The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1908-03-12

nomination for president by the Re-
publican Party on the ground of my
assumed relations with President
Roosevelt. The author OF the article
has evidently not kept advised as to
what my real position in regard to
this matter is but has rather invented
a position for me. In the first place,
there is nothing in regard to the re-
lations existing between President
Roosevelt and myself that could or
would in the slightest degree affect
my choice for nomination by the Re-
publican National Convention. Any
antagonism or lack of cordial rela-
tions between the President and my
self exists only in the Imagination of
those who think such a statement
would in some may benefit them, and
the statement that am antagOnistic
to Secretary Taft either as candi-
date or choice of the Convention is
absolutely without foundation. Il
have always regarded him as one of
the very best public men and have
the highest regard for him personally
and as public officer. He would
make a great President. The same
may be said of the other candidates.
The Republican party is not at all
short on first class men for the presi-
dency. The foremost consideration
under such circumstances is as to the
availability of the candidate. 1t is
not only important that the Republic
cans nominate good man but it is of
equal importance that they shall elect
their candidate. If the National Con-.
vention, with all of the facts before it,
shall consider that the objections to
Mr.. Taft on the ground of his avail
ability and strength as a candidate
are without foundation, in my judg-
ment they will nominate him. Should
they consider that the opposition of
certain labor organizations and Of the
negro vote is such as would result in
his defeat at the election, then they
will not nominate him. The princi-
pies of the republican party are ad-
whether the party is in or
out of power, but they are most use
full when the party is in power, and
it cannot be in power except it elect
it's nominees.
Now, dismiss from your mind any.
idea that l have announced myself
for or that I am against any man who
is candidate at the hands of the Re-
publican party. intend to support
whoever Is nominated and intend
to do this aggressively and to the
very utmost of my ability. There is
no man mentioned as a candidate
that would not make a great presi-
dent and represent the principles of
the Republican party. When anyone
tells you that have announced my
self for any one of the candidates as
against another they do so without
I think it is unwise for
anyone to make up their mind on this
question at this length of time before
The Convention. With a number of
all equally qualified, there
remains only the question of avail
ability in point of strength at the
polls and no man can determine this
50 long before the convention, and
perhaps even at the Convention the
party may be mistaken in its judy
ment.
''The Republicans of Idaho are
entitled to have whoever represents
hem in the National Convention ex-
press their wishes as to the candi-
late they prefer, both in voice and
vote, and no man should 60 to the
who would not do so.
Sincerely yours,
"W. B. HEPBURN"