The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-09-19
TAFT'S RELIGION.
Gov. HOeh Says It's Good
Enough for Him.
Defends Presidential Nominee
From Methodist Attacks.
CITES SOME HISTORY.
Abraham Lincoln Met Same
Kind of Assaults.
Compares Prohibition Record of
Taft and Bryan.
CITES SOME HISTORY.

Since the attacks on Judge Taft by
certain Methodist ministers have as
sumed some proportions in Kansas
and been answered by State Chairman
Dolley, it might be we'll to hear of
Governor E. w. Hoch's views on this
matter. The governor is regarded as
one of the foremost Methodists of
Kansas, not because he is governor.
but because he carries his old fash
ioned Methodist views into every pub
lie and private act of his life. Cover
nor Hoch, it will be remembered, had
his trouble with Speaker Cannon while
standing on the firing line in the
Methodist battle against the whisky
evil. When these Methodist attacks
on Judge Taft's religion and his Uni
tartan faith and these same Methodist
allegations that he is an infidel were
mentioned to Governor Hoch this
morning the states chief executive
said:
81 regard this as Democratic ruse
to humbug the good people of Kansas,
and good people ought not to allow
themselves to be humbugged.
"Now, in the first place, the consti-
tuition explicitly states that in the
requisite qualifications for the Office of
president a mans religious views or
his views on religion shall not be a
test in the matter at all.
=
Judge Taft is a Unitarian. Well, John
Adams and John Quincy Adams, two
of the most notable of our presidents,
were both Unitarians. At the congress
of governors which / ATTENDED last
year Edward Everett Hale presided at
that meeting by appointment of Presi-
dent Roosevelt, and Mr.. Hale made
prayer at that session that would
have passed with me as the best of the
old fashioned Methodist efforts had I
not known beforehand that Mr.. Hale
was a Unitarian. Edward Everett
Hale is one of the great and good men
of the country.
IF YOU will read carefully the politi-
cal history of this country during the
early sixties you will find that they
made the same charge against Abra-
ham Lincoln that they are now making
against Judge Taft. Who can caicu-
late the vast power for all that was
best and noble in life that Lincoln ex-
ercised during the years he guided this
nation?
Taft and Bryan on Liquor Issue.
Judge Taft took his political life in
his hand a short time ago when he
went to Cincinnati and fought Boss
Cox and the whisky ring, and onl'-
few weeks ago I rode into that ONO
city on the train with a couple of DEM
ocratic state senators who were talk
ing confidently of their plans to beat
Judge Taft in Cincinnati and OhjC
cause of that fight. he made against the
whisky ring of the Buckeye state. over
in Nebraska a few months ago Bryan
tried to make Dahlman governor or
that state, and Dahlman as you know
is one of the champions of the liquor
interests in Nebraska Yet we find
here in Kansas Methodist preachers
who are raising their voices against
Taft and for Bryan on question of
religion.
7 wish everyone in the world Uer'
Methodists, but have met some pretty
good people who were not of that faith
L have no quarrel with Judge Taft be-
cause he is a Unitarian. 1 wish all the
people in this country were Republi-
cans but have met some pretty good
men who were of the Jeffersonian
faith. and we are personal friends.
William Howard Taft, in my opin-
ion. is one of the best equipped men
for the presidency that has appeared
before this country in the last quarter
of a century,"
The latest and most virulent attack
on Judge Taft's religious views and
standing was made this week by a
Methodist preacher in Florence, Marion
county, Kansas, the governors hom
county, and published in the Florence
Bulletin. 1t is reprinted in the political
news of todays State Journal.