The Washington herald., 1908-04-30

Is peddling that story for the allies and
tell him he is lying" The rest of it
comes under the head of unprintable
matter, It was as strong as it ever has
been expressed.
This was Secretary Taft's reply TO The
charge of the allies that Cuban con-
trtct had figured in the winning of W. J..
Oliver, of Tennessee, by Taft
Mr.. Oliver is the contractor who almost
got the Panama Canal contract, and who,
after it had been taken away from him.
led the anti-Taft fight in Tennessee that
resulted in an ant-Taft delegation 20
Chicago being chosen by the Republican
State convention. His work was so en-
ergetle and successful that the "allies'
were talking Of him as their Southern
manager. when the Taft headquarters
weekly bulletin appeared claiming oliver.
Allies Admit divers Detection.
The allies admit Oliver viii not be able
to take charge of their work, but insist
he will not actively work against them.
They say Oliver wiIl be too busy carry
ing out the $685. COZ contract given to him
in Cuba TO pay any attention to politics
This contract is TO build military roads In
Cuba, awarded to Oliver April % by Gov.
Nfagoon.
The allies assert that after the conven-
ton, Oliver received a telegram from
Taft personally. calling him to Washing
-r-g
tract was awarded, and that then Oliver
notified them his political activities must
cease.
After his first denuneiation Of the story,
Taft said:
81 do not understand this sort Of pol
itics. ! do not peddle petty ISLANDERS.
The Secretary WAS white With anger.
This contract was awarded by Magoon,
because Oliver was the lowest bidder. /
had nothing to do with it. I was not
consulted by Magoon. and sent 10 sug-
gestions to him.
"Ollver has been my friend ever since
I knew him. He has been in to see me
several times lately. I did not send for
him"
No Reconciliation of Facts.
Taft admitted Oliver was in the con-
vention that named an anti-Taft delega-
ton, but did not attempt TO reconcile that
fact with divers supposed friendship for
the Secretary.
Oliver put in the lowest bid on the Pan
anna Canal An award to him was held
up a long time on the excuse that the
government wished TO be sure Oliver had
the means TO carry out the contract
Finally, it was decided the government
would do the work itself.
Oliver at the time expressed deep feel
ing. lie maintained he had not had a
square deal.
In the present campaign for delegates
tc Chicago, Oliver has been one OF the
leaders Of the Brownlow, or anti-Taft
faction, He succeeded, after a turbulent
convention, in defeating the Hale-Evans,
or Taft, crowd.
Despite the denial that Taft teIegraphed
10 Oliver after that convention, summon
ing him to Washington. the "allies" or
ganization insists Oliver came on invita-
ton.
InsuIar Bureau Explains.
The Insular Bureau of the War De-
ment gave this explanation Of the contract
to-day:
THE bids were opened April g. On
April II it was announced that Oliver
would receive the award for two sections
OF road. The advertisements had divided
the work into three sections.
There was an immediate protest from
the local contractors against the work
going outside the island. There was
nothing in the advertisement, however.
which forbid this. So, on April q, Oliver
got the contract.
The War Department had nothing to
90 with t. It viii not even be referred
here for ratification"
The only American firm IN Cuba is the
Huston Construction Company. La
Lucha, OF Havana. Of April q, SAYS the
Cuban and Spanish contractors had taken
Huston * Co. into their fold as a local,
concern, only TO learn later that the
Oliver manager in Havana is first
cousin Of Capt Huston, and that the
two firms are most friendly. However
La Lucha says there is no doubt oliver
bid the lowest
Oliver Has Another job,
The Oliver Company has another con-
tract for roadmaking on which it is now
working. That amounts to 100000.
Representatives of the "auies" announc-
ed yesterday;
While conducting his fight in Ten
nessee against the Federal off1cehoIders
MI oliver was in close touch with the
opposition to Secretary Taft and carried
on ms fight under a complete under
staholng and working arrangement with