Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-09-24
HASKELL TARGET
 FOR ROOSEVELT
In Reply to Bryan Oil Case
 Is Discussed Fully.
CHARGES OTHER FAULTS.


 Treasurer Has Shown "uttsr Unfit.
 ness For Any Public Position of
 Trust" and Regards It "as . Scandal
 and Disgrace" That the Governor Is
 Connected With the Management of
 Campaign.
 Washington. Sept 24. = President Roosevelt. replying to William J. Bry- ans challenge to prove the charge that Governor Haskell aided the Standard oil company in Oklahoma, has ad- dressed letter to the Nebraskan, part of which follows:
 Tn your telegram you speak of so much of the charge against Governor Haskell as dealt with his relations while in Ohio with the Standard oil company. You omit the charge as to his relations with the Standard oil in- terests, as shown by his action while governor of Oklahoma, this very sum- mer, 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.
 Refers to Records.
 Tt appears that the attorney gen. eral of the state obtained an injunc- ton to prevent the Prairie oil and Gas company from building pipe line. Governor Haskell found this out while he was at Denver, as appears by the representations for the dissolution of the injunction made in his name on behalf of the state before court of superior jurisdiction to that which is- sued the injunction. In this the gov ernor states that the acting governor in his absence had asked that the hear ing be postponed until he, the gov ernor, might have an opportunity to investigate.
 ''The governor, in the records sets forth that he is the sole authority to determine such matters and that the attorney general and the judge of the lower court had no right in the matter and that the action of the judge of the lower court represented 'an encroach- ment by the judiciary The attorney general opposed the dissolution of the injunction, saying that without author ity of law the corporation was em- ploying great force of men and teams to dig up across and into various high ways of the state for the purpose of laying its pipe lines. The governor pre- vailed. and the injunction was sus- pended.
 MnexcusabIe" and "Wanton."
 Ut thus appears that his action was as inexcusable as it was wanton ex- cept on the theory that in defiance of the attorney general of the state and at all hazards he intended for some reasons of his own to protect the in- terests of a great corporation against the law. tS2
 Now, contrast your action in this case of Governor Haskell with MT. Taft's action as regards Senator For aker as set forth in his letter of July 20. 1907, which I quoted in my state ment. It was a matter off common notoriety about Senator Foraker, as it has long been a matter of common notoriety about Governor Haskell, that he was the defender and sup porter of certain great corporate in- terests and therefore hostile to the policies for which the administration has stood. There was no such con- vincing proof against Senator For aker. at that time, however, as there was against Governor Haskell, when, as you say, he was, with your ap- proval, made treasurer of your cam paign committee.
 "ScandaIr and "piserace."
 'Let me add that Governor Has, kell's utter unfitness for any public position of trust or for association with any man anxious to make an ap- peal on moral issue has been abun- dantly shown wholly irrespective of this action of his in connection with the Standard Oil interests.
 II regard 1t as a scandal and a dis grace that Governor Haskell should be connected with the management of any national campaign.
 Let me say that no law defying corporation has anything to fear from you save what it will suffer in the gen. eral paralysis of business which any attempt oil your part to reduce to prac- tice what you have advocated would bring. This paralysis would affect the wageworker, the farmer, the small business. man, more than it would af- feet the great business man. but 1t would affect the latter too. Therefore hope and believe that all farsighted citizens who wish to see this country prosper in material things will support MT. Taft"