Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1908-09-25
BRYAN HITS BACK.
Demands Proof and an Honorable
and Honest CAMPAIGN.
GOVERNOR HASKELL COURTS
INyESTIG ALTON.

No one that knew the President
imagined that he could keep out of the
campaign as an active and Jealous par
titan of his nominee. But most people
would have thought him, impetuous as
he is, little careful about endorsing
the statements of that reckless and in
vidious marplot, Hearst. What Hearst
did was to read publicly statement
that man name Haskell-he was very
careful not to say that it was the
Haskell who is Governor of Oklahoma,
and Treasurer of the Democratic Cam
paign Committee was at one time an
employee of the Standard Oil Company,
and was connected with scheme to
bride Attorney General Monnett, of
Ohio, todismiss suits against the Stand
ard Oil Company. 1t was done very
like Hearst. and in line with his lfe's
work as a covert slanderer of
public men. The charge was nuts
for Roosevelt, however, andat once he
issued letter endorsing in manner
the charge of Hearst; and insinuating
that all this is in line with the attacks
made on the Administration by the
Democratic party by its leaders.
Governor Haskell comes out in a very
manly way. He courts investigation,
he asks that committee be appointed
at once to investigate such charges.
promising that if they are proven he
will retire from his position at once,
and states further that he feels that
the President has sufficient sense of
justice to retract his action in the
matter. Mr.. Bryan comes to the attack
In strong language, for the first time
personally attacking Roosevelt for en-
dorsing unproven charges, and goes on
to say: Your high position, as well as
your sense of justice, would prevent
your giving sanction and circulation to
such charge without proof, and re-
specially request, therefore, that you
furnish any proof which you have in
your possession, or if you have no proof,
l request that you indicate a method by
which the truth may be ascertained. 4"
That these attacks will react on the
party of which the President is the head
and front no clear-headed man will
doubt. That Hearst sprung his mine
too early in the action is also evident.
Had he done this the week before the
election it might have served his DUR
pose, but if Haskell is not guilty it will
be easy to prove it long before Novem-
Der LIST; and it may be said without
fear that the committee to look into
the matter, as asked by Haskell, will
never be chosen by Roosevelt. He has
done the trick of very ordinary poll
tician, and it will infallibly injure him
and his candidate-Taft. Mr.. BRYAN
concludes his letter to the President
with words that it would be well if the
President and his party could honestly
adopt: THE Democratic party is max
ing an honest and an honorable fight in
defense of the principles and policies
enunciated in its platform, and it ex-
poets and will demand fair and honor
able treatment from those who are in
charge of the Republican campaign"
President Roosevelt has prepared an
answer to Bryan's challenge which it is
supposed he will make public today,
CThursday). The reply is said to be
lengthy and from Secretary Loeb's man.
ner is thought to be satisfactory by
the President. 1t now appears that
they are casting around for some other
Haskell on which to settle as the man.