The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-09-30
Asks President Some Pointed Questions. SAYS TRUST MAGNATES
 ARE SUPPORTING REPUBS The Nebraskan Says the Bib.e Offers Explanation. As to Roo.eveIt Giving Permission to steel Trust to Absorb a Rival, MT. Bryan Says the Ameri- c
 can People Must
 Judge.

Rock Island, H.. Sept. 2s.--'I have lived in vain if your accusations have lost me a single friend" said w. J. Bryan in a letter addressed today to President Roosevelt. replying to that of the President, written Sunday last.
 MT Bryan points to his record and declares that 1t Is sufficient answer to the fnsinuations of the Chief Execu- tive that he is in sympathy wlth or controlled by the trusts
 Reverting to the charges against Governor Haskell. Mir. Bryan says that the President In response to his re- quest did not deign to suggest tribunal which could determine those charges, but instead proceeded to pass Judgment upon him. and he informs the President that the occupant of that office cannot deny to the humblest citi- gen the right to protect his reputation and vindicate his name in the courts.
 The letter Is as follows:
 Rock Island, H., Sept. 2s. 1905. "Kon. Theodore Roosevelt,
 President of the United States,
 "washington, D. C.:
 Dear Sir:---A brief reply to your, last letter is all that is necessary to call attention to your attempt to shift the issues raised. In your letter at- tackine Mir. Foraker, you inserted an attack upon Governor Haskell, and aftemtped to use the charges against him to connect the Democratic party and me as it's candidate, witn the trusts. I asked you to name tribunal before which the charges could be in- vestiRated, or, if you would not do that, offered to leave 1t to you to say whether, in your judgment, the charges jusfified Mir. Haskells withdrawal from the organization. You did not deign to suggest a tribunal. put pre- : ccsded to pass judgment upon him. He immediately resigned his position that. he might be more free to prosecute those who brought accusations against him. Thus his connection with the organization ended ~
 Right of PrOteetioai.
 II had no authority to submit, and did not submit, to you the question Of his guilt or Innocence for final de- cision. Even the President cannot deny to the humblest citizen of the land the right to protect his reputa- ton and vindicate his name in courts established for the purpose, where witnesses can be examined ana evi- dence submitted according to the ruies in law In my frat letter to you, re- scented the imputation that any charges made against Governor Haskell could he iustly construed as connecting the Democratic party, or me as It's candi- date. with any trust or law-defying corporation. You replied that the charges were a matter of general no- tortetv. and I asked you why Mir. Taft did not mention them when he made speeches against MT Haskell in Ok Iahoma You at once endeavored 10 confront me with new matters which arose at the Denver convention, and. conscious that those charges were in- sufficient, you have since given wings to accusations that no disinterested party would make against another without Investigation.
 "I am willing that all your charges against me shall be submitted to the voters of the country, and with your charges I submit my denial of any knowledge or information that could fin the remotest way connect me with any trust, monopoly or law-defying corporation. My record Is sunicient answer to your insinuation. have lived in vain if your accusations lose me single friend. I challenge you to name a trust official who Is sup porting me. and, after searching the country, you produce the name Of one man, not a trust oficial. but the local attorney of a trust. Without inquir- ing whether he votes for me because of his connection with a trust or in spite of it, or because of his Fear of business diversity under MT. Taft. you accept his statement that he will vote for me as conclusive proof that am in league with the trusts, although you admit that trust offictals are sup porting the Republican ticket.
 Feels COmplimented.
 You compliment me when you measure me by 8 higher standard than you do your political associates, Tor you insist that MT. Rockefeller's con tribution to Governor Hughes eam- paign fund was no reflection upon him and [ take 1t for granted that you do not criticize Judge Tafts recom- mendation of Standard oil attorney to the federal bench, a place where the judge might have to pass upon the charges against the very trust for which he had been attorney. While the trust attorney to whom you refer is not an official of trust. l will warn him and through his clients, that if am elected l will not only vigorously enforce against all offenders the laws which we hope to have enacted in compliance with the Democratic, plat form, but that I will also vigorously enforce them not spasmodically and in all who violate them, and that l will enforce them not spamodically and in termittently but consistently and con sistently; they will not be suspended, even Tor the protection of cabinet of hcers You say The attitude of many men of large financial interests war rants you in expressing the relief that. Those trust maRnates whose fear of being persecuted under the law by MT. Taft is greater than their fear of general business diversity" under me will support me rather than MT. Taft. You have attempted to word that statement In such way as to claim the support of all the trust magnates. and yet put it on the ground that they are supporting your party for patriotic reasons rather than for the promotion of a selfish interest That is ingenious. but it is not sound
 "The trust magnates are supporting the Republican party and the Bible of- fers an explanation, The OK knoweth his owner and the ass his masters crib You admit that you gave per mission to the steel trust to absorb rival and thus increase its control of