The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-09-30
In Letter to President Roose-
welt, Democratic Candidate
Says His Record Will Not
Show 1t.
.CHIEF EXECUTIVE DODGES
IN HASKELL CASE HE SAYS
Again Takes Up Campaign
Funds and Says President
Pays More Attention to the
Mote Than Beam.

Rock Island, ILL.,, Sept. 3O.-"I have
lived in vain if your accusations lost
me single friend" says William J.
Bryan in a letter addressed to Presi-
dent Roosevelt, replying to that of the
president, written Sunday last.
Mr.. Bryan points to his record and
declares that it is sufficient answer
to the insinuations of the chief execu-
tive that he is in sympathy with or
controlled by the trusts.
Reverting to the charges against
Governor Haskell, Mr.. Bryan says
request did not deign to suggest a
tribunal which could determine those
charges, but instead proceeded to
pass judgment upon him, and he in
forms the president that the occu-
pant of that high Office can not deny
the humblest citizen the right to pro-
tect his reputation and vindictae his
name in the courts. Taking up the
presidents assertion that certain
trust magnates, fearing prosecution
under Mr.. Taft will support the dem
ocratic candidate, Mr.. Bryan charges
thta the president worded his state
ment in such way as to claim the
support of all the trust magnates
land yet put it on the ground that
they are supporting your party for
patriotic reasons rather than for the
promotion of a selfish interest.
Such an argument, he contends is
ingenious, but not sound. In proof
the fact that it elected, he viii en-
force the antitrust laws, mot spas
medically and intermittently, but per-
sistently and consistently"
Mr.. Bryan, in dealing with the DEM
ocratic campaign fund in 1896 as COM
pared with the republican campaign
fund of 1904, charges that the presi-
dent pays more attention to the
mote than to the beam" and asserts
that in 1904 the republicans used in
one state alone a fund almost as
large as the entire sum the demo-
cratic party had in it's control. The
letter concludes with the notice to
the president that an opportunity will
be afforded him to "misrepresent the
motives of those who give to our
campaign fund and to arouse all the
suspicion you can." The letter follows:
Bryan's Reply to Roosevelt.
The letter is as follows:
Rock Island, ILL.,, Sept. %, 1908.
Hon. Theodore Roosevelt, President of
the United States, Washington. D. c.
Dear Sir-A brief reply to your last
letter is all that is necessary to call
your attention to your attempt to
shift the issues raised.
In your letter attacking Mr.. Foraker
you inserted an attack upon Mr.. Has
kell and attempted to use the charges
against him to connect the democratic
party, and me, as it's candidate, with
the trusts. l asked you to name a tri-
bunal before which the charges could
be Investigated. Or If you would not
not do that, offered to leave you. to
say whether in your jupdgment, the
charges justified Mr.. Haskelrs with
drawal from the organization.
You did not deign to suggest a tri-
bunal, but proceeded to pass judgment
upon him. He Immediately resigned
his position that he might be more free
to prosecute those who brought ac-
cusations against him. Thus his con-
Iection with the organization was
ended
had no authority to submit and did
not submit to you the question of his
guilt or innocence for final decision
Even the president can not deny to the
humblest citizen of the land the right
his name in courts established for the
purpose, where witnesses can be ex-
amined and evidence submitted accord
ing to the rules of law.
In my first letter to you I resented
the imputation that any charges made
against Gov. Haskell could be Just
ly construed as connecting the demo-
cratic party or me. as its candidate
with any trust or law-defying corpora
tion. You replied that the charges
were matter OF general notoriety end
asked you why Mr.. Taft did not men,
tion them when he made speeches
against Mr.. Haskell in Oklahoma.
You at once endeavored to connect
me with new matters which arose after
the Denver convention, and conscious
that these charges were insufficient,
you have since given wings to accus-
ations that no disinterested party
would make against another without
investigation.
Will Go Before Voters.
/ am willing that all your charges
against me shall be sumitted to the
voters of the country and with your
charges submit my denial of any