The Detroit times., 1908-09-22
ROOSEVELT ISSUES
REPUTATION Of
FORAKER
FueLisHEs LETTER SHOWING
TAFT DECLINED TO INpoRsE
oHioAN IN 1907, THOUGH As.
suREp OF NOMINATION.

OYSTER BAY, N. Y, Sept. "a
President Roosevelt has issued a for.
NAL statement to the press. contain
Ing wrathful Reputation Of United
States Senator Joseph Benson Fora
ker whose exposure, by VIM. II.
Hearst, Of peculiar dealing with the
Standard Oil Co., In his official capa-
city, has caused him to figure In a sor-
ry light in the public eye.
The president, however. does not
forbear to get in his little boost for
Taft In publishing a letter written by
the latter. scorning Foraker. when az
sured Of his own election as president
II he would indorse for senator the
corporations man from Ohio. The
president points to Taft as 1.-THE man
who unhesitatingly resists temptation"
and who cannot be swerved by any
consideration Of personal interest from
following the course which his lofty
conception Of duty dictates to him."
President Roosevelts statement Is
~ follows:
In view Of Mr.. Hearst's disclo-
sures about Senator Foraker, I make
public the following letter written by
Mr.. Taft on July 20, 1907. to a friend
In Ohio. prominent In Ohio politics,
who wrote him before the meeting Of
the state central committee, asking
whether he would object to the com
mittee passing resolution indorsing
Mr. Taft for president and Mr. For.
aker for senator, In the interest of
harmony. A copy Of this letter was
submitted to me at the time, but af-
ter the original had been sent. II was
not intended for publication, but 1t
was understood that II necessary 1t
should be published.
Il personally know that the strong.
est pressure by various party leaders
was brought on Mr.. Taft at that time
to consent to the proposed arrange
ment and he was informed by leading
men from other states that IL he would
consent TO this arrangement all oppo-
sition on the part Of Mr.. Foraker and
on the part of some of Mr.. Foraker's
influential friends In the senate and
elsewhere would cease and that Mr..
Tefts nomination for the presidency
would be assured.
"But Mr.. Taft declined for one mo-
ment to consider any possible advan.
tage to himself where what he regard
ed as great principle was at stake.
His attitude on this question. as we'll
as on countless questions, convinced
me that OF all the men In this union,
he was the man pre-eminently fit In
point Of uprightness and character, of
fearless and aggressive honesty. and
OF fitness for championing the rights
Of the people as a whole, to be presi-
dent.
Different From Haskell
Senator Foraker has been a leader
among those members Of congress of
both parties who have resolutely Cd.
posed the great policies of internal re-
form for which the administration has
made itself responsible. His attitude
has been that OF certain other public
men. notably Gas shown in this same
correspondence published by Mr..
HearsO Gov. Haskell, Of Oklahoma.
There Is striking difference In one
respect. however, In the positions of
Gov. Haskell stands high In the coun-
ellis OF Mr.. Bryan and is the treasur-
er Of his national campaign commit
tee. Senator Foraker represents only
the forces which, In embittered fash
ion, fought the nomination OF Mr..
Taft and which were definitely depriv-
Cd OF power within the Republican
party when Mr.. Taft was nominated.
1.-THE publication Of this correspond
ence not merely justifes in striking
fashion the action of the administra.
ton, but also casts curious sidel light
on the attacks made on the admins.
tration both In the Denver convention
which nominated Mr.. Bryan, and In
the course of Mr.. Bryan's campaign.
Praise FOR Tam.
There Is but one way to preserve
and perpetuste the great reforms, the
great advances In righteousness and
upright and fair dealing which have
marked the management Of the affairs
of the national government during the
last seven years; and that Is by elect
ing Mr.. TAFT. To defeat him will bring
lasting satisfaction. to but one set Of
men. namely, to those men who, az
shown in the correspondence publish.
ed by Mr.. Hearst, were behind Mr..
Foraker. the opponent Of Mr.. Taft
within his own party, and who now
are behind Gov. Haskell and his asso-
ciates, the opponents of Mr.. Taft In
the opposite party.
The great and sinister moneyed In
terests which have shown such hos
tility to the administration and now
to Mr.. Taft have grown to oppose the
administration on various matters not
connected with those which mark the
real point OF difference. For instance,
the entire agitation over Brownsville
was In large part not a genuine agita-
tion on behalf Of colored men at al,
but merely one phase OF the effort by
the representatives OF certain law-de-
flying corporations to bring discredit
on the administration because It was
seeking to cut out the evils connected
not only with the corrupt use OF