Omaha daily bee., 1908-09-22
Told Endorsement Of Senator Would
Stop All Opposition.
ECLNED UPON PRINCIPLE
Holds that Foraker is Opponent Of
Administration Policies.
COMMENT BY THE PRESIDENT
Ohio senator and Governor Haskell
Represent same Forces, but One
is Repudiated by Party and
other Endorsed.

OYSTER BAY N. Y. Sept. a.--President
Roosevelt made public the following state
ment today:
I'm view of Mr.. Hearst's disclosure about
Senator Foraker, make public the follow
ing letter written by Mr.. Taft on July 30.
| 1907 to friend In Ohio, prominent In Ohio
politics, who wrote him before the meeting
of the state central Committee asking
whether he would object to the committee
passing a resolution endorsing Mr.. Taft for
president and Mr. Foraker for senator, in
the interest Of harmony. A copy OF this
letter was submitted 10 me at the time, but
after the original had been sent. 1t was
not intended for publication. but It was
understood that IL necessary II should he
published.
81 personally know that the strongest
pressure by various party leaders was
| brought on Mr. Taft at that time to con-
sent to the proposed arrangements, and he
was informed by leading men from other
states that IL ne would consent to this
rangement, all opposition on the part of
Mr.. Foraker and on the part Of some of
Mr.. Foraker's influential friends IN the
senate and elsewhere would cease. and that
Mr.. Taft's nomination for the presidency
would be assured. But Mr.. Taft declined
| for one moment to consider any possible
advantage to himself where what he con-
sidercd as a great principle was at stake.
His attitude on this question, as we'll as
countless questions, convinced me that OF
all the men in this union he was the man
preeminently fit in point OF uprightness and
character. for fearless and aggressive hon
esty and of fitness for championing tho
| rights of the people as a whole, to be presi-
dent.
Foraker and Haskell Alike.
Senator Foraker has been leader among
those members Of congress OF both parties
who have opposed the great policies of
internal reform for which the administrs-
ton has made itself responsible His att-
tude has been that of certain other public
men, notably Gas shown in this same corre-
| spondence published by Mr. Hearst) Gov
orner Haskell OF Oklahoma. There is q
striking difference in one respect, however.
In the present positions Of Governor Has
kelI and Senator Foraker. Governor Bas-
kel stands high IN the councils Of Mr..
Bryan and is the treasurer of his Rational
campaign committee. Senator Foraker rep
resents only the forces which in embittered
fashion fought the nomination of Mr.. Taft
and which were definitely deprived OF power
within the republican party when Mr.. Taft
was nominated. The publication of this
correspondence not merely justifies in strik-
ing fashion the action of the admlnistra-
tion, but also casts a curious side light on
the attacks made in the administration,
both In the Denver convention which nomi-
mated Mr.. Bryan and In the course OF Mr..
Bryan's campaign. There is but one way
to preserve and perpetuate the great re-
forms the great advances in righteousness
and upright and fair dealing, which have
marked the affairs of the national govern
ment during the last seven years and that
is by electing Mr. Taft. To defeat him
will bring lasting satisfaction to but one
set of men, namely: To those men as
shown in the correspondence by Mr. Hearst
were behind Mr. Foraker, the opponents of
Mr. Taft within his own party and who
are now behind Governor Haskell and his
associates, the opponents of Mr.. Taft in
the opposite party,
Brownsville Agitation Not sincere.
THE great and sinister money interests
which have shown such hostility to the adj
ministration and now to Mr.. Taft have
grown to oppose the administration on var-
Gus matters not connected with those which
mark the real point of difference. For in
stance, the entire agitation over Browns
Vile was in large part not a genuine aglta-
tion on behalf OF colored men at all, but
, merely one phase OF the effort by the rep
resentatves Of certain law-defying corpor-
ations to bring dscredt upon the admins
tration, because Il was seeking to cut out
the evils connected not only with the cor
? rupt use Of wealth, but especially with tha
corrupt alliance between certain business
men Of large fortunes and certain poll
ticians OF great office. The venomous hos
tilty OF these interests and Of their special
representatives in public life and the press
, to the nomination OF Mr.. Taft was merely
the sequence of their hostility toward the
administration for the regulation of great
corporations doing interstate business.
and TO the attitude Of the administration in
consistently prosecuting all offenders of
e great wealth, precisely as It has prosecuted
= all other offenders. Mr.. Taft has been nom
: mated for the very reason that he is the
e antlthesis of the forces that were response
< bio for Mr. Foraker.
J. Letter of Mr. Taft.
n 'The letter Of Mr. Taft is as follows:
a WAR DEPARTMENT WASHINGTON.
Polnte Epic, Canada, July 20, 1907.-My
Dear Mr.. -: In respect to one inquiry
e much emphasis as possible, that Is,
. whether l would object TO a compromise
resolution which shall include an endorse;
r Senator Foraker for the senatorship. In
my judgment II would be not only great
l. Understanding more. 1t would be
e accepted necessarily as a compromise on
N my behalf and. therefore, with my acqui-
: essence or at least with the acquiescence
p of my friends for whose action l am
= more or less respOsible. II would totally
o misrepresent my position. don't care
I for the presidency II IL has TO come by
e compromise with Senator Foraker OF any
| one else in matter of principle. He had
l., | opposed the vital policies and principles
] OF administration and in his OPPOSITION has
/ seized upon and magnified an Important.
r but incidental matter 10 embsrrass the
a, administration. using in this, without
, scruple, blind race prejudice to accom-
Is plish his main purpose. II ] was con-
-s fronted with a mere factiOnal difference
! within MY party. not involving a subject
y that must come up for consideration and
J. attiOn by the next republican convention,
Al j could not be so emphatic In my con-
., conclusion IL Is not on my part question
OF personal feeling with respect 10 Sena-
d tor Foraker, IL Is really a question OF
II political principle. In respect to this the
. legislature of Ohio In a resolution asking