The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-09-22
TAFT WAS FIRM.


CONTINUED from Page One.)
of great office. The venomous hostility
| of these interests and of their speciai
| representatives in public life and In tne
press to the nomination of Mr.. TaIL
was merely the natural sequence Oh
| their hostility to the measure or the
| administration for the regulation Oh
great corporations doing an interstate
| business and to the attitude OF the al :
ministration in consistently prosecut-
ing all offenders of great wealth, pre-
! cisely as it has prosecuted all other OF
| tenders. Mr.. Taft has been noted Tor
| the very reason that he is the antlth-
esis of the forces that were responsible
for Mr.. Foraker"
Taft's Letter.
The letter of Mr.. Taft is as follows:
War Department. Washin gton,
Point Au Pic Canada. July 20, 1907
My Dear Mr.. -: In respect
to one inquiry of yours, I wish to ex-
press myself with as much emphasls
as possible-that is, whether 1 would
| object to compromise resolution
which shall include an Endorsement of
myself for the presidency and Sena-
tor Foraker for the senatorShip- In
my Judgment it would be not only
great mistake-some thing more. 1t
would be accepted necessarily as
compromise on my behalf and, there
fore with my acquiescence or at least
with the acquieScence of my friends,
for whose action 1 am more or less
responsible. 1t would totally mis-
represent my position 1 don't care
for the presidency if it has to come
by compromise with Senator Foraker
or anyone else in matter of prin-
ciple. He has opposed the vital
ministration and in his opposition
seized upon and magnified an i'm
portant but incidental matter to en-
barrass the administration using in
this. without Scruple. a blind race
prejudice to accomplish his main pur-
pose. If I was confronted with a
mere factional difference within my
party, not involving a subject which
must come up for consideration and
action by the next Republican ma
tional convention, 1 should not be so
emphatic in my conclusion. 1t is not
on my part a question of personal
feeling with respect to Senator
Foraker. 1t is really question of
political principle. In respect to this
the legislature of Ohio expressed
what I believed to be the sentiment
of the people of Ohio in a resolution
asking the senator to support the rate
bill. Senator Foraker declined to
follow this resolution. When the is
sue is whether he shall be returned,
it must be determined. If this is to be
d
not by the question whether he has
followed his conscience. but by the
question whether he really repre-
sents the principles that his con-
stituents desire supported and put
into practice. The issue is really
whether the Republicans of Ohio,
therefore as the constituents of either
a senator or a presidential candidate
support the main policies maintained
by the administration or the opposi
ton to those policies. Representing
the policies of the administration l
cannot stultify myself by acquiescence
in any proposed compromise which
necessarily involves the admission
that the Republicans of Ohio regard
this fundamental difference of opinion
as of importance and one that can be
waived in the interest of party har-
mony or the settlement of factional
differences. There is not the slightest
doubt that the next Republican con-
vention of the Republican party will
sustain in full the vital and main
principles maintained by Roosevelt
and will express no sympathy with
the opposition represented by Sena-
tor Foraker. Because believe in
these principles and because in my
judgment the Republicans of the state
and nation are overwh elmingly in ia
vor of them 1 cannot favor any action
by members of the committee who do
me the honor to support me and wish
to aid me, which will have the ap-
pearance of acquiescence in the
proposed compromise. Very sincerely
yours, WILLIAM H. TAFT"
On His Own Initiative.
81 publish this letter without Mr..
Taft's knowledge. because I feel it
my duty to the public that his atti-
tude should be known. The man who
unhesitatingly resists temptation, who
cannot be swerved by any considera-
ton of personal interest from follow
ing the course which his lofty concep-
ton of duty dictates to him, the man
whose whole concern is for the well
fare of the people and who has proved
in lifetime of difficult and useful
public service his extraordinary capa-
city as an administrator. is surely the
man of all others to be intrusted with
the presidency. Mr.. Taft'S candidacy
is not based upon large and vague
promises, part of which would be i'm
possible of achievement and part of
which would be absolutely mischiev-
Gus to the people of the whole coun-
try if put into effect. His candidacy
is based upon his great record of act
ual achievement. his great record of
service to the public upon his inflex-
ible adherence to the highest stand
ards of righteousness, and upon his
proved and absolute fearlessness in
relentlessly warning against evil wher-
ever it may be found. I appeal to all
good citizens. to all high mined. con-
scientious men who love their country
for the sake OF their country to put
such man at its head.
"(Signed)
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
"Sagamore Hill. Oyster Bay, Septem-
Der 81, 1905"