The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-09-24
President Roosevelt Replies TO
the Democrat Candidate
In the Matter of the Charges
Against Haskell.
NO PROOF is NEEDED.
He Says the Governor Stands
Condemned by the Record.
Tells Nebraskan Why He Should
Not Be Elected.

Washington, Sept. 24.-President
Roosevelt, following a prolonged con-
ference with members of the cabinet
at the White House, prepared and
gave out his reply TO w. ]. Bryan, the
democratic candidate, relative to w.
X. Hearst's charges that Gov. Has
kell, treasurer of the Democrat cam
| palgn committee, had represented
| standard Oil interests both in Ohio
and Oklahoma. Mr.. Bryan had de-
manded proor of the charges. prom
| lslng that in the event of their sub
sanitation Governor Haskell would
be eliminated from the campaign.
Dismissing the Ohio case which in
vowed an allegation of attempted
bribery, with the explanation that he
mad made no direct charge against
| Gov. Haskell as regards that par
tcular instance, President Roosevelt
and Gas company, and argues that
IoV: HaskelPs action in stopping
regal proceedings begun by the attor-
ney general OF Oklahoma, demon
strau conclusively that he was con-
troif by the great corporation to
subsidiary.
After contrasting Mr.. Bryan's de-
tense of Governor Haskell as
against Judge Taft's reputation of
senator Foraker, in connection with
What Hearst charges against the ohio
senator, the president proceeds to de-
clare that Gov. Haskelrs utter un-
nttness for association with any men
anxious to appeal to the American
people on moral issue has been
aDunGantly shown by other acts of
ms Tba as governor Of Oklahoma
Ine president condemns Governor
tor.
the various matters as disgracefuI
and scandalous.
Criticises Mr.. Bryan.
Tho latter portion of Mr. Roose-
Veit,s, oetts deiverance is devoted TO
regulating the trusts, which he
cnaracterizes as measure that
sounds moro radical than any ad-
v9cated by the Republicans, but
wn1cn m practice would not work.
tnat no law defying corporation has
anything to fear from Mr.. BRYAN
save what it would suffer from the
general paralysis of business which
would follow Democratic success.
The president spent almost the en-
tire day in getting the letter in shape.
An hour was given this morning to
making a rough draft of it which was
Sns4 91n41ltted to Secretary Garfield and
postmaster General Myer, both of
Whom made suggestions as to portions
of the communication. About 8 o'clock
all OF the members of the cabinet now
in the city-Secretaries Wilson.
Straus, Wright, Metca1fe and Garfield
and Postmaster General Myer-rnet in
the cabinet room at the executive Of
noes for conference on the subject.
which lasted until o'clock Two
hours were required to make certain
minor changes before Secretary Loeb
gave it to the press. DeeminR the
reply too long to be sent by wire, the
method of communication Mr. BRYAN
had employed in his challenge to the
president, it was forwarded by mail to
the Democratic candidate at lincoln.
The letter follows:
The Presidents Letter.
The White House, Washington. Sept.
%, 1908.
Dear Sir: In your telegram Won
speak of so much of the charges
against Gov. Haskell as dealt with his
relations while in Ohio with the STAN
dard Oil company. You omit the
charges as to his relations with the
Standard Oil interests as shown by
his action while governor of Oklaho-
ma, this very summer, this action
being in part taken while he was at.
Denver, where, as you state, he was
by your wish made chairman of the
committee which drafted the platform
upon which you are standing. In my
statement I purposely made no spec
shall at this time make none, in spite
of its significance, and in spite of the
further fact that Gov. HaskelPs close
relations with the Standard Oil inter-
ests while he was in Ohio was a mat
ter of common notoriety.
In Oklahoma it is a matter of court
record. BY this court record it ap-
pears that the attorney general OF the
state, elected by the people, obtained
an injunction to prevent the Prairie
Oil and Gas company from building a
pipe line; and that Governor Haskell
found this out while he was at Denver.
as appears by the representations for
the dissolution of the injunction made
in his name on behalf of the state be-
fore a court of superior Jurisdiction to
that which issued the Injunction. In
this the governor states that the act
ing governor in his absence had asked
that the hearing be postponed until
he, the governor, might return and
have an opportunity to investigate the
controversy. The governor sets forth
in his petition that he is the sole au-
thority to determine such matters and
that the attorney general and the Judge
of the lower court had no right in the
case, and that the action of the judge
of the lower court represented IAN en-
croachment by the judiciary" The at
torney general opposed the dissolu-
ton Of the Injunction. stating that the
Prairie Oil and Gas company was a
foreign corporation. which had not ac-,
cepted the provisions of the constitu-
ton applicable to such corporations.
and that without authority of law il
was employing a great force of men
and teams to dig up, across, and into
various highways of the state for the
purpose of laying its pipe lines. The
governor prevailed, the Injunction was
suspended. and the pipe line was per
mitted to continue its work, to use the
words of the attorney general, with
ont any color of law"