Evening star., 1908-12-21
MARTIN TALKS BACK
Says President GarbIed Let
ter on Taft's Religion.
"NOT FOUNT OF WISDOM"
Quotes Protestants on Opposition to
Catholic Oficeholders.
R00sEvELT's WORDS RESENTED
Plea for Choice of Christian Presi-
dents-No Slander of Country
men. He Asserts.
R00sEvELT's WORDS RESENTED

DAYTON Ohio December al. {.
Martin 10 whom President Roosevelt
wrote his letter of November on Judge
Taft's religion has given out reply TO
that communication.
He strongly denies that the President is
correct in declaring that religion should
not figure in American politics.
Mr.. Martin begins with an objection TO
The Presidents method of quoting from
his original letter.
Letter Is Misquoted.
You say you selected my letter. he
writes. because it contained both objec-
1ions, namely. that Taft is a Unitarian,
and in sympathy with the Catholics.
BY referring to my letter you will find
that the word Unitarian does not appear
in It. Where / say. 1T is being circulated
and constantly urged as the reason for not
voting for Taft that he is an infidel.'
after the word 'infider YOU choose to
supply the word Unitarian in paren-
theses. which makes it in opposition with
the word 'infidel'
1T is misleading TO the general pubic
and misrepresenting what l actually
wrote. 1t is quite an easy thing TO TAKE
part of letter and change its wording.
and thus place one in false light. II
YOU chose TO quote from my letter. 1t
was not So long but what you could have
taken time and space for the entire let
ter. I do not want the general pubic 10
believe that 1 brand Unitarian as an
inidel.
There is another reason why YOU may
have supplied the word Unitarian after
.infidel (but hardly think this posslble),
namely, that it indicates your recoeniz-
ing the words as being synonymous
Protests of Chu1chmen.
Mr.. Martin next objects to the charac-
terization of himself as foul slanderer
Of his fellow-countrymen and narrow
bigot for pointing out objections to Taft
because of his religious views. He re-
peats his declaration that the mass of
American voters will not support Ro-
man Catholic for President.
He goes on:
of the Methodist Episcopal Church Octo-
her II. 1908. quoted from a copy sent me
by William Loeb, jr.. secretary to you, he
Bishop Hartzell. says: i would not say
for office whose religious belief would
prevent my voting for him. In Mr.. Tafts
case. however, no such hindrance exists.
THE exception made in Mr.. Tafts case
clearly implies that a man might nave
religious views that would prevent him
Bishop HartZelD voting for him. Now.
Mr.. President will You dare accuse
Bishop Hartzell of foully slandering his
fellow-countrymen and of narrow pig
otry? II not him, why me?
..In my letter did not go SO far as to
say I would or would not simply gave
an opinion which, / repeat again, L believe
In your own heart you know 10 be true
Dissent of Many creeds.
He points out action taken by Luther
ans. Baptists and Presbyterans to show
their dissent with the Presidents views
and asks:
Now Mr.. President do you want to go
on record as accusing these millions of
Lutherans. besides the millions of other
Prptestants, of fOuly slandering their
fellow-countrymen and of bigotry? If
not them, why me?
heard from yet, and you will no doubt
realize that you have been allowed TO
dictate in some matters so long that you
take the position OF an autocrat, SEEM
ing to think that it is your privilege ana
duty to tell people just what they must
do. whether or not it comedies with their
Individual. Judgment and reason.
''You will no doubt be convinced that
Won are not so old nor infaliibe in the
eyes and estimation OF men and women OF
America who prefer to think for them
selves to be considered the embodiment
Of WISDOM
II only stated what 7 believe TO be a
fact, and they, two millions of Luther
ans. have already told you they could not
consistently vote for Roman Catholic
for the presidency 1t is neither personal
feeling nor antagonism which determines
their attitude i'm this matter. but solely
their disagreement with the Roman Cath
olic Church on this basic political princi-
pie. namely, the federal Constitution pro.
vides for the complete separation OF
church and state and all those rights anc
liberties which included therein ana
subscribed thereby.