Los Angeles herald., 1908-09-23
BRYAN MAKES
QUICK ANSWER
TO PRESIDENT
ROOSEVELT CALLED DOWN
FEARLESSLY
GREAT NE6RAskAN DOES NOT
SPARE OPINIONS
Tells Executive to Hustle Proof Of
HaskeIl's Alleged Guilt, or, Vir-
tuaIIy, to "shut Up"--Wants
Inquiry

nETROIT, Mich, Sept. 22.-The
most sensational develonment In
- the present campaign ANas the
sending today by W. J. Bryan, Demo-
cratic candidate for president, of q
telegram to President Roosevelt de-
manding that he produce proof that
Governor Charles N. Haskell of Okla
| homa, treasurer of the Democratic ma
tional committee ever was connected
with the Standard Oil company.
Selling upon the opportunity thus
afforded Mr.. Bryan took occasion to
serve notice upon the president that
he would not permit any responsible
member of the Republican organiza-
tion to misrepresent the attitude of
the Democratic party in the present
campaign, and further, that the DEM
ocratlc party was making IAN hon
orable and honest fight in defense of
its principles and policies, and that
1t expected and demanded fair and
| honorable treatment from those In
charge Of the Republican campaign"
Copies of the telegram were given
out for publication just before Mr.
| Bryans departure for Ann Arbor late
in the afternoon.
Hold Consultation
Mr.. Bryan spent five hours in con-
sultation with his advisors before
sending his telegram to the president
! in reply to the statement of President
| Roosevelt, published this morning, con-
firming the charges made by w. r.
| Hearst that Governor Haskell had
been connected with the Standard Oil
company.
| Up to late hour tonight he had
received no reply from Mr.. Roosevelt
| Arriving here at $3.50 a. M, Mr.. Bry-
( CtY1x a
was met by big crowd at the sta
| tion and thousands of workers on the
way to their places of employment
cheered him as he proceeded In an
automobile to the Point Chartrain no.
tel.
The journey to Ann Arbor was made
| in his special car and upon his arrival
here he was accorded cordial greet
| ing.
] Speaks to Throng
To a gathering of several thousand
persons Mr.. Bryan. speaking from the
balcony of the Cook house, directed
his remarks particularly to young men,,
discussing during an hour and half
the tariff, the trust question, the labor
question, government guarantee of
bank deposits, the Democratic partys
attitude on the injunction question and
| contempt of court trials, and severely.
J criticised Judge Taft for his charac-
terization of the Democratic platform
plank on this question as loosely
drawn.
He declared a presidential succession
was scarcely more repugnant to free
| Institutions than was life tenure or
the presidency.
Mr.. Bryan criticised the "despotic
rules of the house of representatives"
and asserted that the Republican party
| had chosen for It's vice president the
man who stood next to Speaker Can
non in the enforcement of these rules.
Mr.. Bryan reiterated his pledge that
| If elected he would not be candidate
for a second term.
Returning to Detroit shortly after
o'clock Mr.. Bryan addressed a mon
ster Democratic rally in the Light
Guard armory Outside there were
thousands who desired admission, but
vainly, as the building was packed to
the doors. He gave them brief over
flow talk. In both addresses he COM
pared the platforms of the two parties.
MIR. Bryans letter is as follows:
Hon. Thaedore Roosevelt, president
of the United States.
/ Dear Sir: In statement given out
by you yesterday and published in this
mornings papers, you indorse a charge
made against Governor Haskell of
Oklahoma to the effect that he was
once in the employ of the Standard Oil
company, and las such employe was
connected with an attempt to bribe or
influence Attorney General Monnett of
Ohio to dismiss suits pending against
the Standard Oil company.
I'm indorsing this charge you attack
the Democratic party and it's candi-
date, saying that Governor Haskell
stands high in the councils of Mr.. Bry-
an and is the treasurer of his national
campaign committee.
And you add that the publication
t1.s- Il x,1k al I,,g
titled in striking fashion the action of
the administration, but also casts
: curious side light upon the attacks
made upon the administration, both in
the Denver convention, which nomi-
mated Mr.. Bryan, and in the course of
Mr.. Bryan's campaign
) Charge Is Serious
"Your charge is so serious that
cannot allow 1t to go unnoticed. Gov
n ernor Haskell has denied that he was
ever employed by the Standard Oil
company in any capacity, or was ever
connected with it, or in the transaction
upon which your charge is based.
Governor Haskell demanded an in
vestigation at the time the charge was
first made, offering to prepare and t+s-
tify and he demands an investigation
now. / agree with you that If Cover
} nor Haskell is guilty as charged he is
3 cratic national committee and l am
: sure that you will Aagree with me that
If he is innocent he deserves to be ex-
onerated from so damaging an accusa-
tion.
"As the selection of Governor Has
t kell as chairman of the committee on
resolutions at Denver and as treasurer
of the national committee has my APP
,, proval and Endorsement, / feel 1t my
duty to demand an immediate investi-
cation of the charge against him, so
/ unreasonably indorsed by the president
of the United States.
Asks for Proof
:. 1Your high position. as we'll as your
sense of justice, should prevent your
giving sanction and circulation to such
charge without proof, and / respect
{ fully request therefore that you fur
nish any proof which you have in your
possession.
III you have not proof / request that
you indicate method by which the
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