The Washington times., 1908-09-14
Declares Roosevelt Letter
Shows Weakness in the
Ranks Of Republicans.
SAYS LABOR VOTE
is NOT AFFECTED
Nebraskan NOt Surprised That
Ohioan S Eulogized by
the President.

That the j ter written BY President
Roosevelt 10 Conrad Rohrs, OF Mon
tana, advocating the election Of Taft
and declaring the Republican nominee
TO be the best friend Of labor is a con-
fession OF weakness. IS the opinion OF
W. J. Bryan.
Mr- Bryan arrived in washington
early this morning ION Deer Park.
and was shown a copy OF the letter
while in the Union Station. He smiled
broadly, and said he was glad II had
been done for the reason that IL shows
the Republicans are not so sanguine
as they are supposed 70 be.
It viii not prove the case to the
laboring man for President Roosevelt
10 declare that Taft Is his best friend" /"
declared Mr. Bryan. That is a cues
ton he must decide for himself, ard
he viii do so At the polls in Novera-
ber."
Later. 3Ir. Bryan gave out a state
'nent concerning MS views OF the let
ter the full text OF which is as follows.
II was 70 be expected that Presi-.
dent Roosevelt would come 70 the sup
port OF Mr. Taft He could hardly do
less in view OF the fact that he selected
him as the Administration candidate
ence that the Administration could
bring 70 bear. so that he could secure
the nomination
Might be Objected To.
''Howeve-, the testimony OF President
Roosevelt might be objected 10 as i--
relevant, Incompetent, and -immate-fal.
and not the best of evidence. If aIr.
Taft were dead, it would be interesting
TO know from AIr. Roosevelt what he
knew OF M Taft's opinions and views.
but as Mr.. Taft IS alive and able 70
speak for himself, IL is expected hard
y necessary for Mr. Roosevelt 10 rst q
US how Nj Taft believes, OF what hs
VIII DO.
Mr. TAFT IS running Tor the Presi-
denCy on a platform that proved so IN
satisfactory 10 him thar he was forced
10 amend IL in several particulars. anG
Yet, even as amended. II gives the pub
lie no definite idea as 10 where 8Ir.
TAFT stands M TAFT also has made
some speeches. and viii make some
more The ones he has already made
have not thrown any light on his po-
liLical views, or his real opinions But
it is 10 be hoped that ne may vet den
nitely conclude 10 make his position on
the great questions OF public moment
clear At least, he should make il su11-
GENTLY clear 10 enable the public 70
know what be stands for
1T is not sufficient for the President
Of the United States 70 say that Mr.
Taft IS a friend OF labor That is a
subject upon which the labOring man is
clearly entitled 10 an opinion. and M
TafJ's friendship is TO be determined,
not By The President. but by the meas
ures which Mr.. Taft advocates.
What Taft Believes.
Mr. Taft believes that the labor or
gauizatiOn should cou-e EQder the opera
ton Of the antitrust law, thus dealing
with the man who belongs 70 a labor
organization as II re vas merchandise,
for the antitrust law deals with the
monopoly OF the products Of labor. Mr..
Taft is opposed 10 the trial by jury IN
cases Of indirect contempt, and he thus
denies 10 the IabOring man the right OF
a safeguard that Is guaranteed IN every
criminal court where a man is charged
with a crime. Mr.. Taft does not agree
with the IabOring man in req I'd 10 the
use OF injUnCtiOns in labor disputes
No words Of praise from the resident
Of the United States can change Nh
Taft's attitude along this line, or make
his candidacy one whit more sausfac-
tory 70 those who toll
Mr. Tafts position on the trust oues-
ton IS Tot changed by the President 8
Endorsement The President himself has
not succeeded in putting any trust mag
Late IN jail nor nave many or the great
trusts been disturbed IF Mr.. Taft -
no mere successful than Mr. Roosevelt
has been in his attitude on the trgsI
question, he is hardly likely to s@GAAs
the public.
's,There are more trusts in the coun-
try than there were when Mr.. ROoSe-
Welt was iuaUgurated President Now
n rr-a-- -f~rr-
strengthening the ANTITRUST law, Tor ne
IS in favor Of legislation which viii
limit the operation OF the antitrust law
TO unreasonable restraint OF trade
Not Clean on Tariff
"On the tarin AIr. Taft has failed
10 express himself with any cIearuess.
The Republican platform does not use
the word reduction, It only advocates
revision. Mr. TAFT has construed this
to mean that some schedules shan be
lowered and some raised, but he very
carefully refrains from stating whether
The average viii be lower or higher
when the work is completed
And so II is with All OF the questions
Mr.. Taft must make his own position
known. He can uOt rely on the Presi-
dents Endorsement An Endorsement on
a note is unnecessary II the maker OF
the note Is good The name OF the in
.iorser IS needed only when suiL can
bv brought against the indorser to re-
cover on the face Of the note Now II
Mr. Taft had a reform record Of his
own he would need no Endorsement
re President. The Presidents in
dorsament IS OF no value unless he viii
aeree TO stay in NsdShjngtOn and see
that TAFT makes gooc
we ought 10 have some definite
statement as 20 what the public Is TO
exDect from Taft No such Information
apDears in the Republican platform, and
ID 10 the present no definite conclusions
can be drawn from Mr. Taft's speeches
It does not answer the point for the
President TO say that he feels that Taft
viii do what is just, for there Is a wide
difference Of opinion as TO what is right
and Just so far as the points covered IN
this campaign are concerned.
a few plain simple sentences from