The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-09-28
TAFT TO FORAKER.
The Candidate Defends Himself
Against the Senator's Insinuations.

Albert Lea, Mimi Sept. 2S.-Mr.
Taft gave out a statement here in which
he branded as ridicuiou the charges
made by Senator Foraker connecting
Mr. Taft with the Standard Oil COM
| pany and the glass trust Mr.. Taft
says:
"First-Senator Foraker says in his
| statement that 1 recommended Judge
Doyle for a United States judgeship
in northern Ohio and the president
| acquiesced in the recommendation
when we knew that he was attorney
| for the Standard Oil company and
argues that this is a justification for
him while a senator of the United
States in accepting professional en-
ployment from the Standard Oil COM
pa6y and in making what was in
effect a newspaper partnership with
the Standard Oil company to control
an organ of public opinion.
Judge Doyle held no public office
and numbered the Standard Oil COM
pany as one among number of
clients. I told the president that
Judge Doyle was a man Of high
ability and experience and would
make a good judge, but explained
what his corporate personal connec-
ton had been and the president, as
between Doyle and Taylor, also an
pointed him. not as I recollect it for
any reason discreditable to Doyle, but
because Doyle's very many corporate
professional associations would make
him less acceptable to the public and
interfere with his usefulness as a
judge.
"Second-Senator Foraker refers to
my alleged receipt of favors from Mr..
c. T. Lewis. partner of Judge Doyle,
and Mr.. Richardson, whom he de-
dominates as a magnate in the glass
trust, parallel with and in a meas
ure justifying his relations to the
Standard Oil company already de-
scribed.
Not the Facts.
"If the facts were exactly as he
gives them l would be content to sub
nit the justice of the parallel to the
American people without comment,
but the facts are not as he states
them. I visited Middle Bass as the
guest of the Middle Bass club. as
President Harrison, President Nc
Kinley and President Cleveland had
done. General Keifer invited me as
the spokesman of the club.
"Mr. Lewis was president, and
carried out the will of the club in
making the arrangements. 1 did not
travel on Mr.. Lewis's car. He ten
dered it, but I declined it. I hired
special car from Hot Springs to
Toledo from the Pullman company for
$50 day and paid therefor eighteen
fares to Toledo at the regular tariff
for a special, together with fares for
berths.
"Mr. Lewis Joined us with his pri-
vate car when we were half way to
Toledo. and 1 spoke from his plat
form at stations because his was the
end car. but I had my own car and
used it and paid for it.
1.-The Middle Bass club advised me
that it would see to my ferriage from
Toledo to Middle Bass and secured
for the purpose o power boat of Mr..
Richardson, who was a member of
the Middle Bass club. I did not know
Mr.. Richardson or what his business
was when 1 went aboard his boat. 1
did not know and don't know now
for the purpose a power boat of Mr..
Richardson's relation with it if it
exists. I accepted his courtesy as
rendered on behalf of the club whose
guest I was.
Il am indebted to the members of
the Middle Bass club. numbering
more than 100, for their hospitality
but the attempt to connect me with
the Standard Oil company and the
glass trust-if there is any-through
the Middle Bass club is ridiculous
and shows the extremity in which the
author of the statement finds HIM
self"