The National tribune., 1908-09-24
THE CASE OF SENATOR FORAKER.


Senator Foraker acts with character
istic frankness and decision in with
drawing himself from the campaign
while he is under charges. A man oi
coarser fiber and less sense of fitness OF
things would have tried to brazen ouI
the matter and "seek vindication."
Senator Foraker recognizes that the
charges are a serious impeachment 0i
his personal honor, and that they mus
be met fully and convincingly If he
would retain his place in the esteem
of those who have so signally honoreo
him. No merely technical defense, nc
shrewd subterfuges will answer. He
must absolutely clear himself. This he
claims to be able to do, and everybody
outside of a few rancorous political
and personal enemies, eagerly hopes
that he will succeed. He is too able
and useful public man to be dropped
out without deep regrets.
1t appears from the letters read by
Mr.. VIM. R. Hearst at a public meeting
at Columbus O., that in 1900 Mr.. Price.
who WIS Foraker's candidate for
Speaker of che Ohio House of Repre-
sentatives, introduced a bill into that
body for the regulation of corporations.
The ninth clause of the bill was objec-
tionable to the Standard Oil, for it re-
quired a list of all the stockholders.
with their post-office addresses and the
amounts of their holdings The Stand
ard Oil appealed to Senator Foraker
to stop the passage of this measure.
The records of the Ohio Legislature
show that the bill was favorably re-
ported by the committee, and then re-
tee of one for amendment, and never
heard of afterward. Hearst read let
ters from J. D. Archbold, of the Stand
ard Oil, asking for Senator Foraker's
assistance in killing the bill, and trans
mitting to him two certificates of de-
post, one for $4,000 and one for $14.-
500.
Senator Foraker replied to this:
Il was then engaged in the practice
of the law, and was employed by the
Standard Oil Company as one of its
counsel in connection with its affairs in
Ohio, where it was attacked in the
courts and in the Legislature. While
/ do not now recall the details. 1 re-
member that / rendered the company
such service as could, and charged for
it and was paid. The employment had
no reference whatever to anything
pending in Congress or to anything in
which the Federal Government had the
slightest interest"
Mr.. Hearst returned to the attack
with letter from Archbold to Senator
Foraker. inclosing a certificate Of de-
posit for s50.000. Senator Foraker ex-
plains this that one of his friends was
trying to buy the Columbus (Ohio)
Journal, but lacked the money. Foraker
secured a loan of $4,000 from the
Standard Oil, but the deal fell thru.
and he returned the money. Mr.. Arch
bold confirms this statement
Mr.. Hearst also read a letter from
Archbold asking Foraker's influence
against "A bill introduced in the Senate
by Senator Jones, of Arkansas. There
is nothing discriminating in this be-
yond the suggestion that Foraker was
one of the Senators that the Standard
Oil looked to for help in Congress.
Senator Foraker sent the following
manly letter to Mr.. Taft:
''Cincinnati, Ohio, Sept 10, 1908
MY Dear Judge: Having read in the
newspapers that some of your friends,
and possibly you, are in doubt as to the
propriety of my speaking with you at
Music Hall next Tuesday night, I have
concluded not to attend the meeting. /
take this action, not because l deem the
answers / have made to Mr.. Eearst's
charges insufficient nor because of any
lack of loyalty TO your cause, but OILY
because I do not wish to do anything
that might injure the cause OF cmbar-
rassD you personally.
VERY truly, yours,
81. 3. Foraker.
'Hon. VIM. n. Taft, Cincinnati. o."
Sept. 81, President Roosevelt wrote:
"Foraker has been a leader opposed
to reform His attitude has been that
of certain other public men, notably
Gov. Haskell.
Haskell stands high in the councils
of Mr.. Bryan.
Senator Foraker represents only the
forces which were definitely deprived
of power within the party when Mr..
Taft was nominated.
'The entire agitation over Browns
vile was. in large part merely one
phase of the effort by the representa-
tions to bring discredit upon the Ad-
ministration."