Semi-weekly herald., 1908-09-24
TAF1'S
LETTER
He Strongly Objected
Compromise With
Senator Foraker

| ~ LIN AA' ~. IL sept. 1Z.-
President Roosevelt issued state
ment. IN part as follows:
In view of Mr.. Hearsts disclosure
about Sen. Foraker make public the
following letter, given by Mr.. Taft July
20, 1907. to friend in Ohio, prominent
In politics who wrote him before the
meeting of the state central commit.
tee. asking him whether the object
ofslfe committee on resolution indors.
ing Mr.. Taft for president aud Mr..
Foraker for senator. was In the in.
terest of harmony. A copy OF the let.
ter was submitted to me at the time,
but after the original had been sent.
1t was not intended for publication,
but 1t is understood. II necessary
should be published. personally
know that the strongest pressure by
various party leaders was brought on
Mr.. Taft at that time to consent to
the proposed arrangements and he
was informed by leading men from
other states that II he would consent
to this arrangement all opposition on
the part OF Mr.. Foraker and on part of
some of Mr.. Foraker's influential
friends in the senate and elsewhere
would cease. and that Mr.. Taft's nomi.
nation for the presidency would be as
sured. But Mr.. Taft declined for one
moment to consider any possible ad-
vantage to himself when what
he regarded as a great principle was
at stake. His attitude ON this ques.
tion, MS well as on countless such
questions, convinced me OF all men In
this union he is the one pre-eminently
fitting in point OF uprighteousness of
character. fearless, aggressive. hon.
esty and fitness for championing the
rights of the people as a whole, to be
president. Senator Foraker has been
a leader among those members OF con-
gress of both parties who have reso-
lutely opposed great policies of inter.
nal reform for which the administers
tion has made itself responsible"
Publication of the correspondence ce
not merely justifies In a striking fash
Ion the action of the administration,
but also causes curious side lights on
attacks made upon the administration,
both In the Denver convention, which
nominated Mr.. Bryan, and in the
course of Mr.. Bryan's campaign. There
is but one way to preserve and per
petuate great reforms, to make great
advances in righteousness and upright
dealing which have marked the man.
agement of the affairs OF the national
government during the last seven
years. and that is by electing Mr..
"Foraker's attitude has been that OF
certain other public men, notably Gas
shown in the correspondence published
by Mr.. Hearst) Governor Haskell Of
Oklahoma. 1t is striking In difference
in one respect. however, In the pres
ent positions of Governor Haskell and
Senator Foraker. Governor Haskell
stands high in the councils OF Mr..
Bryan and is treasurer of the national
campaign committee. Senator Foraker
represents only forces which, In an em.
Uttered fashion, fought the nomina-
tion of Mr.. Taft and which were def
nitely deprived of power within the
Republican party when Mr.. Taft was
nominated"
The letter of Mr.. Taft In part. is as
follows:
War Department, Washington, Pointe
A. U. Pic. Canada, July 20. 1907. :"
My Dear Mr.. -: In respect to
the inquiry of yours, wish to express
myself with as much emphasis as pos
sible, and that as to whether | would
object to the compromise resolution
which shall include the Endorsement
for myself for the presidency, and
Senator Foraker for the senatorship
In my judgment II would not only be
a great mistake, but something more
1t would be accepted necessarily as =
compromise on my behalf, and there
fore with my acquiescence, or at least
with the acquiescence Of my friends
for whose action am more or less re
. sponsible, IL would totally misrepre
sent my position. don't care for the
presidency II 1t has to come by com
promise with Senator Foraker or any
one else on the matter OF principle
, He has opposed vital policies and prin
ciples of the administration. and ir
his opposition has seized upon and mag
niiled unimportant and incidental mat
ters to embarrass the administration
" using in this, without scruple. blint
race prejudice to accomplish his mar
o purpose. Very sincerely yours.
+, VIII. TAFT.
CINCINNATI, o.. Sept. 22.-No an
!. swer to the statement issued by Pres
ident Roosevelt will be made today b,
r Senator Foraker The senator said b.
had read what the president had said
but 1t was matter which he did no
4 care to discuss off hand and he pre-
Q ferred to wait until he could lool
J. up various letters and other data oI
d tho subject discussed, In order tha
It what he might say would be ANAL.
n DETROIT. Sept. 22.-Bryau has q
' sued statement In answer to Rcost