Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-26

letter what l did with it. or did on ac-
count of it. l cannot find any trace of
such letter on my files. or of any answer
in my letter book. | have not been able
to communicate with Mr.. Price who in
troduced the bills. but he has stated in a
public interview that he abandoned the
bills because Gov. Nash told him that
Senator Hanna and 7 were both opposed
to the measures. and that we feared it
might damage President Mckinley in the
national campaign. in which we were
then entering. if their passage should he
insisted upon. Mr.. Prices statement sug-
gests to my mind that in all probability
referred the letter to Gov. Nash. I do
not know of any other way if 7 ever
received it. to account for its absence
from my files. which are carefully kept.
Such a disposition of the letter would he
in accordance with what is usually done
with all such communications
In any event. I know that I took no
action with respect to it. nor on my own
motion with respect to any other bill
pending in the Ohio legislature at that
time or at any other time since I became
a member of the Senate. March 4. 1897.
In no instance since that date have /
sought in any way to influence leg1sla-
ton at Columbus except when applied TO
for nv opinion by some member as has
happened a few times and never before
March 4. 1897. except only by arguments
before omen meetings of the regular COM
mitteeS.
Letters From Archbold.
While I have occasionally heard from
Mr. Archbold during the period that has
elapsed since the termination of my en-
ployment in the early part of 1ol do
not recall receiving any letter from him
except, if / received it. the one relating
TO the Jones bill. which had any relation
l. N
thing with which l had any official duty
to perform until he wrote me the letter
of May Z, 1905. proposing re-empioy-
ment with respect to the SUITS ana prose
cutionS threatened in ONO In any event
he never addressed me on any subject
since nv employment except only as any
other citizen with whom l was acquainted
might have done. ana there never was d
suggestion from him or from ANYBODY
else that | was under the slightest opil-
cation to support or oppose any pro-
posed legislation on behalf of that com
pany nor was there ever suggestion py
anybody that / should receive any com
pensation or reward of any kind whatso-
ever on that account. And what Is true
i'm this respect as to the Standard on
Company is also and equally true as to
every other trust, corporation or person.
Notwithstanding that the President
says i'm his answer to Mr.. Bryan az
September b that 1 was the represent
alive and champion and defender 0f
corporations in the Senate. there is not
n word of truth I'm any such Abatement,
whether made by him or anybody else.
and there is not scrap OF evidence
that can be produced supporting any
such charge that cannot he as fully ana
satisfactorily explained as has nsen e y,
planned the letter about the Jones bill
and the proposed purchase of the ONO
State Journal
Mr.. Taft's Letter.
This brings me to Mr.. Taft's letter and
what the President has said in his COM
ments on the same.
If the President, in publishing it, had
not withheld the name of the man TO
whom it was written il might have been
easier for me to show that / had no
responsibility for that mans reason IN
writing to him.
The man himself would have refuted
the impression the President appar-
emily seeks to create that he wrote
either at my instance or in my interest.
have not mt any time or in any way
sought Mr.. Taft's help for reelection to
the Senate.
When Mr.. Taft's candidacy for the pres
idency was first announced | was sur
prised to learn from the newspapers that
the program of those having 1t in charge
involved my 'elimination' from pubic
life.
the "elmination" proposition involved,
naturally brought controversy and strife
when there should have been only peace.
Finally Mr.. Cox announced harmony
prOposi<ion-Taft for President, Harris for
governor and me for senator.
He did that on his own motion; not only
without any request from me. but con-
trary to my desires. Nevertheless at
once publicly announced that if that ex-
pressed the wish of the republicans OF
Wpnld Judge Idft
more cordially than | would.
Thereupon Mr.. Burton gave out an in
terview in which he stated that Mr.. Taft
would not accept from the republicans or
Ohio an Endorsement for the presidency
if coupled with an Endorsement of me for
the senatorship. l am repeating from
memory and do not pretend to give his eX-
act language. but l know j am accurately
to be such a gross public insult and so
uncalled for that hostilities were imme-
diately resumed.
They were continued until Mr.. Taft
was nominated. Then. so far as | was
concerned, they stopped instantly and |
supposed from the character of Mr.. Tart
response to my note OF conGratuation
that they had stopped on his part; at
least | was so assured by his friends and
managers, and in that connection | was
also assured that Mr.. Burton had no au-
thority to give out his offensive interview.
Much more of the same character might
be mentioned, but l have said enough to
show that Mr.. Taft's letter performs the
very important office of generating Mr..
Burton from the charge of having spoken
without authority and fixes responsibility
for his offensive utteranceS where it be-
longs.
Now as to the letter itself
Why Taft Was Hostile.
1t gives as the reason for Judge Taft's
hostile attitude that
He Cd has opposed the vital poll
cies and principles of the administra-
ton and in his opposition has seized
upon and magnified an important in
cidental matter to embarrass the adj
ministration, using in this without
scruple a blind race prejudice to ac-
complish his main purpose.
1t is really a question of political
principle.
I'm respect to this, the legislature of
Ohio expressed what ] believe to be
the sentiment of the people of Ohio
in a resolution asking the senator to
support the rate bill.
Senator Foraker declined TO follow
this resolution.
men the issue whether he shall he
returned, it must be determined if this
is to be representative form of gov
eminent not by the question whether
he has followed his conscience but by
the question whether he really repre-
sents the principles that his constitu-
ents desire supported and put into
practice"
This quotation shows that the grounds