Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-09-24
IN LETTER MADE PUBLIC, WRIT
TEN BY TAFT, ROOSEVELT
SHOWS HOW CANDIDATE RE-
FUSED TO MAKE COMPROMISE.
GOV. HASKELL is
ALSO MENTIONED
SAYS THAT OHIO SENATOR AND
OKLAHOMA EXECUTIVE HAVE
BEEN BACKED BY "SlNlSTER
MONEYED INTERESTS"

MoNEYED INTERESTS"
Cincinnati, O., Sept. 22.-No
answer to the statement issued by
President Roosevelt last night
will be made today by Senator
Foraker, althoug-- he may nave
something to say tonight or later
in the week. The senator SAID
today he had read what the presl-
dent had said, but it was a matter
which he did not care to discuss
off hand and preferred to wait till
he could look up the various let
tiers and Other d-ta on the sub
ject discussed in order that what
he might say could be final.
Oyster Bay, N. Y, Sept. %. Pres
ident Roosevelt today took hand In
the Hearst Foraker-Haskell fight.
MAKING nublic letter in which VIII
liam II. Taft, before his nomination,
refused to compromise with the Ohio
senator.
The president makes a statement
explaining why he gives out the Taft
letter for publication, declaring it is
proof of the candidates qualifications
for the office he seeks. He reiterates
his belief in the necessity of Taft's
election and appeals to the people
who love their country to put the Re-
publican nominee at it's head.
The president compares the attitude
of Senator Foraker with that of other
public men, neming specifically Gov.
Haskell Of Oklahoma, treasurer of the
Democratic national committee. He
says Haskell stands high in the coun-
ellis of his party, but Foraker repres-
ents only the forces among Republi-
cans that oppose Taft He says the
great and sinister moneyed interests
as shown by the correspondence pub
lished by Mr.. Hearst, have been be-
hind both Foraker and Haskell.
In his statement the president re-
fers to Senator Foraker's fight in con-
nection with the Brownsville incident,
saying it was not a genuine agitation
on behalf of the negroes, but one
phase Of an effort by law defying cor
porations to discredit the administra-
ton.
The Taft letter, which the president
says he makes public without the
knowledge of the candidate, is a reply
to question by a person not named
who asked whether Taft would object
to compromise resolution in the
Ohio convention indorsing him for the
presidency and Foraker for the Ohio
senatorship. Taft replied it would be
great mistake. He says he objects to
such compromise because 1t is a
question Of political prime iple, and he
doesn't want to be president on such
terms.
Statement by the President.
sIn view Of Mr.. Hearst's disclosures
about Senator Foraker" the presi-
dents statement says, 81 make public
the following letter written by Mr..
Taft on July &c, 1907, to a friend In
Ohio, prominent in Ohio politics, who
wrote him before the meeting of the
state central committee asking wheth-
er he would object to the committee
passing resolution indorsing Mr..
Taft for president and Mr. Foraker
for senator in the interest Of harmony.
A copy of the letter was submitted to
me at the time, but after the original
had been sent it was not intended for
publication, but 1t was understood that
if necessary 1t should be published.
81 personally know that the strong
est pressure by various party leaders
was brought on Mr.. Taft at that time
to consent to the proposed arrange
ment and he was informed by leading
men from other states that If he
would consent to this arrangement all
opposition On the part Of Mr.. Foraker
and on the part of Mr.. Forakers in
fluential friends in the senate and
elsewhere would cease and that Mr..
Taft's nomination for the presidency
would be assured.
But Mr.. Taft declined for one mo-
ment to consider any possible advan-
tage to himself where what he re-
garded as a great principle was at
stake. His attitude on this question
as well as on countless questions,
convinced me that of all the men In
this union he was the man pre-emi-
nently fit In point Of uprightness and
character, of fearless and aggressive
honesty. and Of fitness for champion
ing the rights Of the people as whole
to be president.
Compares Foraker and Haskell.
Senator Foraker has been leader
among those members of congress of
both parties who have resolutely op-
posed the great policies of internal re-
form for which the administration
has made itself responsible. His atti-
tude has been that of certain other
public men, notably Gas shown in this
same correspondence published by Mr..
Hearst) Gov. Haskell of Oklahoma.
There Is striking difference in
one respect, however, in the present
positions of Gov. Haskell and Senator
Foraker. Gov. Haskell stands high in
the councils of Mr.. Bryan and is the
treasurer Of his national campaign