Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1908-10-03
MR.. BRYAN TO
Mr.. ROOSEVELT
Says He Lived In Vain II Ac.
CuSatiOns Lost Him a Friend.
POINTS TO HIS RECORD

Declares That ls Sufficient Answer 10
Insinuations That He 10 IN symps-
thy with the Notwithstanding or
Haskell. He Says the Humblest
Citizen Cannot Be Denied the Right
&C Protect His Name In Court
Campaign Contributions His Closing
Theme.
Rock Island. Ill. Sept 3O.-'l have
lived IN vain IL your accusations have
lost me single friend" said William
J. Bryan IN a letter addressed 10 Pres
ldent Roosevelt. replying 20 that OF
the president written Sunday last.
Mr.. Bryan points to his record and
declares that Il IS sufficient onswor 70
the insinuatons Of the chief executive
that ho is In sympathy with OF con
trolled by the trusts
Revertins 10 the charges against
Governor Haskell. Mr. Bryan says that
the president. in response 20 his re
quest did not doign TO suggest
tribunal which could determine those
charges. but instead proceeded 10 pass
judgment upon him. and he informs
the president that the occupant Of
that high ONCE cannot deny TO the
humblest citizen the right TO protect
his reputation and vindicate his name
in the courts.
Taking up the presidents assertion
that certain trust magnates. fearing
prosecution under Mr. Taft will sup
port the Democratic candidate. Mr.
Bryan charges that the president
worded his statement In such a way
a. 20 demand the support OF ali the
trust magnatcs and yet put e on the
ground that they arc supporting your
party for patriotic reasons. rather
than for the promotion OF "a selfish in
terest That is ingenious. but il is
not sound. The trust maguates are
supporting the Republican party. and
the Bible offers an explanation, the
OK knowoth his owner and the ass his
masters crib.
In proof OF the fact that he would
not DO controlled by the trusts. Mr.
Bryan says that If elected he Will en-
force the antitrust laws. mot spas
medically and internationally, but per
sistently and consistently"
Mr.. Bryan In dealing with the Dem
ocratic campaign fund of 1896 as com
pared with the Republican campaign
fund OF 1904. charges that the presi-
dent pays more attention 10 the mote
than TO the beam" and asserts that in
1s04 the Republicans used in one state
alone fund almost as large as the en-
its control Mr.. Bryan further says:
You are the first conspicuous mem
Der OF your party 10 attempt an ex-
PLANTATION OF the partys opposition 10
publicity before the election. and the
admission which you make viii en-
barrass your party associates. Your
position is that the publication before
election of the contributions made 10
your campaign fund would furnish
your political opponents an oppor-
tuntiy TO give a false impression" as
10 the fitness of the candidates. II the
voters differ from you on this question
are they necessarily ignorant and
wrong? Must the members OF the
party organization act as selfappoint.
ed guardians OF the people and con-
-0--- '-+N--- " tAeNA ~ E0lAAH OAs TEST
the people be misled as 10 the purpose
and effect OF large contributions? Is
this your explanation Of the action of
the Republican leaders in the national
convention in voting down a publicity
plank? If you Will pardon the sug-
gestion, believe that a better expla. |
nation can be found in Holy Writ. for
do we not read Of men loving darkness
rather than light. because their deeds
are evil?
we are going to give you an CD
portunity to misrepresent the motives |
OF those who give 20 our campaign
fund. and 20 arouse all the suspicion |
you can; we are going to prove 10 the |
people that we are making a fight for |
the whole people and not for those |
who have been enjoying privileges and |
favors at the hands of the govern |
ment. and we expect that the honest /
sentiment OF the country will rebuke |
the party whose convention refused |
to endorse any kind Of publicity, and |
whose candidates are not willing that |
the people should know until after the
polls are closed what predatory IN |
terests have been active in support Of |
the Republican party"