The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-09-30
COMPARISON OF VIEWS
ON CAMPAIGN PUBLICITY
Roosevelt's Insinuations as to the DEM
ocratic Campaign Fund of Past
Years Are Met BY Question
on G. o. p. Fund.


Bryan in letter addressed today to
| President Roosevelt replying to that of
the President written Sunday last.
| Mr.. Bryan points to his record and
declares that 1t is sufficient answer to
the insinuations of the chief executive
that he is in sympathy with, or con-
! trolled by the trusts.
J Reverting to the charges against Gov
ernor Haskell Mr.. Bryan says that the
President in response to his request did
not degn to suggest a tribunal which
could determine those charges, but in
stead, 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
Rock Island, ILL.,, September 20, 1908.
Hon. Theodore Roosevelt, President of
the United States, Washington:
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 attacking
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 candi-
date, with the trusts. I asked you to
name tribunal before which the charges
could be investigated or, If you would not
do that, offered to leave 1t to you to
say whether, in your judgment, the
charges justified Mr.. HaskelPs withdraw
al from the organization. You did not
deign to suggest a tribunal, but pro-
ceed to pass judgment upon him. He i'm
mediately resigned his position that he
might be more free to prosecute those
who brought accusations against him.
Thus his connections with the organiza
ton ended. I had no authority to sub
nit. and did not submit, to you the ques-
tion of his guilt or innocence, for final
decision. Even the President cannot deny
to the humblest citizen of the land, the
right to protect his reputation and vim
dcate his name in the courts established
for the purpose, where witnesses can be
examined and evidence sumbitted to the
rules of law.
the imputation that any charges made
against Governor Haskell could be justly
construed as connecting the democratic
party, or me as it's candidate, with any
trust or law-defying corporation. You
replied that the charges were a matter
of general notoriety, and l 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 insult
fcient you have since given wings to ac-
cusations that no disnterested party
would make against another without in
vestigation.
Let Voters Decide.
"I am willing that all your charges
against me shall be submitted to the
voters of the country, and with your
charges submit my denial of any knowl
edge or information that could in the
remotest way connect me with any trust,
monopoly or law-defying corporation. MY
record is sufficient answer to your in
! sinuation / have lived in vain IL your
accusations lose me a single friend.
challenged you to name a trust official
who is supporting me, and, after search
ing the country you produce the name of
one man, not trust official but the
local attorney of trust. Without In
curing whether he votes for me because
of his connection with a trust, or in
spite of it, or because of his fear of
business adversity,' under Mr.. Taft, you
h; cta
for me as conclusive proof that | am in
league with the trusts, although you ad
nit that trust officials are supporting the
republican ticket.
you compliment me when you measure
me by a higher standard than you do
your political associates, for you insist
that Mr. Rockefellers contribution to
Governor Hughes campaign fund was no
reflection upon him, and | take 1t for
granted that you do not criticise Judge
Taft's recommendation of a Standard OIL
attorney to the federal bench 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, I will warn him
and through him his clients that If 1
am elected, | will not only vigorously en-
force against all offenders the laws which
we hope to have enacted in compliance
with the democratic platform, Dut tnat
will also vigorously enforce existing laws
against any and all who violate them and
that I will enforce them, not spasmodical-
ly and intermittently, but persistently
and consistently; they will not be suspend
ed, even for the protection of cabinet Of
ficers.
Fear of Magnates.
"You say, The attitude of many men OF
large financial interests warrants you in
expressing the belief that those trust
magnates whose fear of being prosecuted
under the law by Mr.. Taft is greater than
their fear of general business adversity'
under me will support me rather than Mr..
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 reas-
ons rather than for the promotion of