Newspaper Page Text
V ot - LXX....N 0 23*291.
FOREST FIRES STILL
THREATENING IN WEST
Haff Dozen More Villages En
dangered, but None Touched
Yet by Flames.
FIFTY KNOWN TO BE DEAD
Over 100 Missing and 200 In
jured — Thirty Fire Fighters
Trapped and Thought to
Have Perished.
Spokane. Wash.. Aug. 22,-With more
than fifty persons known to be dead.
more than one hundred missing, two
hundred injured, half of Wallace burned
Pnd two or three villages obliterated,
forest fires continue to threaten death
Mid destruction to-night over a larcre
territory in Northern Idaho. Eastern
Washington and Western Montana. Half
* dozen villages are threatened by the
-,ames. and their inhabitants by hun
dreds are hurrying to places of safety.
Relief trains are helpless in many cases.
owing to burned bridges and fires that
lap the tracks. Wallace is now safe and
no towns are burning.
The situation is most ■ .•■■ in the
.-.••■ region of Northern Idaho.
Reports from other parts of the North
west are more encouraging than they
■cere yesterday.
Some of the fires have been controlled,
others are less threatening in the ab
sence of wind, while in some places, the
r>.re fighters have diverted the course of
the names from towns that were threat
ened. The sew fires that have sprung
up in the last twenty-four hours have
.not proved serious thus far.
A report to-day that the Colville fire
-. Eastern Washington had broken out
with renewed energy is untrue. The fire
in the Wallowa reserve in Oregon ap
pears to be under control.
Wenah Fire Sti!' Rages.
A fire in the BTenab reserve, in South
eastern Washington, became dangerous
yesterday, and it is stiil raging with on
uiminished fury.
In Eastern Oregon, between Baker
City and La Grande, are several fires
■pfcich are doing serious damage to live
limber.
-. — . ft .—. — n -<-= i n West
-•• ,---;:■ ■ --" ' regon and in
■ Ltifornia it the re not
■ -
Despite the efforts of 750 fire flghter?.
among whom are 250 more regular sol
fl prs frr?m American Lake. Wash., who
arrived to-day, none of the fires ha? been
P'Jt out.
I the sn«i rtainable hare been
[rafted at sc ickfire arid
■
The - -- = in Southern Oregon, in many
cases. are said to be of incendiary origin.
ThiP has :<■--- a matter of general go?
pjp In Medfoi I for several days, but it
■was officially published to-day through
d:syatches from Washing
ICo hor*«? of rain yet •= given by the
United States Weather Bureau. The
prediction of the district forecaster for
in-right and to-morrow is for fair
weather throughout Washington, Ore
gon and Idaho.
A brush fire • night ie racing across
tbe southwest limits of laootna. It is
going seven hundred feet an hour be
for a ?hirty-five-mile wind. Oakland, a
Eubnrb of workingmen's homes, is threat
ened. Unless the flames are checked
Regent's Park, ■ fashionable suburb, »ill
raffer.
Thirty Missing at Camp-
Thirty men out of a i new of forty
s"vcn fire fighters in charge of Forest
Ranger Lee Hollingshead are missing:.
«Tid are believed to have perished Satur
c"sy night, when their camp on Bis ("reek,
a tributary of the SI Joe River, sixteen
miles fr<j:n Ar^vy. Idaho, was swept by
flame?.
News of the loss of the men was
brourht to Spokane to-day by W. D.
iltLi !lar.. a newspaper photographer.
il<-Le!!an was one of the relief party
■"hich made the trip to Big Creek on
Sunday t.o rescue survivors. The heat
was so .-'--' that the party was un
'-■'-• approach the spot where the
• amp had stood.
According to the seventeen survivors
who reached Aver;.", the Tire came on
lh c m while they were sleeping, and they
■were surrounded by flames. The men
scattered and ran for safety. Little hope
ip **ntertair*:d by the seventeen thai their
companions survived.
At J'-ast five farmers are dead at New
port, Wash-, and severs? pen - pen
r«=-nder^d trmporariiy insane. Mrs.
Ernest Reinhardt broke sway from her
rrscuers aft»»r th«»y had borne her from
h p r burning home, and madly rushed
into The flames. Fire is still threatening
X«=-» port.
Soldiers nf the 25th United States In
fantry, negro, who are patrolling Wai
!a< e. Idaho, under the direction of Mayor
Han.«n, have b*"-en ordered to shoot
larsdals. whose depredations have be
come- serious.
<"hjrago, Milwaukee & Puget Bound
refugee trains through the burned
region are furnished with guards of
?t-sto «ol<3i* > rg.
Praiae for Negro Troops.
The discipline, valor and general effl
dency of the ■ si" troops are eliciting
the highest praise from residents of the
burned an~a.
A westbound train of the Northern
'"Juific reached - kane to-day after an
• g run through the flames. Every
car v.as scorched.
At Liberty Lake, a summer resort,
eighteen miles from Spokane, several
f - v *ttag-es have been burned.
The £t. Jo- and the St. Marie valleys,
in the heart of •>.- richest timber belt
fa Idaho, are swept by flames. Already
'•ne hundred homesteaders have been
burned «, u t. Five hundred men are fight
i'ig the blaze. St. Joe River steamboats
?re kept ready to take people to safety.
''"Hid. seventeen miles from Helena, is
entirely surrounded by ares, Wilburus,
just over tn«- mountain from Gould, is
•'-<> threatened, and the inhabitants are
tearing the town.
A - ;—i;d-nt gives the i
Cuatiuutrd u u third puce
■ . _ ■ . ri~V'- '"■-? ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ -■■■" . i ..-
To-day, part l.i «-Irui«lT-
VioiTrTu to-night or tn-Tnorrorr.
BURGLARS TURN ON GAS
Fumes Almost Prove Fatal to
Half a Dozen Persons.
Second story men or yeggymen of a
particularly vicious type have been
I ■line, in the country homes of New
York people in Connecticut recently, and
last Friday they nearly succeeded in
asphyxiating half a dozen persons at the
place of Charles E. Bedford, manager
of the marine oil department of the
Standard Oil Company, near Green's
Farms.
Abou* midnijrht Friday, after Mr.
Bedford's family and guests had grone
to bed. f«'o men came to The Lookout,
his country place, and entered the house
by *ay of the second gallery and an
open bedroom -window. Their first move
was lo turn on all the gas jets in four
htdrooms on tlv* second floor, occupied
i- Mr. Bedford's guests, three of his
children and two nurse?. Then they
went down and opened the front door,
ready for their escape, took some cigars
and returned to ransack the rooms.
The cigars and some, small change
■were all they got. for one of the woman
gnests awoke and her screams fright
ened them away and aroused the others
of the household to their danger.
MANY DIE J^ROM CHOLERA
Death List in Itaty Increasing —
Disease's Spread Denied.
Bari. Italy. Aug. 22. — Reports from
The , holera infected districts show that
in the last twenty-four hours there were
r.:ne new cases and thirteen deaths at
Trani. ten cases and four deaths at Bar
letta. three cases and one death at An
dria. three cases and one death at Mar
gherita Savoia, one case and one dt-ath
at Oerignola. one death at San Ferdi
nando and four cases and two deaths at
TrinitapolL
I>enia! is given to rumors that cases
of cholera have been found in places
that hitherto had been declared free of
the dist/as^.
SWAM WITH LEG BROKEN
Gets to Shore Safely After Being
Carried Out 50 0 Yards.
James Mack, a salesman, of Xo. 540
Gates avenue. Brooklyn, swam five hun
dred yards through the waters of Ja
maica Bay yesterday with a broken leg.
He was going aboard the steamer Cim
bria at the Steeplechase dock. Rockaway
Beach, when he stumbled and fell into
the water, carrying the gangplank with
him. The plank struck and partiy
stunned him. 50 that the strong tide
which was running at the time carried
him far from shore before he could get
hie bearings
When Mack started to swim toward
shore be found that he was unable to
lift his right leg. By a painful effort.
however, he was able to reach the dock.
Having been hauled out of the water
the salesman made an effort to rise to
his feet but toppled over. An ambulance
was summoned from St. Joseph's Hospi
tal. Far ■ Rnckaway, and Dr. r»erlow-e
found that the mans lee had been fract
ured in two places.
SIBLEY WITHDRAWS
m Health Said to Have Influ
enced Congressman.
[By Telegraph to Tbe Trflione ]
Franklin. Perm.. Aug. 22.—Northwest
ern Pennsylvania was astonished to-day
when the announcement came from the
borne of • ongressman Joseph Sibley of
• • . 281 l I -"" T . that he had withdrawn
from r )-e race for re-election. It is
given "ut that th<- health of Mr. Sibley
1? foiling fast, and that his physicians
will not permit him to make the fight.
-aid they also tried to dissuade him
from making the ranvass against Con
gressman Nelson P Wheeler, whom he
defeated aft* ■ bitter fight. "While
Wheeler raav now p^ek the nomination.
it is thought that James P. Whltla.
father of the once kidnapped Willie
v ■ • ■ nominee.
CAN'T WEITE LOVE LETTERS
Man, Wife and Court Convince Swiss
His Romance Must End.
The bright Swiss sun shone resplendent
on a pretty nosk on the shores of L<tke
Geneva four ears ago. A man and woman,
•> ■~ • carts, stood watching a party of
S-* i« man-o'-warsmen po through their
pace* in 1 row boat drill. The man was so
fired with patriotism that he was moved to
a=k the girl for herh c r hand. Bhe gave him a
lo.'k of her golden hair.
Tim<= went by. The man. Paul Be<-ker,
and the gir! .-•-- Backer came to New
York and went to » ■'"'' for a baker in The
Bronx. The girl also came over and later
married John if.z-r-.-.if- They went to
live at No. 4«i East 16?* th street.
While out walking' recently Paul met the
girl «>f hip heart by accident, and found
- -.. ■ the store in which lie worked was not
far from where she lived. Fhe told him
that she was married, but Paul, she says,
■wrote her fi-ry lo\e letters, in each of •which
Ihe sent a strand of her hair. She and her
hsisband finally had him haled to the Mor
ripsnia police court. Becker went before
Magistrate Barlow there yesterday. He
nat warned by the judpe that he must stop
wri'inj? to Mr=. Hageneder. He promised
antf was disrha rped.
GERMPROOF BANK NOTES
Bills for $50,000 Signed with Carbolic
Acid Ink Issued in Spokane.
Washington. Aug. -To the old National
Bank of Spokane, Wash., belongs the dis
tinction of circulating the first antiseptic,
pcrrnproof national banknotes. The United
States Treasury is still experimenting with
devices Intel <;• <\ to launder dirty banknotes
to bright, crisp ones, but the Spokane hank
lias the llrst sanitary money on record.
Fifty thousand dollars In bills, just put
out by th« bank, were signed with an ink
which consisted largely at carbolic add.
The result is the bills are saturated with
an agency which means •:• at ii to the
most vigorous germ.
JEWELRY THIEF CONFESSES
Chambermaid ; and Her Husband Ar
rested for Stealing Mrs. Bacon Gems.
Saint Moritz, Switzerland. Aug. 22.— The
thieves wiio on August lfc robbed Mrs. Dan
iel Bacon, if New York, of a large, amount
of Jewelry were arrested to-day and ha.v<*
confessed to the robber: They are a
chambermaid at the hotel at which Mrs.
Bacon, with her lister. Lady Gilbert Parker,
and Sir Gilbert Parker were laying, and
the maid's hu.sbanrJ. The valu. or the stolen
perns was at tirat placed at HS.(N"O. but later
reports show that ' hit figure «s much in
excess of their \alue. Tl>e jewelry; which
bad b«;»n hidden b*- the thieves ueax li-i»
tat Leeu recovered.
NEW-YORK, TUESDAY, AUGUST 23, 1910.-
SURGEONS SEW UP
HEART OF A MAN
Heroic Operation on a Waiter
Stabbed in Fight with Angry
Customer.
PATIENT IS SLEEPING WELL
Gouverneur Hospital States It
Will Probably Be Seventh
Successful Case of
Its Kind.
An heroic operation v.as performed at
Gouverneur Hospital last night in a des
perate attempt to save the life of Sam
uel Harman. a waiter, ■who was stabbed
through the heart during a fipht in the
restaurant where Harman is employed.
The operation, which consisted of sew
ing up the heart, was performed by Dr.
John F. Erdman, visiting surgeon of the
hospital and professor of the Post
graduate Hospital, assisted by Dr. Rus
sell, the house surgeon, and Drs. Cheat
ham. Cox and Lee. of the house staff.
After the operation it was stated that
this would probably make the seventh
successful operation of its kind ever per
formed, and it was due to Harman's
splendid physique and good health that
the operation was attempted. An hour
after the operation was performed the
patient was enjoying a very comfort
able sleep.
Harman is twenty-one years old and
his h.,me is at No. 33% Stanton street.
Patrolman <'ampbell. of the Madison
street station, arrested Samuel Jasper, a
canvasser, living at .Mills Hotel No, _.
and charged him with stabbing Harman.
Campbell says Jasper objected to the
quality of the soup with which he was
served at the restaurant at No. 169 East
Broadway and angry words were ex
changed. Th< n. says Campbell. Jasper
picked up a knife and thrust it into Har
man's breast. The point of the knife
was found to have penetrated the heart
for fully half an inch.
When Dr. Lee. who responded to the
ambulance call, took Harman to the
hospital. Dr. Russell, the house surgeon,
decided that an operation, if performed
immediately, might save the injured
man's life. He telephoned to Dr. Erd
man. whom he found at his home. No.
60 West 52d street, and Dr. Erdman
agreed with him as to the advisability
of an operation.
Dr Russell injected .VW) cubic centi
metres of saline fluid into the radial
vein of the left arm while waiting for
the surgeons tn arrive, and when they
came the saline solution had brought
about the desired result. The man's
heart action "3 = strong enough to per
mit the uf° <>f ansethetics. which are
seldom used in operations of this rare
character.
An Incision stx inches long was made
between the ribs, next to the superficial
wound, and the peril ordinal exposed.
The critical moment of the "Deration
was at hand. The pericardium was
opened, and the blood gushed out of the
wound in the heart as from a fountain.
Quick as a flash Dr. Erdman thrust his
thumb on the wound, checking the flow
of blood, and wtth a deftness that almost
baffl<-d the trained eyes of the watchers
he took twelve stitches in Vhe heart, com
pletely sewing: up the wound.
The opinion of the physicians was that
because of the promptness of the opera
tion and Harman's splendid physical
condition he has an excellent chance to
live.
PRETTY SYRIAN WONT WED
Claims Privileges as American,
Opposing- Parents' Will.
Paterson, N. J.. Aug. L'l\— Charles S.
Gall. Registrar of Vital Statistics, re
fused to give Miss Mahdia Haider, a
pretty Syrian of nineteen, a marriage
license to-day because she would not
sign the application unless she had a
year to decide whether or not she wished
to enter the matrimonial state.
The young woman, who lives with her
parents at No. til Ellison street, has
firmly resolved she will marry whomso
ever she pleases and at any time she se
lects, or she will die a spinister.
Shortly after 1«> o'clock this morning
Miss Haider, together with her parents
and Hassen Abou Abas, her prospective
husband, a drygoods merchant in Crooks
ton. Minn., entered Registrar Gall's
office and asked for a license. Mr. Gall
ushered them Into the reception room
and propounded the questions required
by law to the prospective bridegroom,
which were answered promptly. Miss
Haider was not so anxious to answer.
Finally she cried: "I won't sign my
name: I am being forced into this mar
riage by my father, and I don't want
to marry this man. I don't want to go
away out West with this man without
first becoming better acquainted. I
don't love him enough yet to take the
marriage vow."
NEARrRICH. BUT STARVING
Heir to Fortune Fed by Police While
Establishing His Claim.
[By Telegraph to The Tribune |
Pittsburg, Aug. -Robert Hall White, of
Sheboygan, Wis., -who lias just about
proved to the proper authorities Ms right
to the *4">.ooo estate of his sister. Miss
I^aura White, who died here within the last
year, is being given shelter and food by the
police or Pittsburg to-night. He told the
officers to-day that he had walked the
streets of Plltsburg without food for the
last two dt.ys and nights, even his watch
having been pawned recently to procure
food while he was proving himself to be
the brother of Plttsburg'a former famous
recluse. Miss White, who was found dead
in her ho-ne with her body parti] eaten by
rats. It hi thought that the man now
receiving charity will in a few days come
Into poMMSslon of the entire fortune.
MINISTER COMBS ILL AT LIMA.
Lima. Auk. 22.— Leslie Combs, the Ameri
can Minister to Peru, is ill here, but his
condition is not considered dangerous.
AN ARREST FOR EMBEZZLEMENT.
Manila, Aug. -- ■- C. CurttH Hill was ar
rested here to-day on the request of the
California authorities. He is charged with
embuizlftTicnt. Although tie denies his guilt
he v, ill not oppose extradite a
TAFT DENIES BREAK WITH ROOSEVELT;
DID NOT FAVOR SHERMAN AS CHAIRMAN
President's Repudiation of the
4< old Guard" Welcomed at
Oyster Bay.
PLANS AS YET UNSETTLED
Ex-President Says Shermans
Request for Conference Was
Received After Com
mittee" s Action.
<>:?t"r Bay. Aug. 22.— 0n the eve of
his departure for the West. Colonel
Roosevelt spent a day not the least
eventful of those that ha\e crowded
upon him since his return to polities.
Overshadowing everything else was the
full text of President Taffs letter, not
received here until this evening, al
though there had been earlier intima
tions of what might be expected.
After reading the letter Mr. Roose
velt gave out this statement:
I am very glad to see President Taffs
statement, and am pleased with it.
Before the meeting of the state com
mittee I had repeated!/ expressed to
various leaders not merely my willing
ness, but my desire, to see them. Since
the meeting I have not thought that
there was any particular object in meet
ing them, as. owing to their action, the
situation had become such as to admit of
no compromise, and I bad nothing to add
to what I had already said. I may add
that I have not changed my mind now_
My position is perfectly definite, and I
have noth;ng to change in it. I had
never desired the chairmanship, and con
sented to have my name considered on
condition only that, in platform and can
didates alike, the party should endeavor
to achieve success in the only way worth
trying. That is. by deserving, by mak
ing it evident that the Republican party
of the State of New York intends in
good faith to se-ve the interests of all
the people of the state.
I cannot speak definitely at the mo
ment of my whole plans, because I do
not know how far the situation will be
changed by the President's letter, and so
I can say nothing more definite to-night.
Representative Nicholas Longworth,
Mr. Roosevelt's son-in-law, arrived at
Sagamore Hill about noon, and spent
the afternoon in earnest talk. To all in
quiries he replied that his call was
merely one upon "a portion of my fam
ily." and he insisted that h* was not the
bearer of any message from the Presi
dent; but his conversation with his
father-in-law was so absorbing that the
usual afternoon game of la* n tennis v. aa
perforce omitted.
Collector Loeb on Wire.
Their interview h.ad barely «nded when
the telephone bell tinkled, and Collector
Loeb railed from New York to tell his
old chief the contents of the President's
letter. Mr. Roosevelt was greatly
pleased to hear the news.
When the full text of the letter ar
rived the colonel answered briefly, but
onhesitatingiy all questions upon pas
saees that seemed to need explanation
When asked if Mr. Sherman had car
ried out his agreement with President
Taft to confer with Mr. Roosevelt, or if
he had been invited to do so, the colo
nel replied that he had received a writ
ten request for such a conference, dated
before the meeting of the state commit
tee, but 'hat It was not at hand until
after the meeting
He had replied to Mr. Sherman's let
ter that, in view of the action of the
committee, a later -inference seemed
unnecessarj ■
Didn't Hear of Senator Root.
whPn president Taffs statement that
no other name than Senator Roofs had
been mentioned to him as a possible
candidate in opposition waa called to Mr.
Roosevelt's attention he was asked if he
had ever heard Senator Roofs name in
that connection before.
-No.- he answered with emphasis, and
went on with the letter.
Representative Longworth. he said.
had endeavored. »* he promised the
President, to bring about a conference
with Mr Sherman. The colonel had re
plied to him. aa he had to Mr. Sherman
himself, that it was too late.
ticent as to New York and national
ooliUca Representative Lonswnrth talked
freely of the situation In Ohio, his home
atate. "It will be a close fight," he ad
mitted thoughtfully.
•Democrats charge the tariff, he con
tinu ed, -with the increase in the cort
of living, although on many of the aru
derf that have appreciated the tariff
W9M actually lower. When we f uHy dis
cuaa the-- Issues T think the Repub
tkanfl m Ohio will be able to win out on
Election Day."
Mr Roosevelt has completed all ar
rangements to leave here to-morrow
nill rning at about 7 o'clock for New
York Hi? trip through Long Island will
b« hv automobile, and Representative
Longworth will accompany him. In
New York Citj the -<.lon<! will take the
10 30 a- m. train !*<-r the West via the
New York Central Railroad. Represen
tative Lon*TWorth will remain for a f*»w
days in New fork.
NO COMMENT FROM SHERMAN
•I Have Nothing Whatever to
Say." He Declares.
Utica. N v Al "< 22.— Vice-President
Sherman was seen by an Associated
Press representative at his home here
to-nighi and advised ol the letter by
l-r. sident Taft and the statements by
ex-President RooaeveM and Mr. Gris
com.
He said he did nut desfee to sen 1 OOiei
ol them, and declined absolutely te make
any sort ol comment or expression in
reference to the matter He simply de
clared:
•I have nothing whatever to say."
Mr. Sherman is not going to New York
to-morrow, but will go to Water town,
N. V., on business, and will not see Colo
nel Roosevelt when h« <<>uT»s here to
morrow to address the Grangers. He
starts West Friday on ■ tour of cam
paign speaking.
LOW BATES TO TORONTO FAIR
\u- 3lßt >12. 55 *ia W*6Bt Shore: 113 SO via
New yYork Central. 'Phone ti«lu— Madi
son. -Advt.
-TWELVE PAGES.
PRESIDENT TAFTS LETTER TO MR. GRISCOM.
Beverly, Mass.. August 20. 19 1 0.
My Dear Mr. Grucom: As you know from your telephone conversations
with my office. I have steadily refused to admit the prooriety or r • ■ -
of the President's replying to oewsp.per statements which are not based on
any act or authorize^ *word of his and have no sponsor. I am entirely ng.
however, to reply categorically to your t-legram of August 19. which has just
arrived, and which is as follows:
I am informed and believe that several members of . .he {Jew
York Republican State Committee who voted for Vice- President Sher
man over -President Roosevelt, as nominee for temporary chairman
of state convention were influenced by statements t.-at the V.cc-
Pres.dent's name was presented to defeat Colonel Roosevelt •" •-
cordance with your wish. A member of the state committee declared
to me before the meeting that Mr. Sherman's candidacy had been ; ar
ranged with you by telephone the previous day. Efforts have oe
made to create an imoress.on that you favor a particular candidate
for election as state chairman. u;~u r«««m-
I want you to know that the injection of the name of a high mem
ber of your administration into a f.ct.ona! confl.ct has £™ uced . *
• most complicated situation, and the absence of any aut £» r '^' ve in
formation as to your attitude is seriously mislead. many H«P"°
licans and impairing a movement for progressive party 'eadership
and clean government in this state. I know you <*"'«» v to have a
fair field, and hope that this may be made clear to the public.
• The suggestion that I have ever expressed a wish to defeat Mr. Roosevelt
for the temporary chairmanship of the convention, or have ever taken the
slightest step to do so. is wholly untrue. I never heard Mr. Sherman s name
suggested as temporary chairman of the state convention until I saw ,n the
newspapers of August 16 that he had been selected at the meeting of the com
mittee. When you called at my house Saturday evening, August 13, you told
me that Mr. Roosevelt intended to go to the convention as a delegate, and you
suggested incidentally his being made temporary chairman-a suggest-on in
which I acquiesced. It did not occur to me that any one would oppose it.
This was the first time the subject of the temporary chairmanship was men
tioned to me by any one. You did not ask me to take any act.on whatever
with respect to it. After a full discussion of the New York State s.tuat.on, 1
drafted in your presence the following telegram and sent it to Mr. Sherman:
Beverly. Mass.. August 14. 1910.
Honorable James S. Sherman, Vice-President. Utica. N. V _ nf _ r
Please say to Ward and Woodruff that I have had a long confer
ence wf" Gnscorr He confirms my judgment already expressed to
you that the whole situation in New York may be saved without
humiliation to any one and with victory for the party by a full con
ference with Mr. Roosevelt, and reasonable concess.ons with rererence
tO P Th.°thinß n of C an d others-that ought to be avoided is a controversy
in the convention. I am told by Mr. Griscom that such a confer
ence with Mr. Roosevelt might conveniently be had and would *»£•'
corned by him before the state committee meets on Tuesday. Hope
C you e y babble to report satisfactory **•*"«*•« °"
Wednesday. WILLIAM n. -
On the afternoon of Monday, August 15, Mr. Sherman telephoned me from
New York, and for the first time apprised me of the fact that there was a
proposal to oppose Mr. Roosevelt for the temporary chairmansh.p. and that
'with Mr. Root's name. No other name than Mr. Root's was mentioned I
protested against the idea of a contest on such a matter, peremptorily de
dined to be drawn into a fight against Mr. Roosevelt and .gam renewed my
urgent advice that there be prompt and full personal conference with Mr.
Roosevelt before the committee meeting, with a view to securing harmony
and victory for the party.
Mr Sherman called upon me here on the 17th instant to meet an engage
ment of a week's standing made with him and Mr. Loudenslager. to discuss
the Congressional campaign textbook. Mr. Loudenslager was prevented
from coming by an illness. During the conference with Mr. Sherman I told
him that I deplored the result of the meeting of the New York state com
mittee, because, unless the break were repaired, it meant division between
New York Republicans, and probable defeat. Upon leaving me, Mr. Sherman
agreed to go into a conference with Mr. Roosevelt, proved he were mv.ted
to do so, with a view to adjusting the situation if possible even at that .ate
date Mr. Nicholas Longworth was present and said he would send a telegram
to bring about a conference. What the result has been I do not know.
Finally, in your telegram received this morning you state that efforts
Have been made to create the impression that I favor a particular cand.date
for election as state chairman. This is absolutely untrue. I have expressed
no opinion', en the subject since an effort was made last winter by he New
York Congressional delegation to secure Mr. Woodruff's retirement, -hid.
fa ' !e | damd 'am very sorry indeed to observe columns of unfounded assertions in
the newspaners concerning my attitude in respect to the New York situation.
You "ow. rcwever, as well as other New York leaders, that whenever my
Lvice or askance in reaching a satisfactory adjustment of the difficulties
ariTng has been sought . have urged the necessity for the fu. lest conference
with Mr Roosevelt by the members of the organirat.cn. and. with due defer
ence to honest difference of opinion, have expressed the view which . at*
entertain that the solution of the direct primary issue can be found in pro
enterta n, that to those of the Cobb bill. - amen in accord with the
v.s.ons s.m.lar -to . thoae seth Low. Mr. Joseph Choate and otner prominent
memorial signed by Mr. aetn uo . T AFT
Republicans of New York City. Sincerely yours, WILLIAM H. TAFT.
SITUATION SATISFIES PRESIDENT
Congressman Cocks, a Visitor at Beverly, Gives Some
Inside Political History.
[By Th» Associated Press.]
Beverly. 'Mass.. Aug. 22.-A visit to
President Taft from Representative TV.
W Cocks, of the Oyster Bay district in
Congress, and one of Mr. Roosevelt's
closest friends and advisers, came as a
forerunner in Beverly to-day to what
occurred in New York and Oyster Bay
tonight.
Mr Cocks immediately upon his ar
rival indicated that a better under
standing was soon to be had. and de
clared without equivocation that there
would be no break between President
Taft and Mr. Roosevelt.
Mr Cocks said that he did not come
as an emissary from Mr. Roosevelt, and
that his visit here was Incidental to a
trip to New Hampshire to see some rela
tives. He was glad, however, to take
the opportunity to acquaint the Presi
dent further with the exact situation in
New York State politics and at Oyster
B After the conference at Burgess
President Taft said that his talk with
Mr cocka had been most satisfactory.
: He rather significantly called atten
tion to the fact that Mr. Cocks, being a
Quaker, was essentially a man of peace.
No comment was obtainable In Bev
erly to-night. It was said that the
President's letter spoke for Itself.
Mr Tafi at no time has felt called
upon to answer anonymous or veiled at
tacks.
Left It to Mr. Griscom.
When Mr. Grtocom telegraphed him a
definite statement of what had trans
pired in the New York State Commit
tee Mr Taft decided to write a letter.
As'to making that letter public he left
it entirely to Mr. Griscom and his ad
visers.
From the first the President insisted
that nothing could be given out in
Beverly.
The President's letter in many of the
dates and details given throws an inter
esting light upon a number of recent
events in Beverly.
Probably the most interesting of these
was the Interview given cut by Vice-
President Sherman Immediately follow
ing his talk with President Tait last
\\ ednesda:
On that occasion. it hi now learned,
the President told Mr. Sherman that he
deplored the action of the state commit
tee in voting down Mr. Roosevelt, and
that he wanted him to lea Mr. Roosevelt
-,,! try to arrange an Hggreement.
Mr. Sherman, when he emerged frotr
PRICE ONE CKVT
the summer White House, stated in the
most positive manner that he had no
intention of withdrawing a? temporary
chairman. and that he did not think a
movement to overturn the action of the
stele committee in the convention would
be successful.
Sherman for Harmony.
When It was suggested to him that
his withdrawal might tend to harmony.
Mr. Sherman asserted with a laugh that
he was going to -serve "in the interest
of harmony.
There is much speculation here to
night as to what the future rda
h-t\\een the President *nd the Vkre-
Presideni are to be.
Th-it a sure enough break baa come out
of the New York situation, but that it
involves Mr. Taft and Mr. Sherman,
rather than Mr Taft and Mr. Roosevelt,
is the general opinion.
There is little doubt hPr" that Mr.
Taft and Mr. Roosevelt, working har
moniously and mliltantly in New York
State, will have matters entirely their
own way so fir as the Republican party
is concerned.
Just what figure Mr. Sherman i?» to cut
in the readjustment that Is bound to
come it la difficult to nsrur* here.
The situation is a novel one In latter
day history. The developments of the
next few weeks are awaited here with
the greatest interest.
Apparently Irreconcilable,
Trie differences between the President
and Mr. Sherman, as revealed in Mr.
Taffs letter, appear to be irreconcilable.
Mr. Taft'3 letter bears out the only
suggestion of a comment that has come
from Beverly sources since the recent
tangle began. That comment was to
the effect that the President's record in
the matter was absolutely clear.
It also appears that the President's
position was known to a number of the
leaders throughout* th s entire contro
versy.
When Lloyd C. Griscom left Beverly
for Oyster Bay after spending the night
of August IS with President Taft he
had the dispatch which the President
has sent to Vice-President Sherman ask
ing him and the leaders associated with
him to consult Mr. Roosevelt's wiahe3
before doing anything.
The President felt that this made hh*
position clear, and there is reason to be
lieve that he feels Just a little resentful
that newspaper stories were permitted
to go out of v « York and Oyster Bay
toutinuAd on »«"*-oud »i;r
In City of >«t Y«»rfc. J^r«^» CM? and Hoi*****.
EI^ETVHERK TWO CF.M"*.
T
Never Knew Vice-Presiden Was
To Be Candidate. He Says in
Letter to Griscom.
PLAIN TALK TO SHERMAN
Told Him He Deplored Result of
Meeting of State Committee
and That Defeat Migh*.
Follow a Division.
i
Correspondence between President Taft
I and Lloyd C. Griscom, president of th»
pew York Republican County Commit
j le«; following th«« meeting of the ~>-a
i publican State Committee which, reject
jed Mr. Roosevelt as temporary chair
man, was made public yesterday by ilr.
Griscom. .
It disclosed hitherto carefully hidden,
facts which, known only to a few of the
I Prosfres3ive Republicans, have caused
| them to declare that certain leaders oZ
the "old guard ' had deliberately tricked
President Tart and certain Progressives,
1 notably Mr. Griscom; had misrepresent
ed the President and sought in every
1 way possible to make a breach between
him and ex-President Roosevelt. Thosa
who felt that Mr. Sherman himself had
been tricked Into taking an attitude an
tagonistic to Mr. Roosevelt, also found
I confirmation of their views.
The letter from President Taft la Mr.
' Griscom repudiates Vice-President Sher
man as his candidate for temporary
chairman of the state committee.
The President said he never had the
slightest notion that Mr. Sherman's
i name was to be presented to the com
mittee.
He showed clearly his keen desire to
I have ex- President Roosevelt consulted
j about every move made by Republican,*
• in this state, and made public his. tele
: gram to Mr Sherman directing him.
■ State Chairman Woodruff and National
Committeeman Ward to confer with the
ex-President Lefore doin^ anything.
: Mr. Taft and Woodruff.
The President declared that he had no*
| expressed any opinion re^ardin? the
state chairmanship since the effort was
made last winter by the Congress dele
: gation to oust Woodruff.
Incidentally the President reiterated
his belief that the Republicans ouarht to
unite in support of the Cobb direct nom
inations bill. He sent a telegram of
i similar purport to Mr. Griacom during
j the extra, session of th<* Legislature, but
! that document never was made public.
j Mr. Griscom declared his expectation
| of seeing the action of the state comir.it
j tee reversed and Mr. Roosevelt elected
! to be temporary chairman of the Sara-
I toga convention, there to sound the key
| note for the state campaign-
Mr. Roosevelt already is on record as
|to what th- tone would — a clear
I trumpet note of progress.
Mr. Griscom expressed formally hi 3
' desire to co-operate with Progressive
i Republicans all over the state In a fight
{ for Roosevelt, progress and Republican
I success at the polls in Xovember.
For and Against Progress.
In stinging phrases he recalled the 3' •
• liances between Tammany Hall and '"old
guard" Republican?*, in the last two
I legislatures, and made the issue in Asm
words:
"There can he no misunderstanding of
j the position by President Taft. ex-
President Roosevelt and Governor
Hughes for Progressive leadership in th.a
party and clean government. Opposed
are Messrs. Barnes. Woodruff. Aldrid? I*,1 *,
; Ward and their associates. The voters
\ in the primaries will have an opportu
nity of making th- choice."
Mr. Griscom's statement, made public
[without comment along with President
Tait's letter, which appear 3in other col
umns, was as follows:
The methods used to accomplish ' '*
defeat of Mr. Roosevelt when his namfl
was before the state committee are no^r
lear to the public and may be ; <****
by the public.
' Those personally acquainted wiTh Mr.
Taffs views were., of coarse, never m
doubt that his advice had been snored
and that Ma attitude was misrepre
sented in order that the?*? who mi?r«p
resented him mUht appear as the de
fenders of his administration.
Says Roosevelt Wi'l Be Chosen.
I have not the slightest doubt that ths
action of the state committee will b*
; reversed and that Mr. Rooserelt, if hi*
engagements will permit him to accept,
will act a« temporary chairman of ttra
convention, making the keynota speech.
As president of the New York Repub
lican County Committee. I shall active
ly co-operatff with Republicans throu^h
! out the state who believe it in the in-
I teresta of the party that this result be
brought about.
Mr. T«fl ■ reply to my telegram dis
t closes that the ports industriously
circulated of a supposed conflict betu een
'the President and the ex- President on
| New York State matters, are baseless.
The way is clear r.C^ for the Repub
lican party in thte stat* to take step*
which will warrant and secure success
at the polls in November. It 11 evident
that some of the so-called "old sruaxd"
art not seeking Republican success at
the coming election: tliey wish to per
petuate their ontro! of rhe Republican
organization at any cost to the part
Would Have Shifted Defeat.
The defeat which their plans invited
they very willingly would have unloaded
upon the- shoulders of President Ti b>
n:aking it appear that he failed to in
dorse the policies of Governor Hug
and Mr Roosevelt in this state.
The alliance of seme of the "old
guard" leaders with Tammany Hal! .n
the last two Legislatures • m a disgrace
and should be repudiated by til party.
Substantially, all the Republican pri
maries are still to be held throughout
the state. There can be no BBiasßßSNjahj
standing of the position taken by Pre^»
dent Taft, ex-President Roosevelt an#
Governor Hushes for progressive 1.-ad
ership m the party and clean govern
ment.
Opposed are Messrs Barnes. Woodru^
Aldridge. Ward and their associate^
The voters in the primaries will have an
opportunity of making their choice.
Griscom to Ses Rooi«ve'4
Mr Griscom will see ex-President
Roosevelt This morning; before he goes
to Utica. He expects to go la Beverly
for a personal interview- with the Presi
dent soon, perhaps the latter part ot tiv%
