The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1908-10-14
RELIGIOUS FIGHT
ON TAFT A FAILURE
Desperate Attempt by Opposition
to Stir Up Prcjudies Proves
Boomerang.
clergymen of All Denominations
Rush to the Defense of Judge
Taft and His Attitude
Toward Religion.

The effort to arouse prejudice against
William III. Taft because of his RELIC
loiiS belief has, in the opinion of the
campaign managers, not only proved
failure. but has had a salutary effect
lor many clersymen of prominence have
hastened to express their confidence in
the high religious standing of the Re.
publican candidate. The attack on re-
hslous grounds began long before the
candidate was nominated, when friends
of one of the allies sought to spread
the report that Mrs Taft was a Cath.
ono. lhe story was widely told but it
never gained much credence. 1t was
too Well known that Mrs. Taft was an
Eplscopallan and Il regular attendant
ut st. Johns Church in Washington.
where only Il year ago her daughter.
Miss Helen, was confirmed in that
faith
After the nomination the attack was
renewed from wholly different quar-
ter and was based on the ground that
VIZ. Taft was Unitarian. When this
report was brought to the attention of
Mr.. Taft. who has been conspicuous for
ms breadth of view in religious mat.
'ers ana the assistance which he has
rendered on every opportunity to Chris.
tan ministers and missionaries of ey-
cry denominations he became indignant
ana refused to defend his creed
This method of attack has proved a
boomerang. and many Christian minis.
tiers. indignant at the character of the
articles and editorials published on the
subject. have FASTENED to testify to
their full confidence in the high char.
acter and deep religious conviction of
the Republican candidate
Praise from Bishop Falloyy..
One of the most notable declarations
OF this character was that of Bishop
Samuel Fallows of the Reformed Epis-
eopal Church of Chicago, who declared
from the rostrum at Toledo his high
opinion of Mr.. Taft, saying in part:
He is easily master among ali the
masterful men who are to-day CONTROL.
ing the governments of the earth. He
is deeply religious, without trace of
bisotly, fearing God and working right
eousness as did the two Adamses and
! Abraham Lincoln. He is equally the
| friend of capital and labor, as eyery
| President should be. | can aver with
out fear of successful contradiction that
no man ever came before the American
| people fer he highest honor in their
| gift the proudest political position
known to man, so thoroughly prepared
| to meet its weighty Responsibilities as
Mr.. Taft He is broad in the back,
| broad in the brow and broad in the
| heart
| Like testimonials have come from
many other prominent clergymen, tes-
| timonials. which might, perhaps, in
many instances, never have been volun.
| teered but for the attacks to which the
candidate has been subjected from Ger.
| tain quarters, and on grounds concern.
ing which clergymen are most compe-
tent to speak.
| The Rev. DR.. shorts Tribute.
In il recent public address the most
Rev. John Ireland, Catholic Archbishop
of st. Paul, took occasion to pay high
tribute to Mr. Taft's high character and
| pre-eminent fitness for the great office
for which he is Il candidate, and only
| to-day the Rev. DR.. Francis Burgette
| Short, /; leading Methodist clergyman
OF Salt Lake City, paid tribute to Mr..
Taft in these words:
Judge Taft surely occupies con-
spcuous place in both the ethical and
religious world He is eminently fitted,
both in character and practice. to occu-
py the highest Office in our land His
efforts to raise Il high standard of life
ut home, his interest in and solicitude
| for the nations across the sea mark
! him rs Il man OF sane religious visions
and desire. Such Il man this nation
needs and requires ut its head, if we
continue to hold the undivided admira-
ton of those ut home and those abroad
| Such Il man we must have il we would
make history that is gloriously humane.
| No place here for the visionary, but a
large and fitting place for prophet,
ence and heart have directed difficult
tasks to most successful elimination
| Our President must be master in the
art of statecraft. He must be able ut
times to stand like Gibraltar and vet
he must have heart as human as q
babe.
Such Il man, and much more, is that
scholar and genius and statesman and
patriotic citizen, William Howard Taft
He surely merits the support of all
high minded citizens. for we recognize
that he has given his entire influence
toward the better development of a
higher Christian civilization both at
| home and abroad
The man who picked out Haskell to
help write il national platform and
handle campaign funds is not tit to be