The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1908-09-30
PRESIDENT MAKES APPEAL.
STATEMENT CALLED FORTH nv
RECENT IIEARST-FORAKE
EXCHANGES.
The Candidates Attitude Defined by
Roosevelt. Regarding Various Mat.
ters-Says Taft Is Directly Opposed
to That Charged Against the Scna-
tor.

Oyster Bay, y. Y, Sept. 21.-Late
today Secretary Loeb gave to the
press formal statement by the Pres
ident, which was called forth by the
recent exchanges between William r.
Hearst and Senator Foraker, of Ohio.
Mr.. Hearst, in public uttcrances, had
| accused the Senator Of relations with
the Standard Oil Company inconsisr-
ent with his duties as a Senator,
and his attitude as a representative
Of Republican policies and profess
sions.
In todays statement President
Roosevelt makes another appeal for
the support Of Mr.. Taft and declares
that his defeat would bring Tasting
satisfaction to but one set Of men,
namely. to those men who, as shown
In the correspondence published by
| Mr.. Hearst, were behind Mr.. Foraker,
the opponent Of Mr.. Taft, within his
own party, and who now are behind
Governor Haskell and his associates,
the opponents of Mr.. Taft in the op-
posite party"
The Statement embodies letter
written by Mr.. Taft to a friend in
Ohio on July 20, 1907, in which the
Republican candidate for the Presi-
dency refused to acquiesce in the
plan Of the Ohio State central COM
mittee to endorse Mr. Taft for the
Presidency and Mr.. Foraker for re-
election to the Senate in a single res
olution. The President points out
that Mr.. Taft's attitude has always
been directly opposed to that charged
against Senator, Foraker by Mr..
Hearst regarding the money interests.
The President cites the Brownsville
anair as case where the agitation
was phase OF the effort "by the
representatives Of certain law defying
corporations to bring discredit upon
the administration" It was, he saws.
In large part mot genuine agitation
| on behalf Of colored men at all, but
merely one phase of the effort by the
representatives Of certain law defying
corporations to bring discredit upon
the administration because it was
seeking to cut out the evils connected
not only with the corrupt use OF
wealth. but especitlly with the cor.
rupt alliance between certain business
men OF large fortunes and certain pol
iticians of great influence. The veno-
nous hostility Of these interests and
~ their special representatives in
public life and in the press, to the
nomination OF Mr.. Taft, was merely
the natural sequence to their hostility
to the measures Of the administration
for the regulation Of great corpora
| tions doing an Interstate business
and to the attitude Of the administra-
| ton in consistently prosecuting all
offenders of great wealth, precisely
as 1t has prosecuted all other Offend
ers. Mr.. Taft has been nominated for
| the very reason that he is the antithe-
sis Of the forces that were RESPONSE
bic for Mr.. Foraker"
Commenting further on Mr.. Taft's
| letter, the President says:
II publish this letter without Mr..
Tafts knowledge because I feel it my
duty to the public that his attitude
should be known. The man who un-
| hesitatingly resists temptation, who
cannot be swerved by any consdera-
| tion Of personal interest from follow
ing the course which his lofty con-
ception Of duty dictates to him, the
man whose whole concern is for the
welfare OF the people and who has
proved in life time OF difficult and
useful public service his extraordinary
capacity as an administrator, is sure
ly the man Of all others to be entrust-
ed with the Presidency. Mr. Taft's
candidacy Is not based upon large and
vague promises, part Of which would
/ be impossible Of achievement and
part OF which would be absolutely
mischievOus to the people of the
whole country If put into effect. His
candidacy is based upon his great
record Of actual achievement his
great record of service to the public,
upon his infleXible adherence to the
highest standards OF righteousness
and upon his proved and absolute
tearlessness in relentlessly warning
against evil wherever it may be
| found. l appeal to all good citizens
all high minded, conscientious men
who love their country for the sake