The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-09-28
Letter Alleged to Have Come
f0m the President.
Is Published in a Western Min.
ers' Magazine.
DENOUNCES STRIKERS.
And Endorses the Course of
Cleveland and Chicago.
Takes Steps to Run Down Per-
petratOr of the Outrage.

Butte, Mont, Sept. 2S.-When Senator
Fairbanks and his party arrived here
they found the Republican leaders con-
siderabiy exercised over the publication
in the Miners Magazine, published at
Denver by the Western Federation of
Miners OF what purports to be a de-
nunciation of labor unions by President
Roosevelt and a denial of authenticity
by the president The presidents con-
tradiction was sent to former Senator
Lee Mantle, in response to a telegram of
inquiry from him. and was as follows:
White House. Washington, Sept. 26.-
Hon Lee Mantle, Butte.
Your telegram received; the letter
you refer 10 purporting TO be addressed
by me 10 Mr. AiichaeI Donnelly and
printed in the Miners Magazine of Sep
TENDER - is, OF course, an absurd and
1mpudent forgery L have written no
such letter, nor any letter even reSem-
bling il to Mr. Donnelly nor any one
else 1 have written Mr.. Donnelly re-
Questing 10 know il he has received any
such letter and requiring him TO lay it
before the district attorney of Chicago
10 ma out whether II is possible TO dis
cover and punish the fOrgerS. (Signed),
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
The letter in which the president was
represented to have made his attack
upon union labor was addressed to Dom
nelly. president Butchers and Meat
Cutters union. of Chicago The docu-
Inent is given in full, with the presi-
dents name attached but without date
and it is stated that it was written in
response 10 an appeal by DOnnelly to
aim 10 interfere for settlement OF the
butchers strike. Following are some
extracts from it:
I stand ready to do as my iIlustrious
predecessor. Grover Cleveland, did, and
assert the power OF this nation against
all local nulliners-
n -rrFf1 Vr7sare I Tel
= letter calling upon my cOuntrymen to
put down lynching but labor union ter
IoTism and crime are as great a nation
al menace as lynch law
Let me tell you that the first duty
OF the officers OF the law, whether they
be sheriff, constable, municipal officer,
mayor. governor. or the president him
self. is TO maintain order and put down
the mob with iron nand-"
After advising DonnelIy to put a stop
TO the strike the president is represent
ed as saying:
IN any case be assured 1 will keep
my hands of unless your folly brings
YOU into collision with the laws Of the
L nited States when my hand will go on
IN a way you will not like So far as
3 m concerned you have barked up the
wrong tree 1 am not to be either
wheedled or frightened into meddling
with what is none of my business
With a speech in Anaconda and two
In this city last night, Senator Fair
banks concluded his second day in
covered the line of the Northern Pa
cif1c railroad from Billings to this
point. and the party passed from the
upper Yellowstone country into the
Gallatin valley, crossing the continent
tai divide and arriving at Butte very
little after schedule time.
IN addition TO Anaconda and Butte,
srops for speeches were made at Big
Timber. Livingstone. Bozeman and
whitehall At all of those places, ex-
cept Bozeman. practically the entire
population turned out to welcome the
vice presidential candidate and his as
socfates. and the exception at BOzeman
was caused by misunderstanding of
time of arrival At Livingston and
marshaled for especial display and
formed a noticeable feature of the
meeting
Addresses were made at all the
stops by Senators Fairbanks and Dol
liver and ex-senator Carter, and in
each instance their remarks were ire
quently punctuated by applause
In the main the speeches were along
general lines and consisted largely of
appeals to sustain existing conditions
by voting the Republican ticket At
Whitehall the train backed slightly
while Senator Fairbanks was speak
ing. and he made an instantaneous hit
by remarking. This must be a DEM
ocratic train. as il shows disposition
TO move backwards
The reception accorded the party
at Anaconda was extremely cordial.
and the Margaret theater, in which
the meeting at that point was held,
was filled to repletion- The streets
between the railroad station and the
theater were lined with people. and
much enthusiasm was displayed. The
employees from the immense smelter of
the Amalgamated Copper company
were present at the meeting in large
numbers The Panama canal Ques-
ton was among the issues discussed
at the Anaconda meeting by Senator
Fairbanks. and on that point he said;
The opposition condemns the methods
BY which the president secured necessary
rights and franchises to construct and
maintain the Panama canal but they
cheerfuIly accept the fruit of his effort
and promise to carry on the great work
The president acknowledges the indepen-
dence OF the people of Panama in the
proper exercise OF his constitutional pow
ers. He acted within our treaty rights
when Re protected the lives and property
OF American citizens upon the isthmus.