The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-09-22
PrGsidentIssues Statement Back
ing Up Taft And F|ay-
ing Foraker
SAYS STANDARD OIL IS
FRIEND OF DEMOCRATS
Roosevelt Says Defeat of Taft Would
Bring Satisfaction To Moneyed In
terests Friendly To Foraker and
To the Democratic Party.

Oyster Bay, September 2l.-Late today
Secretary Loeb gave to the press form
| al statement by the President which
was called forth by the recent exchanges
between William R. Hearst and Senator
Foraker of Ohio Mr.. Hearst, in public
| utteTances, had accused the senator of
! relations with the Standard Oil company
inconsistent with his duties as a senator
and his attitude as a representative of
| republican policies and professions.
III today's statement, President Roose-
welt makes another appeal for the sup
port of Mr.. Taft and declares that his
defeat would bring Tasting satisfaction
to but one set of men. namely to those
men who, as shown In the correspondence
published by Mr.. Hearst. were behind
Mr. Foraker. the opponent of Mr.. Taft
within his own party. and who are now
behind Governor Haskell and his associ-
ates, the opponents of Mr.. Taft in the
opposite party
The statement embodies a letter writ
ten by Mr.. Taft to a friend in Ohio on
July 20, 1907, in which the republican
candidate for the presidency refused to
acquiesce in the plan of the Ohio state
| central committee to indorse Mr.. Taft for
the presidency and Mr.. Foraker for re-
election to the senate in single resolu-
ton. The President points out that Mr..
Taft's attitude has always been directly
opposed to that charged against Senator
Foraker by Mr. Hearst regarding the
moneysd intei ests.
RooseveIts Statement.
The Presidents statement follows:
"In view of Mr.. Hearsts disclosures
| about Senator Foraker, l make public
the following letter written by Mr.. Taft
on July 20. 1907, to friend in Ohio promi-
nent in Ohio politics who wrote him
before the meeting of the state central
committee asking whether he would OBJ
| ject to the committee passing a resou-
ton indorsing Mr. Taft for president
and Mr. Foraker for senator in the In
terest Of harmony. A copy of this letter
was submitted to me at the time, but
! after the original had been sent. 1t was
not intended for publication but it was
understood thst If recessary, it should
be published.
II personally know that the strongest
pressure by various party leaders was
brought on Mr.. Taft at that time to con-
sent to the proposed arrangement 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 influential friends in the
senate and elsewhere would cease and
uaft
! idency would be assured. But Mr. Taft
! declined for one moment to consider any S
possible advantage to himself where what
| lie regarded great principle was at
stake. His attitude this question as
well as on countless questions, convinced
me that of all the men In this union, he
was the men pre-emnently fit in point of
uprightness of character and fearless and
aggressive honesty and of fitness for
chamrioning the rights of the people as
whole, to be president
Foraker's Position.
Senator Foraker has been leader
among those members of Congress of both
parties who have resoluteIy opposed the
great policies of International reform for
which the administration has made itself
responsible. His attitude has been that Of
certain other public men, notably (as
shown in this same correspondence pub
lished by Mr.. HearsD Governor Haskell
of Oklahoma. There is a striking diff
ference in one respect, however, in the
present position of Governor Haskell and
Senator Foraker. Governor Haskell
stands high in the councils of Mr.. Bryan
and is the treasurer of his national cam
paign committee Senator Foraker repre-
sents only the forces which in embittered
fashion fought the nomination of Mr.. Taft
and which were definitely deprived OF
power within the republican party when
Mr.. Taft was nominated. The publication
of this correspondence not merely justl-
fies in striking fashion the action of the
administration, but also casts a curious
sidelight on the attacks made upon the
administration both in the Denver con-
vention, which nominated Mr.. Bryan and
in the course of Bryans campaign. There
is but one way to preserve and per-
petuate the great reforms, the great ad-
vances in righteousness and upright and
fair dealing which have marked the man
agement of the affairs of the national gov
ernment during the last seven years; and
that is by electing Mr. Taft To de-
feat him will bring lasting satisfaction
TO but one set of men. namely, to those
men who. as shown in the correspond
ence published by Mr.. Hearst were be-
hind Mr.. Foraker, the opponent of Mr..
Taft within his own party and who are
now behind Governor Haskell and his as
sociates the opponents of Mr.. Taft in the
opposite party.
Brownsville Case
"The great and sinister moneyed inter-
ests. which have shown such hostility 70
the administration and now to Mr.. Taft.
have grown to oppose the administration
on various matters not connected with
those which mark the real point of diff
ference. For instance, the entire agita-
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