The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1908-10-02
NEBRASKAN DECLARES
HIS RECORD IS A REPLY
BE CHARGES PRESIDENT NOW
WITH DODGING.
81 Have Lived in Vain if Your Ac-
cusations Have Lost Me a Single
Friend,' Bryan Says.

II Have Lived IN VAIN II your Ac-
cusations Have Lost Me Single
Friend,' Bryan Says.
Rock Island, ILL.,, September 29.-
''I have lived in vain if your accusa-
tions have lost me single friend, -
said W. J. Bryan in a letter address,
ed today to President Roosevelt, re-
plying to that from the president
written Sunday last.
Mr.. Bryan points to his record and
declares that it is sufficient answer
to the insinuations of the Chief Exc
cutive that he is in connection with
or controlled by the trusts:
Reverting to the charges against
Governor Haskell, Mr.. Bryan says
that the president, in response to his
request, did not deign to suggest a
tribunal which could determine those
charges, but instead proceeded to pass
judgment upon him, and he informs
the president that the occupant Of
that high office cannot deny to the
humblest citizen the right to protect
his reputation and vindicate his name
in the courts.
The letter is as follows:
Mr.. Bryan's Letter.
Crock Island, ILL.,, Sept: 20, 1908.
s'Hon Theodore Roosevelt, Presi-
dent Of the United States, Washing
ton, 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
Sattacking Mr.. Foraker you inserted
an attack upon Governor Haskell and
attempted to use the charges against
him to connect the Democratic party
and me, as its candidate, with the
trusts. I asked you to name a tribu-
nal before which the charges could be
Investigated, or, if you would not do
that, offered to leave it to you to say
whether, in your judgment, the
charges justified Mr.. Haskell's with
drawal from the organization. You
did not deign to suggest tribunal,
but proceeded to pass judgment upon
him. He Immediately resigned his
position that he might be more free
to prosecute those who brought ae-
cusations against him. Thus his con-
neetion with the organization ended.
I had no authority to submit, and did
not submit, to you the question Of
his guilt or innocece for final decis-
ion. Even the president cannot deny
to the hunblest citizen of the land
the right to protect his reputation
and vindicate his name in courts es-
tabished for the purposes " here wit
nesses can be examined and evidence
submitted according to the rules in
law. In my first letter to you I re-
sented the imputation that any
charges made against Governor Has
kell could be justly construed as con-
Meeting the Democratic party or me,
as it's candidate, with any trusts or
law-defying corporation. You repli-
ed that the charges were matte OF
gene al notoriety and I asked you
why Mr.. Taft did not mention them
when he made speeches against Mr..
Haskell in Oklahoma. You at once
endeavored to confront me with new
matters which arose after the Denver
convention and, conscious that those
charges were insufficient, you have
since given wings to accusation that
no disinterested party would make
against another without investigation.
Leaves Charges to Voters.
tI 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,
il the remotest way, connect me with
any trust, monopoly or law-breaking
corporation. Ny record is sufficient
answer to your insinuation. I have
lived in vain, if your accusations have
lost me single friend. I challenged
you to name a trust official who is
supporting me, and, after searching
the country, you produce the name
Of one man, not trust official, but
the local attorney Of a trust. Without
inquiring whether he votes for me
because Of his fear Of business ad-
versity' under Mr.. Taft, you accept
his statement that he will vote for
me as conclusive proof that I am in