Omaha daily bee., 1908-09-28
BRYAN WRITES ROOSEVELT
Nebraskan Makes Further Defense Of
Governor Haskell.
SAYS EVIDENCE NOT CONCLUSIVE
Governor Hughes IL Referred TO a.
Critic ana Not a Constructive
Statesman - Says Trusts
Are Against Him.

MILWAUKEE. Wis, Sept. 27.--Defending
his knowledge of Governor Haskell against
the charges which have been brought
against him, until the charges can be ex-
amined in some court where craftsmanship
does not bias, William Jennings Bryan,
democratic candidate for president. on his
way from Madison to this city today gave
out for publication his reply to President
Roosevelts recent letter in response to his
telegram on the subject. Mr.. Bryan
speaks of the election of Mr.. Haskell as
the governor of Oklahoma and says: The
constitution was adopted and Governor
Haskell was elected in spite OF the efforts
of your administration and in spite Of the
speech made in Oklahoma by Mr.. Taft"
Mr.. Bryan charges among other things
that the Steel trust. with your express
consent" purchased one of the largest
rivals and thus obtained control OF more
than so per cent of the total output. He
asks the president IL he will insist that
in permitting this, you showed less favor
to the monopolistic corporations than I do
In opposing It,"
Mr.. Bryan abruptly charges that Gov
crnor Hughes. quoted by President Roose-
welt as having "riddled the democratic
trust remedy was himself the bene-
ficiary Of the trusts and cites the cam
paign contribution to the Hughes election
fund two years ago, Among these are ]. p.
Morgan, John d. Rockefeller. Andrew Car
negie and william Nelson Cromwell. Mr..
Bryan says that as the president quotes
Governor Hughes he takes It for granted
that Judge Taft has not expressed himself
satisfactorily or the trust question.
Text of Bryan's Letter.
The letter of Mr.. Bryan is in part as
follows:
MILWAUKEE, Sept. 26, 1Sos.-Hon. Theo-
dore Roosevelt, President OF the United
I have not yet received your letter and
shall not until / reach home next week I
have read a copy of It in the press. and beg
leave to submit the following reply:
Mr.. Haskell, having voluntarily resigned
from the committee that he might be more
free TO prosecute those who have brought
question OF his guilt or innocence further
than to say that the public service he has
rendered and the vote OF confidence he has
received from the people of his state ought
to protect him from condemnation until the
charges can be examined in some court
where partisanship does not bias and where
campaign exigencies do not compel pre-
judgment. / would not deem It necessary to
address you further, but for the fact that
YOU seize upon the charges and attempt to
make political capital out OF them, You
even charge that my connection with Mr..
HaskelI's selection as a member OF the
resolutions committee and as treasurer OF
the committee raises a question as to my
sincerity as an opponent OF trusts and
mononolies. AS an individual and as the
candidate Of my party, I resent the charge
and repel the insinuation. I have been in
publih iIfa for eighteen years and / have
beer sufficiently conspicuous to make my
conduct a matter Of public interest, I have
rassed through two political campaigns in
which party feeling ran high and epithet
was exchanged. ] have M hesitation IN
saving that YOU cannot find an act. a word
or a thought OF mine to Justify your partl-
ssr charge.
I had never been informed Of any charge
that had been made against Mr.. Haskell
connecting him with the Standard OIL COM
pany or with any other trust. I had known
him as a leader I'm the constitutional con-
vention OF Oklahoma and had known him
as one OF the men principally responsible
for that excellent constitution since adopted
by a majority OF over 100000 10000 Of which
was furnished by the republicans. I had
known of his election 20 the g~overnship OF
that great young state by a majority OF
some 5000. I had known that the constltu-
ton was adopted and that Governor Haskell
was elected in spite OF the efforts OF your
administration, In spite of the speeches
made In Oklahoma by Mr.. Taft.
Knew Nothing Of suit.