Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1908-10-03

Bryan's telegram In which he main
tanned that the Democratic party and
platform we're not getting a square
deal" In the campaign that the presi.
dents professions OF fair treatment
entitled them TO. Mr.. Roosevelt's reply
deals particularly with Mr.. Bryan's
assertion that the administration has
been neither sincere nor effective In
the prosecution Of trusts. The presi-
dent says Mr.. Bryan has not answered
Governor Hughes speech. referred to
In his hrst letter. and does well in not
attempting it. The president then
says
You say that your platform de-
eiares In favor OF vigorous enforce
ment OF the law against guilty trust
magnates and officials. and that the
platform upon which Mr.. Taft stands
makes no such declaration. II was not
necessary. That platform approved
the policies OF this administration and
promised 20 continue them: and here,
as usual, have only TO compare your
words with the deeds OF the admins.
tration and Of Mr.. Taft You merely
promise In your platform that you In
tend 20 Go just what this administra-
ton has actually done and is doing.
You say that the trust magnates
know their own interests and are sup
porting Judge Taft So far as their
interests are simply the interests OF
the business community and especially
OF the wageworkers. believe they will
support Judge Taft SO fer as they
have special interests which are 70
them more important than the gen.
eral business welfare, believe they
will support you. 7 base this belief
upon what happened 10 1895 Your
success then would. ia my belief. have
beer a calamity for the country from
the standpoint OF the welfare OF the
business men, farmers and working
cess now would be a calamity 70 the
country, both from the standpoint OF
business land especially Of the inter.
ests OF the wage worker) and from the
standpoint Of morals"
The president then says the steel
trust in purchasing one OF lts largest
rivals last I'm did so with his knowl-
edge Of the transaction. and that no
law was broken. Instead. he says the
concern was on the verge o. failure
at the time and would have made. the
panic much worse had the steel trust
not acted as IL did.
You state that Mr. Haskell has vol
unfairly resigned from the committee.
You speak uighly Of the public service
which he had rendered and protest
against any condemnation Of him ex-
cept such as may come in court
Out OF your own mouth you are con
demned. You thereby set MP that
standard Of law honesty which has
been the bane OF this people in en-.
deavoring 20 get equity and fair deal
ing-as they should obtain among
high-minded men-from great bust.
ness corporations and from individ-
uals like Nj Haskell. Apparently you
disclaim even asking Mr.. Haskell 20
retire from the position in which You
placed him. so that be retires OF his
own free will; and you utter no word
OF condemnation OF his gross onenses
against public decency and honesty
On the contrary, you strive TO make Il
appear that his misconduct IN refer
ence 20 the Standard OH company is
all Of which he Is accused. whereas.
shameless though this particular act
OF his is. &c is no worse than countless
others IN his career.
"The national government. obeying
both the law and the principles OF
sound morality. Disseminated neither
for nor against the Standard OIL com
pany or It's rivals. Governor Haskell.
against the law and against every
principle OF honesty and fair dealing.
IN favor OF the Standard
OIL corporation. Failure 20 see the dis
tinction between the two cases indi-
Gates moral rather than mental OBJ
tlscness.
"You have uttered no word OF con
demnation OF Haskellism, as we thus
see IT, That you have consciously
sought 10 bring IL about, I do not be
lieve. That it was the natural result
OF the effort to apply in practice your
teachings. I have no question"