The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1908-09-22

n1nd Mr. Foraker, the opponent of
MI. Taft within his own party, and
who now are behind Governor Has
kell and his associates the opponents
OF Mr.. Taft in the opposite party.
;. The great and sinister moneyed in
~ - which have shown such hos
the administration and now
to ~ A. have grown to oppose
the adm4o ooc; on various matters
not connecteeetp 4,those which mark
the real point {. difference. For in
stance. the entire agitation over
Brownsville was in large part not a
genuine agitation on behalf Of colored
men at all, but merely one phase Of
tho effort by the representatives of
certain law defying corporations to
bring discredit upon the administra-
ton because 1t was seeking to cut out
the evils connected, not only with
the corrupt use Of wealth, but es-
pecially with the corrupt alliance be-
tween certain business men of large
fortunes and certain politicians of
great office. The venomous hostility
of these interests and of their spe-
ctal representatives in public life and
lie
Taft, was. merely the natural Sc
Quence of their hostility to the meas
lures fof the administration for the
regulation of great corporations do
ing an interstate business and to the
attitude OF tho administration in con-
sistently prosecuting all offenders OF
great wealth, precisely as it has
prosecuted all other offenders. Mr..
Taft has been nominated for the very
reason that he is the antithesis of the
forces that were responsible for Mr..
Foraker"
Taft's Ringing Letter.
Tho letter of Mr.. Taft is as follows:
"War Department, Washington.
, "Pointe au Pic, Can, July 20. 1907.
my Dear Mr.. -: In respect to
one inquiry Of yours, I wish to ex-
press myself with as much emphasis
as possible, that is, whether would
object to compromise resolution
which shall include an endorsement
Of myself for the presidency and SEN
ator Foraker for the senatorship. In
my judgment it would be not only a
great misunderstanding more. It
would be accepted necessarily as a
compromise on my behalf, and, there
fore, with my acquiescence or at least
with the acquiescence Of my friends,
for whose action l am more or less
responsible. 1t would totally mis-
represent my position. l don't care
for the presidency II 1t has to come
by compromise with Senator Foraker
or anyone else in matter of prin-
ciple. He has opposed the vital
policies and principles Of the admin
istration, and in his opposition has
seized upon and magnifled an import
ant but incidental matter to en-
barrass the administration, using in
this, without scruple, blind race
prejudice toNaccomplish his main pur-
pose. II was confronted with a
mere factional difference withipS my
party, not Involving subject which
must come up for consideration and
action by the next Republican nation-
al convention, should not be 30
emphatic in my conclusion. 1t is not
on my part a question Of personal
feeling with respect to Senator For
aker. 1t is really question Of
political principle. In respect TO this,
the legislature of Ohio expressed
what believe to be the sentiment OF
the people OF Ohio in a resolution
asking the senator to support the rate
bill. Senator Foraker declined to fol-
low this resolution. When the issue
is whether he shall be returned, 1t
must be determined, If this is to be a
representative form OF government,
not by the question whether he has
followed his conscience, but by the
question whether he really represents
the principles that his constituents
desire supported and put into prac-
tice. The issue really Is whether the
Republicans of Ohio, therefore, as the
constituents Of either senator or a
presidential candidate, support the
main policies maintained by the ad,
ministration. or the opposition to
those policies. Representing tho po-
licies of the administration. cannot
stultify myself by acQuiescence in any
proposed compromise which neces-
sarily involves the admission that the
Republicans of Ohio regard this fun
damental difference Of opinion as OF
no importance and one that can be
WdltoV III IuC 1uLSTS6S OI purity uar.
mony or the settlement Of factional
differences. There is not the slight
est doubt that the next national con-
vention Of the Republican party will
sustain In full the vital and main
principles maintained by President
Roosevelt, and will express no sym
pathy with the opposition represented
by Senator Foraker. Because I be-
lieve in these principles and because
in my Judgment the Republicans Of
the state and nation are overwhelm-
ingly In favor OF them, cannot IA
vor any action by members OF the
committee who do me the honor to
support me and wish to aid me, which
will have the appearance OF acquies-
cence in the proposed compromise.
very sincerely yours.
William II. Taft"
II publish this letter without Mr..
Taft's knowledge, because / feel II
my duty to the public that his atti-
tude should be known. Tho man who
unhesitatingly resists temptation.