The Washington times., 1908-09-26
TAFT IS PREPARING
REPLY TO FORAKER
Candidate Will Answer al
Once Charges Made by
Ohio Senator.
Continued from First Page)

martyrs 10 their respective causes and
the victims Of unjust criticism. Du Pont
resigned because. as head Of the so
called Powder trust. he was deemed un-
desirable by the President; Haskell re-
signs. too. because the leaders Of his
party demanded it, and because. Incl
dentaly the President also had a band
in his undoing.
In the meantime. having decided, upon
the advice OF his Cabinet members yes
terday, not 10 engage in more cOntro-
versy with any one for the present, the
President can sit back this morning
with a satisfied smile and inventory the
results. Of his handiwork. That the
President might have been heard from
again, in reply to the retaIiatory charges
OF Kern, Haskell. and Mack had not
members Of his Cabinet and other close
political advisers suggested otherwise, Is
firmly believed by those acquainted with
the impetuOsity Of the Presidents ma
ture, and his tendency TO fight to the
finish.
What VIII President Do?
Interest now centers in whethe-. the
President will disregard this advice
and make SONS reply to Senator For
aker. who last night elOquently came
10 his own defeI.se defended his own
name from the attacks Of those who had
maligned II, and yet with the same
fealty which has ever characterized his
adherence TO strict party ideals. closed
his plea for a priceless heritage for
my children by saying:
'Tf IN making this defense I have said
anything. that will work the slightest
injury to7the Republican party, I shall
regret it,
The Senator spoke as a man repudi-
ated by his own people, man who had
seen the handwriting on the wall. and
who knew that the beginning OF the
end was near, yet with all that, his
defense is one that compeIs admiration
for its holiness, its straightforward
ness, and its fearlessness-
Excuse for President.
other than to say that the matter az
the issuance Of a franchise TO the Prairie
OIL Company was discussed between tie
President and the then Secretary Ethan
Allen Hitchcock, and that no prefer
ence had been shown the Prairie COM
pany, no statement regarding the charge
that the President himself directed Mr..
Hitchcock TO issue a franchise TO the
44IyscIt uIsvJssseu company, esaas.-yt AZ.
Hitchcock wishes, is 70 be made at the
White House.
II was said that the franchise granted
the Prairie Company had been such as
would be given any company complying
with the rules Of the Interior Depart
ment. and that Mr.. Hitchcock's unwill-
ingness did not apply specifically to this
company, II unwillingneSS existed. That
the Prairie franchise did figure in White
House conferences was admitted today.
This explanation follows the widely
published story anent the Haskell
Standard Oil affiliations. that the Presi-
dent had gone over Mr.. HitchCOck's
head and ordered to grant a franchise
TO the company which he now Criticises
Governor Haskell for affiliating with.
Secretary Loeb said tnat the franchise
issued In this instance was no different
from that which would have been grant
ed any company complying with Gov
eminent regulations. The President did
not order an exclusive franchise, he
said.