Omaha daily bee., 1907-05-06
PRESIDENT STATES HIS POSITION
simply DeSireE to see Justice in the
Haywood Case.

Haywood Case.
NEW YORK. May 5.-In a letter today
before the Central Federated union, Presi-
dent Roosevelt states that If evidence Is
submitted to him showing that there has
been a miscarriage of Justice for or against
Moyer hnd -HlywooS = awaiting u1aI al
Boise, Idaho, charged with the murder Of
former Governor steunenberg. he will bring
such evidence to the attention OF the attor-
ney general for such action, If any, as it
may be in the power of the federal au-
thorities to take.
The communication was the formal reply
of the president to the union committee
which recently called on the president and
requested HIM to set forth in general his
attitude toward the accused men and spe-
officially why he had referred to Meyer and
Haywood as undesirable citizens"
In making his report today the chairman,
John Henry said the committee had spent
more than an hour with the president, at
which time the matter in hand was thor
oughly discussed. The president sgnihed
his intention Of formally replying in the
letter which the chairman then read. Fol
lowing the reading there was an animated
discussion during which the chairman and
William Coakey another member of the
committee, stoutly championed the att-
tude Of the chief executive. 1t was finally
voted to send a copy OF the | etter to
counsel fer Meyer and Haywood. In his
reply the president quoted from a letter
written by him more than a year ago to the
attorney general in which he says that
'our duty Is az it should ever happen that
we had any power in the matter) to see
that exact justice is done these men"
The president letter follows:
THE WHITE HOUSE, Washington,
May My Dear Mr. Henry: When you
in company with Messrs Coakley and
you the letter had written to the attorney
general on March 25 1906. At your request
| gladly send you the following extract
'Our duty is df It should ever happen
that we had any power in the matter) TO
see that exact justice is done these men.
There must be no conformation OF lawless-
ness on our part, even II the lawlessness
takes the form of an effort to avenge the
wrongs committed by the lawlessuess of
others. The sole question as regards Hay
wood and Meyer must be the question
whether or not they can be shown to be
guilty Of this particular act and their le-
gal rights must be as carefully safcgU rded
as those of any other men II is alleged
that they We're cxtradited from Coo aun
in a manner that amounted to a betrayal
OF their legal rights. ] should like to have
the district attorney Of Colordo, and II
necessary, the district attorney Of Idaho,
give me such information as they can on
this point. I should like to get from the
district attorney Of Idaho any Information
that he can obtain as TO whSfhsT or not
there has been the slightest disposition
shown by the authorities in Idaho to act
toward these men in an unfair or improper
manner, or to deny them their legal rights.
"On the other hand. l should like to know
whether there is any symptom of mis-
carriage of justice I'm their favor. The
Incorporate violence with which the
socialistic labor organizations have in
sisted, without any knowledge OF the facts,
upon treating these men as martyrs 10
the cause Of labor has Unquestionably re
suited In tremendous pressure being
brought to bear upon the authorities of
Idaho TO discharge or acquit them whether
guilty or innocent. So fer the unions
are anxious only to see that exact justice
IS done these men; that they are given
the full legal rights and not condemned
unless proven guilty Of this specific act,
they are entitled 10 the cordial co-opera-
tion 0f All just and fair-minded Citizens
SO Tar as by any action, or by murderous
and reasonable lauEuage such as that
quoted above from Dens and others, they
tend to bring pressure tl bear upon thc
st~fe authorities aud the courts 20 OBJ
sfruof the course of Justice and 10 render
ir difficult 10 convict the men II guilty is
without stint To bo condemned. and any
thin" thgt the federal authorities can do
in either event To further the cause OF
jus zee Is 10 be done.
"ID response to your question. it is I
trust needless for me 10 say that n a.
any time you or any one else can submit
90 me any evidence showing that there
has been miscarriage 0f justice for or
YOU believe il is In my power 10 remedy /
wIu al once bring such evidence 20 the
attention OF the attorney general 20 have
him give IL the fullest consideration and
may be- -n the power OF the federal
authorities b take.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT"
Mr.. John s. Henry New York