Los Angeles herald., 1908-09-30
RED HOT REPLY
SENT BY BRYAN
TO ROOSEVELT
NEBRASKAN MORE THAN AN
SWERS PRESIDENT
SEVERELY hRRAlGNs HEAD OF
PRESENT ADMINISTRATION
Great Commoner Shows Wherein
Executives Argument Is Weak,
Though Wordy - Makes
Strong Comparison
tBy Associated Press.

hOSh A0AE11ND, AAA's ONPet 80
X -"I have lived in vain if
~ your accusations lose me
single friend" said w. ].
Bryan in a severe arraignment
addressed to President Roosevelt
and replying convincingly to that
of the president written Sunday
last.
Mr.. Bryan points to his record
and declares it is sufficient an
swer to the insinuations of the
chief executive that he is in SYM
pathy with, or is controlled by,
the trusts.
| Reverting to the charges against
| Governor Haskell Mr.. Bryan says the
president, In response to his request,
did not deign to suggest tribunal
which could determine those charges,
but instead proceeded to pass Judgment
on him; and he informs the president
that the occupant of that high office
cannot deny to the humblest citizen the
right to protect his reputation and
vindicate his name in the courts.
Taking up the presidents assertion
that certain trust magnates, fearing
prosecution under Mr.. Taft, Will sup
port the Democratic candidate, Mr..
Bryan charges that the president word
ed his statement in such way as to
claim the support of all the trust mag
mates, "and yet put 1t on the ground
that they are supporting your party
for patriotic reasons rather than for
the promotion of a selfish interest"
Argument Not Sound
Such an argument, he contends, Is
ingenious, but not sound.
In proof of the fact he would not
be controlled by the trusts Mr.. Bryan
says if elected he will enforce the anti
trust laws mot spasmodically and in
termittently, but persistently and con-
sistently."
Mr.. Bryan, In dealing with the DEM
ocratic campaign fund of 1896 as COM
pared with the Republican campaign
fund of 1904, charges, that the president
pays more attention to the mote than
to the BEAM" anu asserts that IN l904
the Republicans used in one state alone
a fund almost as large as the entire
sum the Democratic party had in its
control
The letter concludes with notice to
the president that an opportunity
would be afforded him to "misrepresent
the motives of those who give to our
campaign fund and to arouse all the
suspicion you can."
Bryan's Answer
The letter is as follows:
"ROCK ISLAND, ILL.,, Sept. 29, 1908
"Hon Theodore Roosevelt, President |
of the United States. Washington, |
D. c.:
Dear Sir-A brief reply to your last
letter is all that Is necessary to call
attention to your attempt TO shlrt the
issues raised
I'm your letter attacking Mr.. Fora |
ker you inserted an attack upon Gov
ernor Haskell and attempted to use
the charges against him to connect the
Democratic party and me as its can
didate with he trusts.
II asked you to name a tribunal be- |
fore which the charges could be inves-
tigated, or-if you would not do that
offered to leave you to say whether. |
in your judgment, the charges justified
Mr.. HaskelPs withdrawal from the or
ganization.
you did not deign to suggest a tri-
bunal, but proceeded to pass judgment
on him.
"He Immediately resigned his posi-
ton that ne might be more free to
prosecute those who brought accusa-
tions against him. Thus his connection
with the organization ended.
II had no authority to submit, and
did not submit, to you the question of
The Right Of Every Man
"Even the president cannot deny to
the humblest citizen OF the land the
right to protect his reputation and vim
dicate his name in courts established |
for the purpose wl-ere witnesses can |
be examined and evidence submitted |
according to the rules of law.
'In my first letter to you I resented |
the imputation that any charges made
against Governor Haskell could be just
ly construed as connecting the Demo- |
cratic party, or me, as its candidate, |
with any trust or law-defying corpora
tion.
You replied that the charges were
a matter of general notoriety, and |
asked you why Mr. Taft did not men
tion them when he made speeches |
against Mr.. Haskell In Oklahoma.
'You endeavored to connect me with
new matters which arose after the Dem |
yer convention and-conscious that
those charges were insufficient-you |
have since given wing to accusations
that no disinterested party would make |
against another without investigation.
II am willing all your charges against |
me shall be submitted to the voters of |
the country, and with your charges |
submit my denial of any knowledge |
that could in the remotest way connect |
w
defying corporation
Record vlndlcates Him
my record is sufficient answer to
your insinuation. have lived In vain |
If your accusations lose me a single |
friend.
II challenged you to name a trust |
official who Is supporting me. and after
searching the country you produce the
name of one man-not a trust Official
but the local attorney of trust
without inquiring whether he votes |
for me because OF ms connection with
his fear of business adversity' under |
Mr. Taft, you accept his statement that
he will vote for me as conclusive proof |
that am in league with the trusts, al |
though you admit trust officials are
supporting the Republican ticket.
"You compliment me when you
measure me by a higher standard than
you do your political associates, for you