New-York tribune., 1922-04-19
Reed Says Talk
Wilson Recalls
Never Was Held
rlatlv Con,radic.s State
men, Recounting Alleged
Insult to Senator OH His
Course ON Reserve Bill
Break Stirs Democrats
Fear Expressed Attack on
Missourian May Extend
the Party DISCRIMINATION
yrc-, II. T~4ouae's Washington Bureou

the fartV reorganization
r-c-, TSe Tribume's Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON. April Ex-senator
Reed. Of Missouri, in statement given
ont to-day. replied sharply 10 the let
.ey written by former President Will
son 10 the editor of The St Louis
Globe Democrat in which Mr.. Wilson
st,scked the Senator aud denied ever
having written a letter thanking Scna.
Tor Reed for his services in perfecting
snd passing the Federal Reserve bill.
Senator Reed declares Mr.. Wilson's
rsecllecton is sadly deficient" and he
r-oduces facsimile of tho Wilson let
ter and signature. He says. too, The
letter was scattered broadcast in the
1915 campaign. In the letter. written
october %, 1918. Mr. Wilson thanks
him "warmly and sincerely"
He also charges that Mr.. Wilson not
aaly has completely forgotten a letter
,-hich he wrote, bat that he remembers
"a compensation WHICH never took
ulace." In his letter Mr.. Wilson said
Reed about his course on the Federal
Reserve bill :o tell him he had mount
ed severn horses and ridden off in
every direction.
Denies Wilson lnsuited Him
Denying that any conversation ever
took place, Senator Reed says it can
hardly be believed "the amiable and
polite Wilson of 1915" would have
a. i-s
adds;
chose who know me we'll will
scarcely believe that would tamely
submit to the gross insult, even from
50 great a man as Mr.. Wilson was at
that time
The attack by Mr.. Wilson on Sena-
tor Reed caused n great stir in Senate
Democratic circles to day Fears were
expressed lest 1t would extend Demo
cratic Reorganization still further
than is already the case. Some time
ago the Senate Democratic leaders de-
ciicd. in view of Senator Reeds abil-
itv and in view Of their personal lik-
ing for him. to support him, or at
least to do nothing to help his oppo-
nent, Breckenridge Long. Hence there
Is a disposition to lament the Wilson
attack in Senate Democratic quarters
Moreover. the fact that the criticism
OF Senator Reed by Mr.. Wilson follows
The Wilson reputation of Joseph P
Tumuty's statement given out at the
recent Cox dinner in New York has
caused many of the Democrats to feel
they are entering the Congressional
campaign much handicapped.
Did Not Claim Wilson Backing
Senator Reed prefaces his statement
- ~,
wether, which was the occasion of Mr..
Wilson's anti Reed utterances SEN
ator Reed quotes the Meriwether let
ter IN full to show that it was not
Intended to indicate he was claiming
the Wilson Endorsement or to conceal
the fact he differed on many occasions
from Wilson. Senator Reed then says:
"A mere reading of the foregoing
article will convince any candid mind
that the MeriWether article was not
Intended to create the impression that
former President Wilson and myself
held the same ideals or that I was
claiming TO have his Endorsement. On
the contrary, the Meriwether article
plainly sets forth that | have differed
from the President on many occasions
and that had pursued an independent
course
"Meriwether's letter, however, con-
iained the following statements: in so
far as Wilson stood for the funda-
mental principles Of Democracy he had
the ardent support Of Senator Reed.
myself have seen letter which Presi-
dent Wilson wrote Senator Reed for
ilnally thanking him for the great serv-
ices the Senator rendered in perfecting
and passing the Federal Reserve bill
TO that statement Mr. Wilson re-
~
having written such 4 letter. On the
contrary, / clearj, remember that Mr.,
Reed as a member Of the Banking and
Currency Committee interposed every
possible objection to the completion
and adoption of the bill, ct cetera.'
Shows Facsimile of Wilson Letter
Former President Wilson's recollec-
Son is sadly deficient. Here is fac
smile slightly reduced in size by the
Photographerl Of President Wilson'S
'stter and signature;
Not only is this true, but in the
campaign Of 1916 permission was asked
ana granted for the use of this letter
IN my campaign when 7 was running on
me same ticket with President Wilson
.nd ardentIy supporting him. Tens of
thousands Of copies of the letter were
circulated at that time. 1t was, in
Tact scattered broadcast
Mr.. Wilson states that interposed
every possible objection to the compile
uon and adoption Of the banking and
eurrency till. The fact is the prnc-
pal dispute between the President and
myself regarding tha4 bill arose over
,,he question whether the financial and
BUSINESS interests Of the country
should be given tho privilege of com
he