The Washington times., 1908-09-24
Makes Bitter Criticism of
Nebraskan's Views on
Public Questions.
Declares Oklahoma Governor
Unfit for Ofice-Plea
for Taft.

the record before you, and they were
available before MI Haskell was
! chosen for his position as treasurer.
You also say that you viii not permit
any responsible member OF the Repub-
lican organization 10 misrepresent the
attitude Of your parey IN the present
campaign.
You will have no difficulty In getting
me 10 represent Il Alright, for my sole
anxiety is that the people OF the coun-
try shall understand this attitude
| clearly. and shall then condemn it as
II should be condemned. You say that
you have advocated more radical meas
ures against private monOpolies than
either l or my party associates have
/ been willing 70 undertake
You have indeed advocated measures
/ that sound more radical, but they have
/ the prime defect that In practice they
would not work.
| / should not in this letter 70 you dis
/ ouss your attitude IN this question II
/ you did not yourself bring II Up: but
4 as you have brought II up, 1 answer
| you that In my Judgment the measures
you advocate would be wholly ineffect-
/ i've IN curing single evil. and so far
| as they had any effect at all. would
/ merely throw the entire business Of the
country into hopeless and utter con-
/ fusion.
I put Mr.. Tafts deeds against your
l words ] ask that Mr.. Taft be Judged
/ by all his deeds, for he wishes none
/ or them forgiven I ask that you be
/ judged BIZ the words you wish remem-
! bered, and by the words that seemingly
] you and your party now desire 10 have
/ forgotten
/ ask THAT your present plan for reg
] ulating the trusts be judged IN cOnnec-
/ tion with your past utterances that you
| did not believe In their regulation. but
in their destruction; and, again. IL con-
-# -.
the effect that only Government owner
ship by a complicated national and
/ State system OF railroads would avail
] and again, by your past utterances
| suherings OF our people by a deDre-
ciated currency.
Reviews Own Efforts.
For several years now I have been
steadfastly fighting 10 secure thor
! oUghgoing and far-reaching control
/ IN the interest OF the public over the
great business combinations which do
! an interstate business. IN this effort
! have been as much hampered by
the extremists well-Tneaning or other
I wise. who demand visionary and i'm
/ practicable redicalism. as by those
/ other extremists, no less dangerous,
! who stand for the reactionary refusal
I TO remedy any grievance.
/ One side, the side on which I am
J Obliged 10 say you have placed your
I self has shown itself 70 be Just as
l much the enemy OF progress as the
/ other. I hold IL entirely natural for
/ any great laW-defyiug corporation 70
I wish 10 see you placed in the Presi-
/ dency rather than Mr.. Taft.
/ Your plans 70 put stop TO the
/ abuses Of these corporations are wholly
I chimerical; how chtmeriCal your last
] plan Is you will yourself see u you
! read Governor Hughes speech at
! Youngstown Ohio.
Asks for Votes.
Let me repeat that no law-defying
corporation has anything 70 fear from
you save what it will suffer in the
general paralysis OF business. which
I any attempt on your part 70 reduce
10 practice what you have agitated
would bring. This paralysis would az
/ feet the Wageworker. the farmer. the
I small business man more than II would
AFFECT the great business man. but IL
| would affect the latter. too.
! Therefore, 1 hope and believe that
al farsighted citizens who wish TO see
I this country prosper in material things
viii support Mr.. TAFT. But, above all,
I ask for support for him because he
| stands for the moral uplift Of the
nation because his deeds have made
good his words, and because the pol
I icies TO which he is committed are OF
/ immeasuVeable consequence alike 10
the honor and the interest Of the whole
/ American people. Very truly yours,
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
Hon. William Jennings Bryan.
/ Lincoln. Nebr.