Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 September 1908 — TAFT IN RE. FORAKER [ARTICLE]

TAFT IN RE. FORAKER

President Takes a Hand in the Controversy Started', by Editor Hearst. GIVES TO THE PRESS A LETTER Written by the Judge with Reference to the Senator REFUBED TO SUPPORT FOBAKER Hia Reasons for Refusal— Senator Defers His Reply—Editor Hearst Adds Another Chapter to the Haskell Matter Oyster Bay. N. Y., Sept. 22.—Secre tary Loeb has given to representatives of the press ft formal statement by the president which was called forth by the recent exchanges between William R. Hearst and Senator Foraker, of Ohio, in the president’s statement. Roosevelt makes another appeal for the support of Taft, and declares that his defeat would bring “lasting satis faction to but one set of men—namely, to thus* men who. as shown In the corrospomlencc published by Mr. Hearst, were behind Mr. Foraker, the opponent of Mr. Taft within his own party, and who i re now behind Governor Haskell and his associates, the opponents of Mr. Taft in the opposite party.”

Strong Pressure on Taft. The statement embodies a letter written by Taft to a friend in Ohio on July 20, 1!X)7, in which the present Republican candidate for the presidency refused to ncqtiiese in the plan of the Ohio slate central committee to In dorse Tuft for the presidency and Foraker for re-election to the senate in a single resolution. The president says he personally knows “that the strong est pressure by various partly leaders was brought on Mr. Taft at that time to consent to the proposed arrangement, and he was Informed by leading men from other states that if he would consent to tills arrangement all oppo sttion on the part of Foraker, and on the part of some of Foraker’s influential friends in the senate and elsewhere would cease, and that Taft’s nomination for the presidency would In* assured. But Taft declined for one moment to consider any possible advantage to himself where what he regarded as a great principle wag at stake.”

, Foraker led the Opposition: After declaring Taft eminently fit on account of his “fearles® and aggressive honesty” to champion the rights of the people, the president says: "Senator Foraker has beeu a leader among those menjfiers of congress of both parties who 'have resolutely opposed the great policies of internal reform for which the administration has made itself responsible. • * * * Senator Foraker represents only the forces which in eTnhittered fashion fought the nomination of Mr. Taft and wbieh were definitely deprived of power within the Republican party when Mr. Taft was nominated. * * * There is but one way to preserve and perpetuate the great reforms, the great advances In righteousness and upright and fair dealing, which have marked the management of the affairs of the national government during the last seven years, and that Is by electing Mr. Taft.”

REFUSES TO SUPPORT FORAKER Judge Taft's Letter Says a Matter of Principle Is Involved. Judge Taft’s letter is published, the president says, without the Judge’s knowledge. The letter was written July 80, 1907, and the addressee's name is suppressed. It says: “In respect to one inquiry of yours, I wish to ex.press myself with as much emphasis as possible—that is whether 1 would object to a compromise resolution which shall include an indorsement of myself for the presidency and Senator Foraker for the senatorship. In my judgment it would be not only a great mistake—something more. It would be accepted necessarily as a compromise on my behalf. • * * It would totally misrepresent my position.

“I don’t care for the presidency If it has to come by compromise with Senator Foraker or anyone else In a matter of principle. He has opposed the vital policies and principles of the administration. and in bis opposition has seised upon and magnified an important but incidental matter to embarrass the administration, using in this without scruple a blind race prejudice to accomplish his main purpose. • * * “It is not on my part » question of personal feeling with respect to Senator Foraker. It Is really a question of political principle. In respect to this the legislature of Ohio expressed what I believe to be the sentiment of the people of Ohio In a resolution asking the senator to support the rate bill. Senator Foraker declined to follow this resolution. When the issue is whether he shall be returned it must be determined, If this la to be a representative form of government, not by the question whether be bat fallowed bis couscicuce, but by the question whether be really represents the principles that his constituents desire supported and put Into practice. • • • "Representing the policies of the administration I cannot stultify raysaif by acquiescence In any proposed compromise which necessarily involves the

admission that the Republicans of Ohio regard this fundamental difference of opinion as of no Importance and one that can be waived in the Interest of party harmony or the settlement of factional difference.* * • Because I believe In these principles, and because in my judgment the Republicans 6t the stnte ( and nation are overwhelmingly in favor of them. I cannot favor any action by members of the committee who do me the hbnor to support me and wish to aid me which will have tin? appeuranee of acquiesence In the proposed compromise.” In bis letter accompanying the forego’Dg the president makes the following reference to the presidential Issues: “Mr. Taft’s candidacy is not based upon large and vague promises, part of which would be Impossible of achievement and part of which would be absolutely mischievous to the peo pie of the whole country if put into es feet. His candidacy is based upon his great record of actual achievement.”

NO REPLY YET BY FORAKER Not Fond of the Company of the President, Anyway. Cincinnati, Sept. 22. —United States Senator Foraker stated last night that owing 1o the lateness of the hour he would not make any reply to the statement issued by President Roosevelt relative to the position Judge Taft had taken on the matter of the indorsement of Foraker for re-election. The- suggestion was made that hi* might wish his answer to apjiear in tha editions of the newspapers of the country in which the presidents statement would he published. Foraker iu reply said: "I am not so fond of the president’s company as that.” He further said that he might make a statement, today if. after consideration, he deemed a reply necessary.

BRYAN IS VERY AGGRESSIVE Strikes Out Vigorously at the Republican Leaders and Party Buffalo, N. Y„ Sept. 22.—“ The president has seen fit to give the Republican candidate another indorsement. Tt seems that I am running against two Republicans instead of one, but our platform is so plain and the purpose of our party Is so well expressed In that platform that I am prepared to meet the argument of one or both of them.” Hurling defiance at his Republican opponents Rryan speaking here before immense audiences, so declared himself.

Democracy’s leader reached this,clty at 7:08 p. m. following the hardest day of his campaign. Cheering crowds nt the station, and which lined the streets, greeted him all the way to the hotel, where he remained but a few minutes before he was whisked to Humboldt park in an automobile, where he spoke to a vast throng. From the park he went to Convention hall, which was packed by thousands, while outside were quadruple the number, necessitating a brief overflow talk. From the moment he began speaking In this state at Brockton, until he had concluded his remarks here, the Democratic candidate took the bit in his teeth and assailed at every turn President Roosevelt. Taft and the Republican leaders. He spoke of the conflict which" he an UP-existed between the president ami the Republican managers of congress, replied specifically to certain queries propounded to him in an open letter in the Chicago Tribune, attacked thepresident for what be said wari his failure to enforce the antitrust laws, and from which he said the president could notescapo; charged the Republicans with turning the financial system over to Wall street, and finally poured a volley of denunciation Standard Oil company. Fallowed by cheering and applauding crowds Bryan proceeded to his car in the Michigan Central station, from which place he left at 11:50 p. m. for Detroit.