New-York tribune., 1908-09-24
PRESIDENT ANSWERS
BRYAN'S CHALLENGE
HASKELL AND STANDARD
OIL IN OKLAHOMA.
Contrast in Action of RiUal Pres-
Dental Candidates-Taft's DEEDS
against Bryan's Words. .

Washington Sept 23--President Roosevelt
tonight. after a prolonged conference with
members Of the Cabinet at the White House.
gave out his reply to William J. Bryan. reIa-
tive TO William r. Hearst's charges that Cow
ernor Haskell. treasurer OF the Democratic Ma
tional Committee had represented Standard
Oil interests both in Ohio and Oklahoma Nj
Bryan had demanded proof Of the charges.
promising that in the event ftheir substantial
ton Governor Haskell would be eliminated from
the campaign
Disrnissing the Ohio case which involved an
allegation of attempted bribery. with the ex-
planatfon that he had made direct charge
against Governor Haskell regards that par
ticular instance President Roosevelt takes up the
matter Of the Prairie State Oil and Gas Com
pany and argues that Governor Haskelfs. action
in stopping legal proceedings begun by the At
torney General Of Oklahoma demonstrates con-
clusiveIy that he was controlled by the great
corporation TO which the Oklahoma company
was subsidiary.
After contrasting Mr. Bryan's defence Of Gov
ernor Haskell with Mr.. Tafts repudiation OF
Foraker in connection with the Hearst charges
against the Ohio Senator. the President pro-
ceeds to declare that Governor HaskeIrs utter
unftness for association with any man anxious
to appeal to the American people on moral
issue has been abundantly shown by other
acts Of his as Governor OF Oklahoma The
President condemns Governor Haskells conduct
in connection with various matters as disgrace
full and scandalous and calls special attention
to what he describes as "prostituting 70 base
purposes the state university" This fresh
charge against the Governor rests on an article
in The Outlook" from which the President
quotes and which he says forms the conclusion
that Governor Haskell is unworthy Of any posi-
tion in public life.
The latter portion Of Mr.. Roosevelt's state
ment is devoted TO criticism Of Mr. Bryan's plan
for regulating the trusts. which he characterizes
as a measure that sounds more radical than
any advocated by the Republicans. but which IN
practice would not work. Concluding. Mr.
Roosevelt declares that no law defying corpo-
ration has anything to fear from Mr. Bryan
save what it would suffer from the general
paralysis Of business which would follow
Democratic success
Shortly after reaching his Office the President
telephoned TO W. C. Haskell. Sealer OF Weights
and Measures OF the District Of Columbia for
-n1erIv United states Marshal for the Northern
| District of Ohio and recently declared by Gov
| ernor c. n. Haskell. OF Oklahoma TO be the
| person charged by Hearst with having offered
| a brfbe 10 former Attorney General Monnett or
| Ohio Mr. Haskell promptly went to the White
House and assured the President that he was
not the Haskell referred TO, as he had already
stated in the newspapers. and that he did not
(
The President spent almost the entire day in
getting the letter in form. An hour was given
this morning to making rough draft OF IT.
which was submitted to Secretary Garfield and
Postmaster General Meyer. both Of whom made
suggestions as TO portions Of the communication
About O'Clock this afternoon all Of the MEM
bers of the Cabinet now in the city. Secretaries
Wilson. Straus, Wright. Metcalf and Garfield.
and Postmaster-GeneraI Meyer met with the
~r,a ff--a
offices for a conference the subject. which
lasted until after 5 O'Clock Two hours more
was required to make certain minor changes
before Secretary Loeb gave the statement to
the press
Deeming the reply too long to be sent by
wire the method Of communication Mr. Bryan
had employed in his challenge to the President.
| it was forwarded by mail to the Democratic
candidate at Lincoln, Neb.
THE PRESIDENTS REPLY.
says:
The White House,
Washington, September %. 1908
Dear Sir-In your telegram you speak Of SO
much Of the charge against Governor Hasken
as dealt with his relations. while in OhIe. with
the Standard Oil Company. You omit the
charge as TO his relations with the Standard
Oil interests as shown by his action while Gov
ernor of Oklahoma. this very summer. this action
being in part taken while he was at Denver.
where as you state, he was by your wish made
chairman of The committee which drafted the
/ platform upon which you are standing In my
statement | purposely made no specthc allusion
to the Ohio matter. and shall at this time make
none in spite of It's significance and in spite OF
| the further fact that Governor Haskelrs close
relations with the Standard Oil interests while
he was in Ohio a matter Of common noto-
rfety. In Oklahoma II IS a matter OK court
record.
/ F2v this court record IL appears that the At
tornev General Of the state. elected by the peo-
pie. obtained injunction to prevent the Prairie
| oil and Gas Company from building pipe me.
/ and that Governor Haskell found this out while
/ he was at Denver. appears by the represen-
/ tatiOns for the dissolution or the 1nJuncuon
/ made in his name on behalf OF the state before
a court of superior Jurisdiction to that which IS
/ sued the iniunction In this the Governor states
I that the Acting Governor, IN his absence had
/ asked that the hearing be postponed until ne.
/ the Governor. might return and have an 0p-
Governor sets forth in his petition that ne IS tns
/ sole authority to determine such matters ana
/ that the Attorney General and the judge or the
I lower court had right In the matter. and tnar
the action Of the Judge OF the lower court repre-
/ sented IAN encroachment by the judiciary.
PROTECTED STANDARD OIL
/ The Attorney General opposed the dissolution
/ of the Injunction. stating that the Prairie OH
and Gas Company was foreign corporation.
I which had not accepted the provisions OF the
Constitution applicable TO such corporations. and
that without authority OF law II was employing
great force of men and teams 10 dlg up, across
I and into various highways OF the state for tho
{ purpose of laying its pipe lines. The Governor
/ prevailed the injunction was suspended. and
/ the pipe line permitted 70 continue its
4 work TO use the words Of the Attorney General.
| without any color OF law" call your atten-
ton TO the fact that the question is not whether
or not the Judge erred. or whether the intunc-
tlcn proper. The point Is that the Governor
49, IL -