The morning journal-courier., 1908-10-16
Tanner Letter to President.


 to Mir Roosevelt;
 New Haven, Conn, Oct 13, i9ns President Theodore Roosevelt,
 Washington, D C
 Dear Sir-1n your letter to George l.. Lilley of Waterbury, you are credited by the press ss expressing your hearty wishes for his success in his canvass for governor for this state, Will you kindly permit me, ss lifelong re- publican to ask you a pertinent ques- ton in reference to the man you so earnestly hope to see elevated to the gnberuatorial chair of thls state. Do you consider him worthy of tho honor? If the report of the congressional com mittee appointed to investigate the charges made by George l., Lilley against members of congress, and espe- cislly against the members of the naval committee, Is essentially true, U which he CLilleyl Is charged with being liar and unf1t to associate with gentle men" then he is unworthy to be gov crnor of the state of Connecticut or to hold any other political office. and your endorsement of him with tho earnest wish for success is not only to give mora support to his candidacy but to use the prestige of your high office to secure the election of man. who, ac- cording to your expressed and actnowl- edged high standard of character both moral and political. is wholly un- worthy the honor he seeks
 If. on the other hand. the report as presented to congress Is not true. II is 3 gross libel on tho Hon George L.. Lilley and the state he represents in congress, fin which case the sgncrs of that report and those who voted for it including the Hon James Schoolrraft Sherman. vice presidential nominee on the republican ticket have been guilty Of great and 'rreparablc crime against an innocent colleague. thereby forfeiting the respect of all houorab blc citizens. And in the event of which. not one could vote the national repub- lican ticket with tho said sherman as vice. president without stultifyine him self. In view of the congressional committees report, both nominees CSherman and .Lilley) cannot. by any possible reasoning he worthy inc of fees for which they havc been upmn- ated. and 1 appeal to you for ho truth which and many other republicans of this state, desire uponfthis point. that we may vote intelisently for the one representing the highest ideals of honor and integrity
 Under all rules of evidence it Is lm- possible. 10 assume that both nossosa the sterling qualities of character which We demand of the occupants of tho of- fires for which they arr nominated X souare doal with injustice to none lv what we, in Connecticut demand. If the congressional commttec's report Ia true az to his Gllley) character. thon you nor any other republican of ma iional repute has any right to engage in an effort to secure his election to the l goVernorship of thls state oven bv q i passive endorsement IT. on the ofher hand, the report is not true or iusti- ned ny the fact bearing upon tho case then great injustice has been dono George l.. LiIley and state by the nom lnee for vice president. and you cannot be justified In helping to elect 10 the second highest office in tho United states, man q. $ sbermam who wa. a party to tho finding of that commit tee
 ask you in all seriousness as one desires to know the truth in the mat. ter, if you. knowing the facts, will on. dorse him in view of the committees report and brand it and Mir. shcr. man as dishonest
 Who Is worthy and which Is right I <, sherman or George I" Lilley? Ii |, evident that both cannot be and ap. peal to you to set me right in the mat. ter, involving. as IL does, tho characto, of the two candidates r question.
 Yours respectively.
 x. A. TANNER