The Detroit times., 1908-09-26

anu uOW CotueS the pItSictnt anu
publishes Judge Taft's letter con
tanning his unfortunate reference 10
this unfortunate case.
Rubbing Sore.
What does he mean? Does any
body imagine that the president is
unable 10 see that he is rubbing a
sore when he should have brought
la plaster. Does he imagine, or can
anybody suppose that the Republic
can colored voters OF this country
can be brought TO the support OF
Judge Taft by parading In these
1 closing days OF the campaign Judge
Taft's belittiing of their chief griey-
ance by mentioning il as AN incidental
! matter which has been seized upon
and magnified, using in this without
scruple. a blind race prejudice, and
, then adding the charge that all this Is
I done only 10 'embarrass the admins
4 tration' OF President Roosevelt
"Can il be possible that the presi-
dent wants to defeat Judge Taft? That
cannot be. and yet he could hardy
do any other one thing better ealcu-
lated to lose him votes. for no self
respecting Negro reading what Judge
Taft says in this letter and adding x
to all that has gone before. can vote
I for him without feeling that he Is max
ing a greater sacrifice than most men,
white or black, are willing to make.
In any event, the presidents ac-
ton and comments are wrong TO-
ward the party at critical hour OF
| the campaign OF an unworthy purpose
in connection with matter that every
colored man who has any pride or
race holds of highest value and In deep
est appreciation. What Judge Tart
tsays-in- his letter is the equivalent
OF an assertion that the colored people
OF the country who have been grained
by what was done in the Brownsville
matter have simply been hoodwinked
by the designing selfshness. This Is
bad enough. but the president makes
il worse when he says:
- the entire agitation over
Brownville was in large part not
genuine agitation on behalf Of the COZ
ored men at all. but merely one phase
of the effort by the representatives
! of certain law-defying corporations TO
! bring discredit upon the administra-
ton, because IL was seeking 10 cut
out the evils connected. not only with
the corrupt use OF wealth. but especial
~ with the corrupt alliance between
certain business men or large fortunes
and certain politicians of great ONCE
More Than T. Rs Claim.
I'm other words. the Brownsville
proceeding was not only all Judge
Taft said II was, but In addition to
being designing and selfish, IL was
prompted by the Representatives OF
law-defying corporations TO bring
discredit upon the administration OF
its policy with respect to them This
is worse than the presidents claim
that the panic of last October was pre-
cipitated by lot of rich men In Wall
ST., who wanted to bankrupt them
might discredit him; and worse even
than the story that these same men
raised fund OF $5.000.000 with which
to prevent him from naming his
chosen successor.
Il happen to know better than any
body else can know, that there is not
the slightest ground for such a charge.
IL is invention, pure and simple, aud
judging by the frequency with which
the president is bringing the matter
to the front, born of that disquiet
which comes to the conscience when
there Is consciousness Of having dore
great wrong.
Except only the Brownsville mat
ter. the rate bill and the joint state
hood, voted for all the measures
the president enumerated among the
achievements OF his administration
and some OF them | was In charge
OF on the floor OF the senate when
they were passed.
II have said enough, hope, TO |
justify my course both as to the rate |
bill and as to Brownsville, and II is
not necessary that | should say any
thing In justification OF my course |
with respect TO Joint statehood. ex-
vept only TO point TO the national |
Republican platform upon which Mr..
Taft stands. one plank of which de-
clares In favor OF the separate state
hood for New Mexico and Arizona.
Hasn't Hit at @. o. p.
'If In making this defense have
said anything that will work the
slightest injury to the Republican
party, | shall regret II. hut | shall al
ways feel that those vino have no
for me. my family or
good name. but would gloatingly re-
joice II they could accomplish the
shame and humiliation they have at
tempted, are not entitled to any con-
sideration at my hands and that my
duty to the party should be subordin-
ated TO duty 10 family and the good
name | have striven TO make that
may leave IL to them as their heritage,
more priceless In their estimation
han anything else within my power
10 give them.
Since debating the foregoing,
have received the following letter.
which Is self-explanatory:
Columbus. o., Sept "a, 1908
Hon. J. b. Foraker, Cincinnati.
o. My Dear Senator-Noticing the
recent newspaper statement about
two bills relating to corporations
introduced in the Ohio general as
sembly In the year 1901 by the
Hon. Aaron II. Price, OF Athens,
and his statement that they were
presented at the request OF the
late Gov. Nash. beg TO state that
/ was present at that session of
the general assembly engaged i'm
watching legislation-that / per.
sonally consulted with Gov. Nash
as to the propriety and wisdom
of these bills becoming laws. and
he agreed with me that II was not
wise 10 press these measures at
that time. and with his consent