
for the Republican Presidential nom-
nation.
General Wood said that ne regretted
10 make the statement, Sut that it
sss necessary to brand a faker and
10 denounce a lie" Declaring that the
men who managed his campaign were
Of extraordinarily high character" the
General said that the attack upon them
His Infamous and that DR.. Buffers
SETON was "an attempt to ingratiate
himself with certain elements which
exercised determining influence at
the convention
Loyal Supporters Vilified
The statement follows:
81 have Just read the statement
issued in New York by Nicholas
Murray Butler to the effect that "a
motley group of stock gamblers and
others tried TO buy the Presidential
Nomination for me, and that the
forces who we're defeated in their
insolent attempt to buy the nominal
ton represent all that is worst in
American business and political life
"The statement is vicious and
malicious falsehood. l would ignore
1t il it were directed at me alone,
but | cannot remain silent when my
loyal friends and supporters are
yilifed
Colonel William Cooper Proctor,
who was chairman of my campaign
committee, is man Of extraordinarily
high character, known throughout
the length and breadth of the land
for his absolute integrity and hon
esty. His associates were men OF
like character, most of whom re-
sponded to their country's call dur
ing the war. They typify a group of
progressive Americans The attack
upon them is Infamous.
"The forces which brought me be-
fore the convention with preponder-
ant force were hundreds of thous-
.sands of patriotic men and women in
every walk OF life who have indorsed
me al nation wide state conventions,
nationwide state primaries and in a
nationwide poll of unprecedented
size.
"This action of Nicholas Murray
Butler is an attempt to ingratiate
himself with certain elements which
exercised determining influence at
the convention and possibly to ex-
plain his own political weakness. 1t
is seif-seeking, cowardly attack,
made under the cloak of an alleged
public service. which was never in
tended or rendered.
u regret 70 make statement of
this kind, but it is necessary in this
instance to brand fakir and to de-
nounce a lie"
Proctor Denounces Statement
CINCINNATI, June 15.-Colonel
William Cooper Proctor, manager of
General Leonard Woods campaign, on
his arrival home from Chicago to-day,
sent telegram to DR.. Nicholas Muir
sy Butler, president Of Columbia Uni
t.ais!, saying tnat MS statement
gwen out yesterday relative TO Gen
.rai wood's support was wholly false
ana was given ont with malicious dis
regard for the truth.
me telegram as given out by Colo
nei Proctor reads:
Statement in the morning papers
sredited 20 YOU, relative to General
woods support, wholly false, and
mace with malicious disregard for
the truth"
=, Inc Senatorial influence, the same
cement mat has prevented a ratifica-
uon Of the peace treaty, was respon-
s. .oie Tor General Woods failure to OBJ
pin the nomination." said Colonel
Says Butler Is Disappointed
boffALO, June l5.-"The statement
" VI. NICHOLAS Murray Butler assail-
=